Finally, the festival season is upon us! There’s been great excitement in the air since Oxegen sold out in minutes and Electric Picnic announced its superb line-up.
Look around the country and you’ll find a wealth of other festivals, too: some old, some new – and all unique.
Those living in the west are the first to benefit from the festival boom, with the inaugural Sligo Live taking place over the forthcoming June Bank Holiday; the Roundstone Arts Festival on June 29 to July 2 as well as July 28 to July 30; and the annual Galway Arts Festival on July 17 to 30, which will see Bell X1, Rodrigo Y Gabriela and Simple Minds taking to the Big Top stage.
Great praise has been lavished upon Sligo Live in these pages, but it’s worth noting that festivals such as this – which seek to involve the entire community – are becoming more and more commonplace. And thankfully so.
For evidence of this, look no further than the Roundstone Arts Festival. What was once Roundstone Arts Week has, in its tenth year, been split into two weekends, separated by almost a month: one for music and visual arts, and one for literature and theatre.
The event has long been a favourite with locals and tourists alike. Just some of the acts appearing at weekend No.1 (June 29 to July 2) are Altan, Luka Bloom, Jape and The Mighty Stef.
Arts festivals are a perfect way to get more for your buck: they usually offer some music (generally in an international vein), an exhibition or two, some workshops and some good old-fashioned face-paintin’. In otherwords, something for you, your mum, your mate and the kids.
No event encapsulates this notion better than the Spraoi Festival in Waterford. Held over the August Bank Holiday weekend (August 4, 5 and 6), it is an annual riot of colour, energy and excitement, with an atmosphere that is unique.
You could compare the event to a parade: it transforms the streets of Waterford city into one big venue for acts from all over the world.
Indeed, Spraoi, as an organisation, frequently devises and produces wow-factor spectacles and events. With an emphasis on music, sounds of many kinds will reverberate throughout Waterford during the three days. There will be over 400 gigs on outdoor stages, in pubs across the city (as part of the Carlsberg Rhythm Route) and along the streets in the form of street bands.
Since its inception, Spraoi has always been synonymous with the sound of drums, and this year that slot belongs to The Drummers of Burundi, who will make their first ever appearance in Ireland.
Also in the line-up are Freshly Ground from South Africa and England’s RSL, as well as local and Irish talent. And as if that isn’t enough, you can learn how to make your own music with their many initiatives including the Waterford Music Network ‘Teenage Kicks’ series. And here’s the sweet part: it’s all free.
The following weekend sees The Killybegs Summer Festival kicking off with quite a start. On August 10, the official inauguration of the new town mayor will be followed by what can only be described as, the campest street party in Ireland. Abbaesque, a tribute to the most famous palindrome to come out of Sweden, will entertain the punters, decked out in their costumes and ready to throw out the hits – not one for the faint-hearted, that.
The following two days sees three of Ireland’s most interesting talents take to the stage. On Saturday, August 10, Jack L will serenade the masses while on Sunday, August 11, it’s the turn of Jerry Fish and The Mudbug Club and up-and-comer Paul Casey (read his tour diary elsewhere in this issue).
Considering the setting – a small fishing port in south-west Donegal, for those unaware – the festival is certainly worth making a weekend out of.
Talking of location, Longford Town may not be the first venue that springs to mind for a banjo festival, but nonetheless, that is exactly where the Johnny Keenan Banjo Fest will be held. A celebration of Irish traditional and American bluegrass music, the 'fest does exactly what it says in the title and then some, as it transforms the town into a haven for musicians and music-lovers alike.
Again, the music will take place in the community centres, pubs and the streets of Longford, with a stage in the centre of the town for such legends as Jerry Douglas, Finbar Furey, and Barney McKenna, considered by many to be the father of Irish banjo players. Chris Keenan, wife of the late Johnny, organizes the event, along with Cathy Casey. Contact them on 087 2817825 or log on to www.johnnykeenan.com for more details.
Elsewhere, the Junction Festival returns to Clonmel, Tipperary, July 1 to 9, bringing with it an eclectic and exciting mix of music, theatre and dance and even throwing comedy into the mix.
An international festival, Junction will host performers from South Korea, Wales, USA, Poland and Madagascar as well as Irish acts like Gemma Hayes, Declan O’Rourke, Duke Special and the hilarious Après Match. And for the child with you, or the child within, there’s even the Nofit State Circus, a contemporary circus troupe from the UK.
And then there’s the seventh Hooves And Grooves Festival in Wexford which takes place from July 5 to 9, which has yet another extra element: this time it’s horse riding. On the music front, acts to look out for include Richie Havens, Kila, Tudo Concorda, Charlie Dore, Artery and Motema to name but a few.
The Earagail Arts Festival in Donegal is in it for the long haul with a whopping 13 days – from July 10 to 23 – of music, exhibitions, talks and theatre. Musical highlights will include jazz from Polar Bear, mad-cap sounds from the Ukulele Orchestra, luscious guitar licks from Nigel Mooney and acoustic swing from Brazilian singer Joyce, as well as sessions from John Spillane, June Tabor and Eddi Reader. Exhibitions will focus around a ‘Conflict and Resolution’ theme, and there’ll also be a mass of theatre and film events.
And finally, for those looking to head to the capital for some alternative festival action, or indeed, simply reluctant to leave the big smoke, there’s quite a buzz about the first ever Afro Carnival in Dublin on August 5 and 6. As a celebration of the African arts, history, lifestyle and cultural heritage in Ireland, this is a chance to delve into the background of our growing African population. This festival aims to educate the general public while also creating an avenue for inter-racial families to enjoy each other’s culture. The two day event will feature films, crafts, music, dance, painting and teaching and is supported by the Dublin City Council as well as various African embassies in Dublin.
So there you have it, more festivals than you can shake a pair of stilts at.