And this year’s festival is bigger and better than ever!
Ireland’s only soul music festival is returning this August 26th – 28th with a jam-packed programme of soul, funk, food, drinks and entertainment taking over the city of Cork. Soul Fest 2022 will see headline concerts in city hall and around 20 venues taking part across the city, as well as a live Soul Train, a Block party and pop up performances; we really are in for a treat!
Eventi Management, led by acclaimed Festival Director Sinéad Dunphy brings Soul Fest and Cork’s own soul back to full throttle in association with Island’s Edge and with support from Cork Heritage Pub Trail, Cork’s Red FM and Cork City Council. Speaking to Craving Cork about the festival, Ms. Dunphy mentions:
“This is the ultimate party festival – and we want the people of Cork to come get their groove on with us, both day and night. Soul Fest has something for everyone and we want this Festival, to be enjoyed by as many as possible, ensuring this Festival is made in Cork, made for the people of Cork and will always keep Cork city at its heart, we can think of nowhere else that has such Pure Soul!!”
As a pre-opener to the Festival, a soul selection taster event will be held at the Poor Relation on Thursday evening with some surprise guests to get everyone in the mood for the busy weekend ahead. The Festival officially kicks off on Friday 26th August with a live soul train grooving its way through the streets of Cork for all to enjoy.
Friday 26th
On Friday evening Laoise Leahy will kick off all things live and soulful with her big band in Cork City Hall bringing the majestic venue back to its groovier life. Laoise’s rich tones will have ticketholders entranced while unveiling her highly anticipated album. The evening with Laoise will be opened by a new and upcoming soul songstress on the Cork music scene Briony O’Toole, who’s tipped to be one to watch in the coming months on her emerging rise as a soul and jazz vocalist.
With such strong talent leading the charge for the weekend, Soul Fest is set up for a weekend of incredible experiences, and with a busy trail of pubs and venues on the programme, we’re only reassured of this fact. Soul Fest 2022 is brought to you by Eventi Management and in association with Island’s Edge and with both companies keen to deliver on the ultimate social experience in all that they do, over 20 venues are taking part in the Soul Fest trail, promising, groovy tunes, soulful food and drinks along with the very best that Cork has to offer.
Saturday 27th:
Saturday kicks off with a soulful brewery tasting tour at Rising Sons brewery with an accompanying special soul food bites on offer – booking is required and can be done so through the soulfestcork.com website.
Throughout Saturday we’ll see more groovy tunes and pop events across numerous venues around the city before heading to Cork City Hall for Chicago-born, Soul-diva Karen Underwood and band taking to the stage. With such high acclaim following Karen Underwood, Saturday night of Soul Fest is already a winner for the festival circuit and Cork itself.
Sunday 28th:
And if that all of that wasn’t enough the Sunday of the Festival is set alight with a much-anticipated Block Party on Cornmarket Street with the funkiest, grooviest and soul-shaking bands on the scene taking to the stage throughout the day from 1pm.
Although Festival organisers are keeping a lid on the full line-up for the day, Festival Director Sinéad Dunphy told us we can expect the very best of tunes from some incredible bands including The Art Crimes Band, Cosmic Funk, Quangodelic, The Papa Zitas and many more (you won’t want to miss this one!)
To close out the Festival, Crane Lane Theatre will host a Festival Wrap Party til late in the popular live music venue making sure that the Festival goes out with a soulful bang with even more live music on offer from 8pm!
For more details on participating venues, and tickets for Cork City Hall concerts, visit www.soulfestcork.com or check out @soulfestcork across social media.