[photo copyright James Armandry Photography, used with permission]

Our Winter King, James Armandry, has shared his vision for this winter

The duality of the winter season affects us all in one way or another. Some of us are thrilled at the prospect of adventures – skiing/snowboarding, winter hiking, dramatic contrasts of snowy mountain vistas, time with family and fires with friends; some of us are thrashed by the cold weather, brutally short days, and the loss of social time as people hunker down and keep themselves insulated through the dark months. Some of us hold both of these experiences at the same time, and it’s these experiences that form the base of my Winter King. I will be looking at themes of darkness, depression, lightness and joy. It is an introspective journey that I am curious to embark on, and I will be bringing the horror and delight of the season to life on Samhuinn night.

The role of Winter King is one I’ve held close for a number of years. Despite having performed in mostly summer aligned groups for the past decade (Reds, Beasties, Summer Musicians, and a myriad of others since my first festival in 2010) I’ve always considered myself a child of winter, and I had planned to take on this role years ago, but a lot of things happened in the interim. This year feels like the right time to finally do it. There’s a bigger story there, and you are welcome to ask me about it in person sometime.

When asked about my feelings towards the Summer King, and how I would deal with them, my response was “a professional ambivalence, and terrifying brutality.” Winter is not kind, but winter is not aggressive – it is an inevitable necessity that strikes summer down each year, making space for its eventual rebirth. This will not be gentle.

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