The rise of the LA sound / Waiting for Godot / Galway named European Capital of Culture 2020

Irish Times Off Topic

West Coast music is in rude health according to Dean Van Nguyen. Artists like Kamasi Washington, Flying Lotus and Kendrick Lamar are releasing fresh and vital albums packed with musical experimentation and a keen social conscience. Dean joins host Laurence Mackin and guests, chief theatre critic with the Irish Times Peter Crawley and journalist Zara Hedderman to discuss the musical heritage and sonic appeal of that "LA sound", and how these works have breathed new life into contemporary jazz and hip-hop. Waiting for Godot is a play Peter Crawley knows well - too well. New productions of Beckett's absurdist play pop up on a regular basis. Having thought the play had no more mystery or revelations to offer, Peter "stumbled out in disbelief" at the impact of Druid Theatre's latest production of Godot at the Galway International Arts Festival. Describing it as "exceptional and miraculous", he endeavours to explain to the podcast why it had such a profound effect on him. And finally, the successful bid for European Capital of Culture 2020 has gone to Galway. Gemma Tipton joins us on the line from Galway to discuss the "joy and tears" and no small amount of excitement that this announcement has brought to the city.