Dame Area and DJ Marcelle for Open Ear

The Sherkin Island sojourn returns following a triumphant 2024, bringing headsy leftfield electronics to an idyllic setting.

We at IO have been admiring Open Ear from afar for years. The best festivals are the ones that demand something of its crowd just by the simple act of making it there. Located on Sherkin Island off the south coast of Ireland, it’s no mean feat to attend, and so Open Ear has evolved as an intimate gathering built on the strongest social foundations. While the early iterations were essentially a roll-call of a group of music-making mates in Ireland or close-by, the festival seems to have edged out its offering in a subtle but considered way. Local-ish talent is still the bread and butter, but this year there’s also space for the likes of mischievous Dutch avant-selector DJ Marcelle, Spanish industrial riot-starters Dame Area and Skam Records in-house electronica DJ par excellence Rob Hall.

Peep the full line-up via the poster below and get planning your expedition to southern Ireland now with the useful bits and pieces on the official website.

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