Surprises Galore At First Of Two Sold-out Other Voices NYC Shows

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) Acclaimed Irish music series Other Voices marked its 10-year anniversary last night with the first of two sold-out shows at New York's Le Poisson Rouge. The star-studded lineup of Irish and American musicians and writers, which included Glen Hansard (The Swell Season), Bryce and Aaron Dessner (The National), Bell X1, Martha Wainwright, actor/director Gabriel Byrne, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon, Booker Prize-winning author Roddy Doyle, and many others, also featured several surprise guests including Justin Bond, Sharon Van Etten, Trixie Whitley and Damien Rice making a rare live appearance.

Curated by Glen Hansard, Thomas Bartlett, and Other Voices series editor Philip King, the concert was the first Other Voices event in America and featured performances ranging from traditional Irish fiddle tunes and poetry readings to rock and roll and spoken word. Hansard followed a new Paul Muldoon poem about Bob Dylan with a cover of "When I Paint My Masterpiece"; Gabriel Byrne recounted his early days as a struggling actor; Sam Amidon joined Martha Wainwright for a stirring performance of her mother Kate McGarrigle's "Talk To Me Of Mendicino"; and the Dessner brothers performed a haunting instrumental guitar duo before inviting Sharon Van Etten to the stage to premiere a new song.

Other Voices NYC continues tonight with Laurie Anderson joining the bill and more surprises guaranteed.