CITY’S SING STARS
FESTIVAL OF VOICES LINE-UP
FROM world famous Grammy winners to drag queens and pub choirs, this winter’s 14th annual Festival of Voices has something to suit almost all musical tastes.
From June 29 to July 15, Australia’s biggest annual celebration of the human voice will offer more than 100 individual events, with the big-ticket item on this year’s program — officially launched in Hobart yesterday — to be the Tasmanian debut of legendary South African choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Founded in 1960, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has won five Grammy Awards and became worldfamous in the mid-’80s after singing on Paul Simon’s Graceland album.
Other FOV concert highlights will include the Australian debut of US a cappella group FACE Vocal Band; a performance by veteran folk singer-songwriter Eric Bogle; and a ‘70s throwback event with a guest appearance by former Australian Idol judge Mark Holden. Choral highlights will include a performance of Brahams’ En Deutsches Requiem conducted by David Lawrence and featuring a chorus of more than 120 interstate and local voices. To make it easier for families to attend, the festival’s signature event, the City of Hobart Big Sing Bonfire, will move from its traditional Frid a y evening timeslot to 5pm on Sunday, July 8. This year’s feature song will be Pharrell Williams’ 2013 hit Happy.
Those who need a little liquid encouragement to unleash their singing voice can sign up for one of the new Pub Choir sessions, where friends and strangers will come together to belt out a song over a few beers.
The FOV will begin on June 29 with its biggest East Coast program to date, with the likes of Mental as Anything, Henry Wagons, Kyle Lionhart, Lime Cordiale, Freya Josephine Hollick and Frank Sultana performing at venues at Buckland, Cranbrook, Bicheno, Apslawn and Coles Bay.
The popular Voicebox club at Hobart City Hall — hosted by Dolly Diamond — has had a cabaret makeover, and will also double as a free late night supper club featuring live music from local acts Uncle Gus and the Rimshots and The Matthew Ives Little Big Band.
Another feature act at City Hall will be Queensland indigenous artist and former X Factor contestant Rochelle Pitt, on July 6, who began singing in churches and choirs as a child.
The festival will also return to Rosny Barn for Up Close and Personal, a series of intimate performances by Melody Moko, Shaun Kirk, Georgia Fields, The Velvetones and ARIA Award winning Tasmanian-born singersongwriter Monique Brumby.
There’s also a new ‘Singposium’ community forum about the science and social impact of singing; the Winter Singing School workshops and short courses; and more than 40 free pop-up events in and around Hobart.