An orange piano was part of the display at this year’s Festival of Voices launch conjuring up the twin images of the festival, good music, performed in the glowing orange warmth of the festival’s bonfire night.
I recently attended this year’s launch, marking the fourteenth year of the festival. The Festival of Voices began in 2005 and was introduced to signal the beginning of the Tasmanian winter.
This year the festival will kick off its coastal collaborations with Mental as Anything and Frank Sultana on Friday 29 June from 6pm.
A coup act for the festival will be Multi Grammy award winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who came to prominence in the 70s when they collaborated with singer Paul Simon on his 1981 Graceland album.
Other guests of the festival include Eric Bogle and Greta Bradman.
This year’s voice box with its mixture of cabaret, soul and jazz will be hosted by the delightful Dolly Diamond, who along with Frank Sultana who launched (pardon the pun) into performance giving us a taste of their style.
New this year will be the venue of the launch, The Waterside Pavilion, being utilised as the festivaL hub. Patrons will be able to visit to pick up a program, enjoy drinks and conversation regarding the festival.
Festival of Voices begins on Friday 29 June and goes till Sunday 15 July. For more information visit https://festivalofvoices.com/.
Paula Xiberras
