Spirit of Voice Festival takes place at weekend

The annual Spirit of Voice Festival kicks off this Friday night in the city’s Townhouse Bar with a concert headlined by Mayo musician and singer-songwriter John Hoban.

John composes all his own songs and music and is a serious multi-instrumentalist, playing fiddle, accordion, mandolin, mando-cello and harmonica among others.  He has travelled all over the world and performed with some of the best musicians across folk and traditional genres. He has recorded solo song and instrumental CDs as well as performing on many collaborative recordings.

Combining the best of the Irish tradition with a warm, raw sensibility that is his own, John brings music to diverse communities, working extensively with the elderly, people with disabilities, rural communities, refugees and others groups who are often overlooked. He is also a collector of all types of music, stories and folklore.

John is also a gifted teacher who has developed a unique approach to art and music teaching for all ages.

“As a composer, both of songs and music, I’m interested in developing music that bridges the worlds of improvisation, experimentation and the rigidity of tradition,” he explains

The Townhouse concert, which starts at 8pm, will also feature Ceara and Liam Conway, performing Portuguese fado and Irish sean-nós as well as performance poet Pat Carton hip-hop and beatbox crew, DJs Hazo and Cantina Bop, as well as actress DJ Wright, who will MC.

Spirit of Voice will also have a Celebrate the Decade party at the Cellar Bar on Eglinton Street on Saturday from 10pm, featuring DJ Nero and others.

Tickets, at €10 per night are available in advance from www.spiritofvoice.com as well as from the Townhouse Bar, Quay Lane, telephone 091 534496, or from Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Cornstore Mall, Middle Street, Galway, telephone, 091 561766.