The twenty-sixth edition of Eurosonic Noorderslag will showcase twenty one Irish acts, including Lisa Hannigan (pictured), and new artists such as Wallis Bird, God is an Astronaut, Cashier No9 and We Cut Corners, amongst others.

The festival, taking place on 11—14 January 2012, will feature nearly 300 acts in the northern Dutch city of Groningen and expects to attract in the region of 18,000 spectators. Each year, the European music conference and showcase festival highlights one European country with a flourishing musical climate — this year it is Ireland. In previous editions focus countries have been France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Norway and The Netherlands.

As part of the focus, subjects important for the Irish market will be highlighted during the four-day conference. Several panels will feature Irish managers, Irish festival and radio representatives and Irish music journalists, who will share their knowledge on the Irish market and relations with other European countries.

Furthermore, the Irish singer/songwriter James Vincent McMorrow has been announced as a winner of a European Border Breaker Award for the success of his album Early in the Morning. McMorrow and the nine other winners will receive their awards in a televised ceremony hosted by Jools Holland at the opening day of Eurosonic Noorderslag. The ceremony — including performances by most of the winning acts — will be broadcast live.

Peter Smidt, Creative Director of Eurosonic Noorderslag, explains the festival’s choice for Ireland: Lots of Irish artists are making great music and are very successful worldwide — enough reasons to put the focus on Ireland in 2012 at Eurosonic Noorderslag.

For more detaled information visit:

musicfromireland.org

festival.eurosonic-noorderslag.nl/en/