Quiet Lights is taking a break this year – but they’re popping up at another festival

It’s become a folksy favourite every autumn.
But this year, Quiet Lights festival, which takes place in Cork City every November, has announced that it is taking a break for 2023.
In place of the usual festival, the team will instead team up with Sounds from a Safe Harbour (September 7th – 10th) to present several special shows.
“It is with no small amount of consideration that we have decided to take a break from running a full Quiet Lights programme this year, so we can better gather ourselves and plan for our next efforts,” said Quiet Lights Festival Director Jonathan Pearson.
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“Sounds From A Safe Harbour is one of our favourite festivals in the world, and we’re incredibly excited to be a part of it. The line-up is incredible, and we’re looking forward to bringing you our shows, as well as planning a gorgeous experience for you all when we bring back the full Quiet Lights programme at a later date.”
So what’s happening?
Back in 2021, traditional Irish concertina player, Cormac Begley, and contemporary classical double bassist, Caimin Gilmore were commissioned by Quiet Lights along with, cellist, Kate Ellis, and brass player/percussionist, Romain Bly, to collaborate on a new 40-minute cross-genre set for the festival.
Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival partners with Quiet Lights in presenting the premiere of this new work on Saturday, September 9th at Live at St. Luke’s.
Over the SFSH weekend, there will also be a screening of two Quiet Lights films captured over the 2021 and 2022 festivals by filmmaker Myles O’Reilly, featuring spell-binding performances from the likes of Cinder Well, Junior Brother, Lisa O’Neill, Niamh Regan and more.
On Sunday, September 10th, Ye Vagabonds present Lighthouse Constellations, a guest-filled concert at Cork Opera House, which will close out Sounds from a Safe Harbour.
Tickets for the Quiet Lights shows at Sounds from a Safe Harbour are available at soundsfromasafeharbour.com.