Panels, keynote addresses and celebrity interviews: Music Centre, Arthouse, IFC, Olympia Theatre
Impossible to list all the discussion topics, save to say that they cover everything from marketing to multimedia, from government subsidies to revenue taxes, from Britpop to Jungle, and from pirate radio to drug dealing. Keynote speakers will include Lenny Beer, editor of Hits Magazine in the US, and Donald Passman, attorney to such big stars as Tina Turner and Quincy Jones. The Celebrity Interviewee will be Clive Davis, head of Arista Records, and one of the most influential movers and shakers of the US music industry. So watch where you spill that pint, unsigned band members.
Vox'N'Roll: Whelan's in Wexford Street, September 6th - 10th
According to organiser Richard Thomas, the idea of Vox'N'Roll was to present literary readings in an informal atmosphere other than a bookshop or a reading room. You can't get much more informal than Filthy McNasty's in London, and since Vox'N'Roll started up in the popular Irish pub early this year, it's become the most celebrated bar room literary evening in the book. The pub atmosphere is perfect for readings, say the organisers, not least because that's where many of our greatest authors got their creative juices flowing.
Vox'n'Roll moves from Filthy's to Whelan's on Wexford Street for the duration of In The City, arriving a day early (no doubt to ensure a place at the bar before all the delegates get here). Readings will be given by writers and rockers like Nick Cave, Jab Wobble, Roddy Doyle. Patrick McCabe, Gavin Friday, Nick Cohn, Howard Marks, Carolyn Cassidy and Melvin Van Peebles. Just to keep everything rock'n'roll, there'll be music played between readings, specially chosen by each guest. The final evening of Vox'n'Roll will be a tribute to the late Bill Graham, the Irish rock journalist who died suddenly this year.
Guinness In The City Live: nearly every bloody venue in Dublin.
In The City's live music programme is sponsored, appropriately enough, by Arthur of the Creamy Black Stuff, and promated, unsurprisingly enough, by the ever reliable Denis Desmood. Denis optimistically describes the line up as "The bands of 97", and they included the likes of Kenickie. The Driven, Compulsion, Alisha's Attic, Nut, Moody, Catatonia, Bis, Space and Super Furry Animals, all playing at the Temple Bar Music Centre. There'll also be live music a plenty at venues like the Olympia Theatre, Whelan's and Andrew's Lane Theatre, and even Desmond's rival promoter Kieran Cavanagh is putting his oar in with gigs at The Mean Fiddler and the Tivoli. The Setanta Showcase at the Olympia will feature three of the label's finest acts, A House, The Divine Comedy and The Frank & Walters, while the Guinness In The City Live Unsigned will see Irish bands like Blink, The Hormones, The Screaming Orphans, The Bedhangers, Shiver and Sunbear battling it out for the ultimate industry accolade a deal. Also, the Attic hosts Indie City, featuring The Idiots and Mike TV plus a showcase of Irish independent labels like Blunt and Dead Elvis.
Guinness In The City Dance: whaddaya know - nearly every goddam club in Dublin.
We're talking funk, hip hop, jungle and house, played by some of the best DJs around, including Carl Cox, Sash - Johnny Moy. Mr. C and Metalheadz, in such places as The Kitchen, The POD, Renards, The System and the new Temple Theatre. Other dance events include Ear To The Ground at the Globe/Ri-Ra, featuring Gilles Peterson, Herbaliser, Ross Allen and Mark Rae, Logical Progression with LTJ Bukem, and one off visits by top UK clubs Cream and Renaissance. A big highlight will be the visit of the Fitzcarraldo, Manchester's party boat, which has drifted from its berth at Salford Quay and will soon collide headlong with Dublin's club scene. The 400 capacity theatre ship will be moored at Sir John Rogerson's Quay for the duration, and the floating venue will feature the best of both dance and indie music.
Hangover In The City: Thursday September 12th
This promises to be the biggest one yet.
