Over the last weekend in July (30th and 31st), Milk and Cookie Stories (www.milkandcookiestories.com) will be holding its very own FESTIVAL! Taking place in the breathtaking surroundings of Martinstown House (http://www.martinstownhouse.com/), the Secret Garden is an outdoor festival, with camping facilities provided.
There will be storytelling and marshmallows around bonfires, music played beneath the apple trees and workshops of all kinds (novel-writing, balloon-making, swordfighting, Street Fighter, burlesque, yoga)! We will host our very own Royal Punble (a battle of puns that will push even the keenest minds to their limit). There will be games (croquet, horseshoes, swingball) and a dance-off (maybe Céilidh, maybe breakdancing). And for those adventurous souls who remember to bring their wits and a change of clothes – plans are underway to create the most epic waterfight the world (Kildare) has ever seen. It'll be like Halo with waterguns.
Our current line-up…
Jazzberries - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jazzberries/114670408587849
The funky soul-stepping jazz minxes who have blown minds at two consecutive After Dark parties so far with their renditions of some classic Jamiroquai and N*E*R*D tunes. Danny Forde of the Jazzberries will also be treating us to a solo set.
Swords – www.facebook.com/swordsband
"Ticking Rhythm, Brilliant Hooks" - Jackie Hayden, Hotpress Magazine 'Pick of the Fortnight' May 18 2011. Swords are an eclectic trio of alt/pop songsmiths replete with driving basslines & powerful synth.
Three-O-Troupe - www.facebook.com/three.o.troupe
A Dublin-based burlesque act the likes of which you’ve never seen. Unless you were at After Dark. Or After Dark 2. Or one of their shows. Anyway, they’re darlings.
The Young Folk - www.facebook.com/TheYoungFolkMusic
Born of Folk and Fire, this five piece have taken the festival circuit by storm over the past year. With a well received debut album already under their belt and their sophomore offering slated for release later this year, the young folks much lauded live sets are fast becoming the stuff of legend. Turn On. Tune In. Folk Off.
Robotnik - www.facebook.com/robotnikmusic
Robotnik is an adventurous Lo-fi concoction of pop, electronic beats and melodic musings on relationships, fantasies and twentysomethingdom.
Elder Roche - www.facebook.com/elderroche
Embracing the grittier side of life and paving the way with slapping grooves and roots overtones, Elder’s theatrical storytelling has likened him to Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave and David Bowie. So he’s alright like.
The Good Time Maritimes - www.facebook.com/pages/The-Good-Time-Maritimes/132410026783478
Commonly described as "Difficult to describe but, I'm digging it!" The Good Time Maritimes have evolved from a folky singer/songwriter experiment to a full on progressive fusion of jazz, folk, rock and funk.
The Ghostbusters
The Ghostbusters are Dublin's grooviest most spandex clad 80s tribute band. Playing 80s hits such as 99 Red Balloons, Material Girl, Love Shack, Eye of the Tiger and much more - you will feel like the 90s never happened. So for all your classic 80s entertainment needs - who you gonna call...?
& on our spoken word stage…
James Moran
A long-time Milk and Cookie Stories favourite, James Moran is currently taking the Dublin comedy scene by storm with his surreal storytelling style.
Come as Soon as You Hear - http://comeassoonasyouhear.blogspot.com
The brilliant talents of Come as Soon as You Hear will be performing ‘Playback’, an interactive storytelling experience, where performers work together to recreate the essence of stories they’ve been told on stage. It sounds abstract. It is abstract. It’s also cathartic, touching, nostalgic, entertaining, potentially rich and always rewarding – for the storyteller, the performers and the spectators.
Laura Jane Cassidy - http://www.laurajanecassidy.com
Laura Jane Cassidy is the author of the recently published teen fiction novel ‘Angel Kiss’. She was described by the Irish Times as “a welcome new voice in the Irish literary world” and will be giving us the benefits of her writing experience in a teen fiction writing workshop.
Tom Rowley – www.storymap.ie
Another Milk and Cookie Stories favourite, Tom Rowley has recently started the amazing Storymap project. He tried to make an announcement about it at a recent Milk and Cookies event, but the audience refused to let him leave until he’d told them a story. Because he’s just that good.
Sarah Maria Griffin – http://wordfury.blogspot.com
Sarah Maria Griffin has performed her poetry on RTE Radio One, competed at poetry slams all around the country, blogged furiously, recently published her first collection, “Follies”, and now she’s going to delight us too.
Marcus O’Laoire - http://www.milkandcookiestories.com/2010/04/marcus-olaoire-mc1/
A talented spoken word artist who has been gigging around Dublin for the last three years and is bringing his first show to this years Edinburgh Fringe Festival Marcus O’Laoire is also very good at cooking and knows a lot about wine.
Gareth Stack - http://virginstandup.ladyboyjesus.com
Gareth Stack is an Irish writer and comedian, who has been performing standup, alternative comedy and storytelling since 2009. Intelligent, innovative and sometimes controversial, he has spearheaded the Exchange Words spoken word showcase, runs alternative comedy night Marshmallow Ladyboy Jesus and is currently recording a comedic radio series set to air shortly.
Raven Aflakete - http://www.myspace.com/nomanifesto
A charismatic wordsmith hailing from San Fransisco, Raven co-hosts the Tongue Box monthly spoken word night in the Cobblestone, and has thrilled audiences at just about every major spoken word event in Ireland.
And our special guest…
Mr Balloonatic
Has astounded and delighted audiences at The World Street Performing Championships, Milk and Cookies: After Dark and many other festivals and events, and will be showcasing his weird and wonderful talents for the lucky audience of the Secret Garden.
…with more to be announced in the coming weeks!
Festival membership (which gets you entry and the aforementioned COOKIES) will be on sale:
- every Saturday, 2pm-6pm
- online at www.eventelephant.com/secretgardenfestival