The 9th annual SONIC VIGIL takes place on 2 May in Cork

The improvisation and sound art event, which takes place at St. Anne’s Church, Shandon, Cork from 2–8pm on 2 May brings together improvisers, sound artists and field recordists from Ireland and abroad in a multi-hour celebration of cutting-edge, radical sonic experimentation.

This year’s event features renowned multi-award winning German composer, recordist and installation artist Christina Kubisch, musician and soundscaper Hein Schoer. Also on the programme are Arif Ayab, David Bremner, Mikael Fernstrom, John Godfrey, Paul Hegarty, Anthony Kelly, Danny McCarthy, miXile, Harry Moore, Irene Murphy, Katie O’Looney, Mick O’Shea, Robin Parmar, Karen Power, Caroline Pugh, Nick Roth, David Stalling, Sean Taylor.

Managed by Danny McCarthy, Mick O’Shea, Karen Power, Irene Murphy and John Godfrey SONIC VIGIL has been running since 2007. The musicians are placed into a randomly-generated timetable, producing, according to the organisers “instant, unknowable and unexpected interactions: sounds of kaleidoscope beauty, teetering on a tantalising abyss of risk make for an immersive, mesmerising and ever-evolving experience”.

Audience members are free to come and go as they please, and are invited in amongst the musicians, encouraging an exploratory approach to hearing, an approach that is unique to the event.