Rhiannon Giddens at Cork Opera House tonight as Sounds From a Safe Harbour festival continues

THE Sounds from a Safe Harbour (SFSH) festival is alive and thriving across Cork City this weekend, as the festival celebrates its landmark 10th anniversary edition.

Running until tomorrow, this year’s programme is a rich tapestry of music, visual art, language, ritual, food, theatre and conversation, continuing the festival’s tradition of bringing together artists and audiences in unexpected and transformative ways.

Curated by festival director Mary Hickson, in collaboration with actor Cillian Murphy, Bryce Dessner of The National, writer Max Porter, and folklorist Billy MagFhloinn, Sounds from a Safe Harbour has grown over the past decade into one of Ireland’s most distinctive cultural gatherings.

It is a festival that blends the epic with the intimate, the poetic with the political, and it has earned a reputation for its spirit of collaboration, surprise and creative risk-taking.

This 10th anniversary edition opened on Thursday evening with two special sold-out events: Remembering Talos at Cork Opera House, followed by a riotous Opening Ceremony at Elizabeth Fort - a pagan rave that set the tone for the days ahead.

Over the course of the weekend, audiences can expect a city alive with sound and creativity, from surprise pop-up shows and the much-loved free music trail, to culinary collaborations, late-night happenings and new work that sits at the crossroads of art forms.

While most of the programme has already sold out, there are still some opportunities to join the celebrations.

As well as an abundance of free music trail shows and surprise pop ups, and a highlight features Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi at Cork Opera House this evening.

SERENGETI AT NUDES

The night will continue with Serengeti at Nudes, Daithí at Cyprus Avenue, and Vanishing Arcs - the new project from Conor O’Brien of Villagers - at Kino Event House, keeping the music flowing well into the early hours.

Tomorrow, the festival closes with an extraordinary line-up that captures the spirit of Sounds from a Safe Harbour at its finest.

Jon Hopkins brings his powerful Embodiment Breathwork to Cork Opera House, while Donnacha Dennehy joins forces with Crash Ensemble for a major performance.

Audiences can also look forward to Sounds from a Honky Tonk, a live country music club hosted by Amanda Bergman, alongside appearances from Dakhabrakha, Mina Tindle with Kate Stables, and a closing celebration led by Efterklang at Cork Opera House.

The festival encourages audiences to stay tuned to its website and social media channels, where details of surprise performances and hidden gems will be revealed across the weekend. Full timetable and remaining tickets can be found at soundsfromasafeharbour.com/festival-timetable.