The Hilltown New Music Festival takes place Friday, 20 July, to Sunday, 22 July, at Hilltown House, an 18th century listed building in Castlepollard, Westmeath. The festival features a mix of international and Irish artists, with an emphasis on new works inspired by John Cage. The festival opens on Friday night with an evening concert dedicated to Cage, called What We Love, with performances by the Quiet Music Ensemble with Barbara Luneberg, Strange Attractor and the Kirkos Ensemble.

The schedules for Saturday and Sunday at the festival are open, featuring performances across multiple venues, sonic and visual installations and a listening room for acousmatic works. Guest performers include electronic artist David Toop, Asmus Tietchens, Kirkos, Anthony Kelly and David Stalling, and the Hilltown Ensemble. The installation artists with works on display include Karen Power, Irene Murphy, Alan Dunne and Dominic Vogel. In The Herd’s Lounge, There Is No Such Thing As An Empty Space, a selection of sound works from the festival’s open call will be presented throughout the weekend.

Tickets for the festival cost €15 (Friday), €20 (Saturday and Sunday) or €45 for the whole festival. For more information about the festival and the events, see the festival’s website below.

hilltown.ie