Other Voices is back and they are taking over Ballina in Co. Mayo for another mega weekend of musical goodness.

Anyone fortunate enough to have attended Other Voices before will know first hand how special the festival is. Having recently hosted the Dingle edition at the end of last year the music showcase festival is bringing a host of Irish and international acts to County Mayo for one weekend only.

Throughout the weekend the Other Voices Music Trail will see over 30 artists perform in venues dotted across the town. The free shows have a special type of energy with many of the acts playing in small confined spaces.

Ahead of the festivities we’ve lined up five of our favourite acts to see in Mayo. Whether you’ve got an appetite for hip hop bangers or soul cleansing vocals there’s something for everyone.

God Knows & Friends (Citrus Fresh, Hazey Haze and special guests)

God Knows is a staple of the Irish music scene at this point. He’s won the Choice Prize with Rusangano family and he’s heading to Other Voices to tear up the stage with his unmistakeable style, energy and flow. He’s bringing a number of guests this time for what promises to be an riotous performance.

PX Music’s Citrus Fresh has made waves in recent months with his animated performances and recent releases. His distinctive cadence and  experimental style is often coupled with a dark and twisted sense of humour. This zany approach is laced throughout his most recent works ‘Smile’ and ‘Early Days/ Late Nights’.

Fellow PX crew member Hazey Haze has followed a similar path and dropped ‘IS MISE’ to widespread acclaim at the beginning of this year. His hyper-violent lyricism and haunting delivery is as terrifying as it is electrifying.

Having both cut their teeth in Limerick, playing frequent shows with the rest of the PX crew they’re ready for bigger things and they’ll join God Knows along with some special guests in their Ballina show.

They play Bar Square 23.30 Saturday 29 Feb.

Maija Sofia

Having been nominated for the RTÉ Choice Prize for her awe-inspiring album ‘Bath Time’, Galway songwriter Maija Sofia will be showcasing her captivating sounds in Ballina this weekend. Playing a collection of songs from her debut album she’s sure to turn heads with her exploratory approach to music, adding her own delicate finesse to a folk sound.

Her lo-fi sonic aesthetic coupled with her overall songwriting ability makes her one of the country’s most exciting prospects, don’t sleep on this performance!

Maija Sofia plays Ballina Presbyterian Church 13.00 Saturday 29 Feb.

MuRli

Another member of Rusangano Family exploring solo releases is MuRli. The MC/Producer recently released ‘The Intangiables,’ and maintained his reputation as one of the hardest spitters in the country.

Blending grime, hip hop, trap and a plethora of other sounds he’s highlighted the unpredictable nature of his output. This sonic diversity coupled with his energetic live performances ensure he’s a name on the tip of our tongues this weekend.

MuRli plays T.Breathnach’s 23.30 Friday 28 Feb.

Rushes

Cork native and Diffusion Lab signee Rushes is bringing blend of RnB and pop to Mayo this weekend. His emotive lyricism and patient approach to songwriting resulted in his stellar  2019 EP ‘Glimpse’.

The project has only whet fans appetite for more content and his Other Voices performance this weekend will provide a snapshot of what is to come for the young singer.

Rushes plays The Loft Bar 18.00 Saturday 28 February.  

Shookrah

Shookrah released their debut self-titled album at the tail end of 2019. Since initially bursting onto the scene around 2017, they’ve honed in on their sound and developed a unique lane for themselves within Ireland. Despite laying a funky, soulful foundation on ‘Shookrah’, the Cork five piece outfit managed to maintain a thoroughly modern sound throughout their latest endeavour.

There’s an infectious energy in everything they do and where better to see their dance-inducing cuts live than the scenic Ballina.

Shookrah play The Cot & Cobble 23.30 Friday 28 February.

 Click here for more info.