Galway festival celebrates uniqueness of the human voice

Date Published: {J}

The 2011 Spirit of Voice festival will take place from Friday, November 11 to Sunday, November 13 in venues across Galway City. Various artists and performers will hold shows across the city and people will have the opportunity to take part in the workshops run as part of the festival.

This exciting and unique cultural event is now in its eighth year and continues to grow in popularity. This year’s festival launch party is taking place at Tully’s Bar in Kinvara at 10.30pm on Saturday, October 22 featuring the electro swing sounds from two of thr UK’s leading Djs, Ali G & Cantina Bop, with musical support from Litehaus to launch the forthcoming series of concert and workshop events.

Inclusiveness and access to culture for all are extremely important values held by Spirit of Voice productions who are also promoting two “Social Inclusion Awareness week” events in the city and county. Award winning African gospel soul singer Toluking will be joined on stage by the Dub Doctor Reggae sound system together with the Sonke world music choir on Thursday, October 20 from 12 midday at Club Aras na Gael, followed on Saturday, October 22 in Johnston’s Hall Kinvara from 8.30pm. Admission to both shows is free and is supported by Galway City and County councils.

The Spirit of Voice festival celebrates the human voice, in all its fascinating and magnificent forms and adds another dimension to the vibrant cultural life of the city. The festival showcases the rich diversity and wonder of the voice, as it continues to grow from strength to strength and such has been its popularity that it’s a welcome date in the winter music calendar.

The Spirit of Voice 2011 Festival begins on Friday, November 11 with a line up to include music from the 1940s with the Bugle Babes, a female melody trio plus Opera Baritone Darragh McGann, aka the singing taxi driver, with Barbershop quartet Chill singing harmonies.

Songwriter Actress Nina Viertel will bring her Berlin sound to Galway for the first time, together with traditional sean nos songs from Connemara’s own Orlaith Ni Mheachair. Entry is €5/€10 after 10pm.

The annual voice workshops will be held on Saturday, November 12 providing a selection of vocal classes starting at 11am with Kundalini yoga voice chants as taught by Nina Viertel to open the day. From 12.30 Helen Webb invites you to a “world singing space”. After lunch, Mallika McCarthy will show how to be “the connected voice”. The final workshop at 4pm is hosted by Ireland’s champion beatboxer Cian Sayles aka Whitenoise beatbox. This is a great opportunity to learn the skills and techniques to play the beat urban style. To book call LISA @ 0876748557, €12 per class or €40 all day including free admission to Saturday evening show!

On Saturday, November 12 funky Reggae masters Madu arrive in town direct from their successful tour promoting new album “from the elders yard”, while there will also be a chance to hear the angelic voice of singing prodigy Casey Leigh who will showcase her new recordings. Sweden’s Erika Feeney plays her latest soulful melody rock n blues. Admission is €10 or €5 before 10pm.

Further information on the Spirit of Voice festival visit www.spiritofvoice.com