Merchy Christmas returns to The Grand Social December 16-17, with live performances and a host of your favourite artists flogging their wares! Admission is free, with suggested donations of €6 split between the Dublin Simon Community and the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF).
Established during the Christmas lockdown in 2020, Merchy Christmas is the brainwave of Conor Cusack (Saint Sister’s manager) and Saint Sister. Chatting about ways to create a personal connection with their listeners and thank them for their support over the difficult year, they had the idea of a communal merch stall mixed with a Christmas market.
Working with Keiron Black and the folks at The Grand Social (longstanding champions of the independent music community) they put together a two-day event across multiple floors, which was hugely successful. 2021 saw the market return in full force. Once again, amidst challenging restrictions, it succeeded in raising much-needed funds for the artists and for a truly important cause, Homelessness in Dublin.
Now in its fourth year, the crew are again focusing on helping to raise much-needed funds for those in need. Levels of homelessness in Dublin are higher than ever, and One Stop Band Shop are proud to help raise money to support the much-needed work of the Dublin Simon Community.
In addition to helping those at home, Merchy Christmas is also raising money for those who need help further afield, specifically those suffering during the humanitarian crisis happening in Palestine. This year, alongside the Dublin Simon Community, the event is proudly partnering with The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), in association with Irish Artists for Palestine. IAFP works to unite and magnify an all-island voice of Palestinian solidarity through an ongoing arts and culture programme.
Last year the weekender raised close to €10,000 for charity and this year organisers are hoping to raise more to share between the two charity partners. A jumbo raffle will take place each day, with limited-edition merch kindly donated by the artists taking part across the weekend. Irish Artists for Palestine will also have a stall selling their own merch with the proceeds also being donated to arts organisations in Gaza, through the Palestinian Performing Arts Network
Live Performances
Participating artists will also be performing live in different areas of The Grand Social over the two days:
Saturday
Ballroom: Neil Dexter 12pm, Big Love 1pm, Aoife Nessa Frances 2pm
Smoking Area: DJACKULATE Hot Sauce DJ set 12pm-1pm, Softboy Records DJ set 2:30-3:30pm, Royal Yellow X Lady KB DJ set 4-6pm
The Loft: Morgana 4pm, John Francis Flynn 5pm, Sorcha Richardson 6pm
Sunday
Ballroom: The Line 1pm, Celaviedmai 2pm
Smoking Area: Ben Reinhardt DJ set 11am-1pm, Ian Blake DJ set 1pm-3pm, Ispíní Na Héireann seisiún 3pm
The Loft: Nealo 4pm, The Boony Men 5pm, Pillow Queens 6pm
Raffle Prizes
One full day of recording time (with engineer Cian Synnott) in The Clinic Recording Studios (Donated by David from The Cope).
Weekend Camping Ticket for BEYOND THE PALE music festival (Donated by the festival).
2x tickets to IN THE MEADOWS with Lankum and Mogwai in IMMA, Dublin (Donated by POD).
2x tickets to a SINGULAR ARTISTS concert of your choosing in 2024 (Donated by Singular Artists).
2x seated tickets to THE KILLERS in the 3 Arena with access to the 1878 Club (VIP area). Donated by Tom Clinch.
2x tickets to a show in the Grand Social (assuming not sold out) and a round of pints. Donated by the venue.
Framed and Signed FUCHSIA MACAREE print (Donated by the artist).
One year’s supply of HARRY’S NUT BUTTER (12 jars, Donated by the artist).
Other Voices Photo Book and 2023 edition woven scarf (Donated by the festival).
Coffee table books (Donated by Tony Clayton Lea).
One bottle of Dingle Gin and one bottle of Dingle single malt (Donated by Dingle Distillery).
Jameson Whiskey (Donated by Jameson via The Tenth Man Agency).
10x Merchy Christmas Goody Bags (lucky dip of merch and music donated by the artists selling across the weekend).
G.M
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