The Lugh living sculpture at Dun na Sí in Moate from where this Saturday’s concert is to be livestreamed on the Visit Westmeath Facebook page.

Filmakers come together to livestream local concerts

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The Lugh living sculpture at Dun na Sí in Moate from where this Saturday’s concert is to be livestreamed on the Visit Westmeath Facebook page.

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Alp Luachra, who are performing at this Saturday’s livestreamed gig from Dún na Sí in Moate.

Published: Fri 25 Jun 2021, 3:06 PM

Two landmark locations in Westmeath are to play host over the coming two weekends to two livestreamed concerts – and while the pandemic means the public cannot attend, they will be able to catch all the action as it happens, free of charge on the Visit Westmeath Facebook page.

This Saturday, June 26, the exciting Alp Luachra is lined up to perform at Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park in Moate while on June 3 at Killua Castle, the Edenderry band KinetiX is to perform. Both shows kick off at 9.30pm.

The performances are being directed and produced by Mullingar filmmaker Mark Bennett of www.crosscut.ie who is passionate not just about good filmography, but good music.

That passion for film is why, Mark says, there is such a large technical team lined up to operate the cameras and drones at the two events, and to ensure the sound is top quality. The concerts will be filmed using seven manned cameras, a fully-licensed drone, staging and lights and will have a low-key, intimate feel. Local industry professionals joining Mark to bring the performances into the public domain include Frank Byrne and Robbie Burzwaza on sound, Lee Bracken, Paul Plunkett, Shane Gorry, Tom Hore, Mick Bracken, Joe Brennan and John McMahon on cameras, Arthur Stones and Theodore Stones on staging and lighting and Fiona Fitzgerald on PR and production.

Mark knows exactly what is involved in live filming: in his professional life he does a lot of both corporate work and filming for TV.

Last year, local audiences benefited from his skills when he oversaw a series of livestreams which included performances by The Blizzards at Tullynally Castle Gardens, The Academic at Belvedere House, Gardens and Park and Tonic House Collective at Kilbeggan Distillery

Funding to stage the Moate and Killua shows has come from Westmeath County Council and Creative Ireland, and Westmeath tourism officer Una Doris says that the aim of the two events to capture the attention of a worldwide online audience, helping to showcase Westmeath and its iconic visitor attractions, along with the area’s home-grown musical talent.