This St Patrick’s Day, Jameson Connects is bringing together the most exciting acts from Ireland and beyond to celebrate one of the most important dates of the calendar year.

It goes without saying that the arts have been up against it in the last year. In the unfamiliar world we find ourselves in, live streams have become the go-to medium for finding connection in shared musical experiences. For many, the novelty has worn thin and that is why Jameson is inviting a number of artists to explore and stretch the possibilities of at-home experiences and to push the world of virtual performance.

Enlisting a host of artists whose work is indebted to the kind of world-building that lends itself to an ambitious and immersive series of online performances, Jameson Connects ‘Join In’ virtual gig allows viewers to tap into an unforgettable experience from the comfort of their own home this St Patrick’s Day.

Recapturing the ebb and flow of a traditional concert, ‘Join In’ will invite five trailblazing acts to explore different mediums, tempos, genres and venues to provoke the kind of visceral and emotional responses the past year has been so sorely lacking.

This journey will be captained by Canadian sensation Jessie Reyez. Crafting considered cuts without compromising infectious melodies, Jessie is at the forefront of a wave of artists effortlessly channelling a myriad of emotions into chart ready diary entries.

Elsewhere, Irish hip hop royalty Kojaque and Denise Chaila will be maintaining the momentum that saw them set the benchmark for acts across the island. 

Kevin Smith AKA Kojaque has routinely broken ground for aspiring wordsmiths in Ireland. Moving from LA-beat scene inspired mixtapes to forcing a revision of longstanding rules for Irish album of the year, to touring Europe with rap rager slowthai, pushing the envelope comes naturally to the Dublin spitter. Having spent lockdown putting the finishing touches to his debut album, it feels like he’s on the crest of something big and you’ll have front row seats from your sofa for what could prove to be another moment in Ireland’s continuously unfolding hip hop history.

Meanwhile, unless you have been living under a rock, you have no doubt been enamoured with the undeniable star power of the south west’s Denise Chaila. Having created a moment of her own on Other Voice’s Courage series last year, it’s been a rise of unprecedented proportions since for Denise. Following the release of her choice-prize-nominated mixtape GO Bravely and numerous appearances on late-night shows, Denise is proving to be the torch-bearer for a continually evolving perception of what it means to be Irish – one that is powered by its most exciting acts.

Elsewhere, Toronto RnB starlet Savannah Ré is following in the footsteps of her city’s stars. Having worked with Wondagurl, Keisha Chante, Babyface, and Normani, she recently signed to hip hop hitmaker Boi-1da, who has an imprint under Universal Music.

Lastly, South Africa’s WizTheMC will be adding a final pin drop to the globetrotting festivities. Born in Cape Town and making his name in Germany as a teen, WizTheMc embodies the DIY approach that has led hip hop to the forefront. Cutting his teeth as part of the NOHOMES collective, he channelled his independent approach into his captivating coming of age tape Growing Teeth. 

Wiz will join Jessie Reyez, Kojaque, Denise Chaila and Savannah Ré for an unforgettable series of performances that promises to respark a sense connectivity and bring viewers on an unforgettable journey.

Go to the Jameson Connects site on March 17 to tune in.

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