THENCF

Hello everyone and welcome to the October Newsletter

We are now part of the ENCC

The board of ENCC (European Network of Cultural Centres) has accepted theNCF Cultural Co-op as an associate member. It's a good achievement for us and we have worked for months on this project, so we are really happy with the outcome and glad to announce it to our members. This will give us the possibility to collaborate with other centres around Europe on projects and host artists and be hosted!

The ENCC office is run by a small group of women from Brussels, whose efforts go towards organising trainings on EU cooperation, consulting with members, circulating calls and opportunities, writing project applications, and encouraging discussion and experimentation around transversal issues such as inclusion, gender equality, non-urban culture, digital ethics, working conditions in culture and the arts, and of course the ecological transition.

The ENCC has been co-funded by the Creative Europe networks strand since 2014.

https://encc.eu/

Culture Night was a success!

Hewan's Djset for Culture Night at the Ballina Arts Centre was beyond our expectations!

Thank you to all who came and made it happen! We hope to host many other great events in the future with everyone engagement!

And huge thanks to Paul Cunningham for hosting us, facilitating us and to all the guys at the Ballina Arts Center, who worked for and on the night!

Thanks also to Sid and Paul B. for assisting and to Ronan for suggesting Hewan!

TheNCF Showcase @ BBF

We are doing the last few things for Friday the 4th and we can't wait to finally open our space with a big party for our members! The event starts at 8pm. This event is BYOB!
The Line-up is great as is the visual art show.
After a quick round of speeches, the musical/spoken word performances are as follow:
8:15 Joe Clarke (acoustic guitar and voice)
8:30 Jonathan Crean (sound performance)
8:50 Cathal Faughnan (acoustic guitar and voice)
9:05 Darren & Sharon (fiddle and acoustic guitar and voice)
9:20 Christina Henneman (poetry)
9:30 Pembroke (acoustic guitar and voice)
9:45 Errorist (acoustic guitar and voice)

DJ-set kicks at 10:00 pm with:
Paul Cunningham
Noel Feeney & Wayne
Paul Barrett
Relish

Visual artists exhibiting: Kristeen Andersen, Grainne Buckley, Bernie Colhoun, Emma Donoghue, Ashling Flanagan, Maggie Hollins, Chad Keveny, Binne MacManamon, Emmanuel Matt, Leon McAleenan, Jim Mulroy, Sharon Ní Chuilibín, Michael O’Boyle, Ciara O’Hara, Karolina Ostrowska, Julia Aleksandra Polak, Niamh Slack, Laura Wade, Richard Wall

Video Artists: Paul Gilgunn, Sharon Ní Chuilibín, Paul Kempton.

Kudos: Thanks again to all the individual contributors and organisers but let's keep in mind that the main exhibit on the night is the collective itself! This is a celebration of a growing community of diverse artists coming together from Sligo, Mayo and beyond. Come and see (y)our space, have a beer, introduce yourself and let's all dream of good days to come.

Door policy on the night: Our insurance doesn't cover public events when we have music on so this event is for our members and their guests only. New members will be able to sign up on the door and guests can be signed in on the night by existing members.
The only hard limit is with regards to fire regulations which means max 50 people + organisers on the premises at one time. Hopefully won't be an issue but we'll do our best to make sure everyone gets in at some stage. Sid will be looking after the door. If you have any questions drop us a line at: info@thencf.art.

Merch: All attendees are invited to bring any merch that they would like to sell on the night, we will have a merch-table. Also if anyone has a spare carpet to donate or lend us for the night or wants to help in anyway, it will be much appreciated.

TheNCF Art expo Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6pm.
On the off chance that you can't get in on Friday night, we will now also have the visual art show open to the public on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6pm. Thanks to Karolina for suggesting and to our other members for volunteering to supervise on these days.

A.S. Fanning and Badhands moved to the Ballina Arts Center

Our event with A.S. Fanning and Badhands got moved to the Ballina Arts Center and became part of the After Party on Saturday the 12th. Steve and Dan will play an acoustic set each and there will be two other DJs and booze! The event is free of charge.
https://ballinafringefestival.ie/saturday-october-12-after-party/

A.S. Fanning:
Known for his lyrically driven song, influenced by Irish literary tradition, folk music and 60s psychedelia, Berlin-based Irish gothic-folk singer-songwriter A.S. Fanning has toured across Europe, South Africa, and the U.S. His debut album Second Life (2017) received critical acclaimed and was folled by You Should Go Mad (2020) and Mushroom Cloud (2023). His work has earned him accolades such as Far Out Magazine's Songwriter of the Year. Fanning is currently recording a new album, set for release in 2025.
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/a-s-fanning-mushroom-cloud-album-review/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y4qdDd2WfA&t=1974s

Badhands:
Badhands is the musical project of Dublin songwriter Dan Fitzpatrick. His debut album Predictable Boy (2018) received critical praise, with The Sunday Times comparing him to Nick Cave. The single "Waves" gained national airplay and was BBC5 Live's Song of the Week. In 2020, he released the Oceans EP, lauded as "evocative and engaging". His second album, Far Away (2022), drew comparisons to legends like Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen. Fitzpatrick also composes award-winning documentary soundtracks.
https://www.hotpress.com/music/album-review-badhands-predictable-boy-22762253
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vijWfCm7Xj8

Ballina Fringe Festival

Don't miss the other events of Ballina Fringe Festival that runs from Friday the 4th to Sunday the 13th https://ballinafringefestival.ie/
Among particularly interesting and promising events we recommend The Totally Made Up Orchestra, Arborist, Curepedia and Frigid!

Our friends at the Ballina Fringe are still searching for volunteers helping them setting up for Dùlra
https://ballinafringefestival.ie/sunday-october-6-dulra/
The event itself is on Sunday, but volunteers are wanted for Saturday morning. For more info write to emma.donoghue.artist@gmail.com

Other events from members

Pangur Bán Bookshop is delighted to announce that acclaimed Poet and Theatre Director Joachim Matschoss will be reciting some of his poetry in store on Thursday October 3rd at 7.30 pm.
Joachim will be joined by his good friend and fellow Poet Terry McDonagh.
All are welcome to attend.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAWF5XBIY7f/?igsh=a25ta212NmM2NW14

Kate Kerrigan is doing a word of mouth, a confidence warm up before going on tour!
October 5th at 7pm in Killala Community Centre, Ballina Road, Killala.
It's 10 Euro on the door and space is limited.

Book via: https://amiirishyetkillalashowcas.rsvpify.com

Alice Kinsella & Daniel Wade are launching their book Wake of the Whale at Wild Atlantic Words in Castlebaron Wednesday, 9th October 7pm, Festival Dome.
Alice and Dan will be performing readings from their captivating, genre-bending book on whaling in Mayo.

Ballina Punx Halloween Spooktacular @ Ballina Arts Centre, Sun Oct 27th from 9pm

Line-up
The Nilz:
5 scruffy purveyors of punk rock hedonism & nihilism. A live act not to be missed.
Hot on the heels of appearances at Forest Fest, Rebellion and Electric Picnic they make their long awaited return to the Na!
They’re not the 99%, or the 1%. They’re The Nilz.

Loveen:
Noisy. Croaky. Grungy. Folky.
From emotional punk songs to poems about talking comets, Loveen aims to bring a thoughtful live show. Mixing folk styles from around the world with all the energy of 80s grunge to create their distinctive sound. Life's hard and Loveen is here to sing about it!

Nichts:
5 (sometimes 4!) piece outta the ‘Na playing a raw power punk/stoner hybrid…lots of noise!
Ex members of The Jollars, Shithätt, OFAC, Alps and more.
Come see which lineup they’ll bring this time.