Soul Fest (formerly Soul in the City), Ireland’s only Soul music festival, is returning to Cork city this August 26th – 28th with a jam-packed programme of funk, soul, and entertainment. Headliners Karen Underwood and Laoise Leahy take over City Hall on the Friday and Saturday and tickets are on sale now!
Programme Director, Sinéad Dunphy of Eventi Management said:
Soul Fest is the new name, but the festival still has its original heart and soul at it’s very core! The festival was one of the first to return to live gigs last year despite restrictions lifted and we’re going bigger and better this year with more concerts, bigger venues, and more surprises!
The festival has had a big year so far and has recently completed a social outreach programme with DEIS schools around the city that featured a musical experience with Karen Underwood funded by the Bank of Ireland Begin Together Arts Fund in partnership with Business to Arts. The programme brought soul music and stories into the lives of children in DEIS schools from the Community Response Areas with a unique music and educational experience.
Of the project, Ms. Underwood said:
With the negative influences of social media, peer pressure and in the scope of a global pandemic Soul Fest is bringing encouragement through music to schools one student at a time. These young people need more than formal learning.
Soul Fest promises a weekend of fun ensuring something for everyone. Music trails featuring Cork’s best loved pubs and clubs will run throughout the festival and a real live Soul Train will dance its way through the streets of Cork grooving the Festival into your hearts and minds on Friday 26th to kick off the festivities! Following on from its inaugural event in 2021, Sunday will see the return of the much- anticipated Block Party with some soulful sounds to close out the weekend of festivities. With 95% of the Festival being completely free of charge including the Soul Train, Block Party, Pop Up Events and more, this Festival is truly becoming the heart and true SOUL of Cork City.
Tickets for the headline concerts, Karen Underwood and Laoise Leahy, are on sale now from www.soulfestcork.com Keep an eye on @soulfestcork across all socials for more announcements and special surprises!
Notes:
Soul Fest, originally Soul in the City Festival was founded in 2019 by two volunteers for a soul music festival homed in the Victorian Quarter, in 2020 the Festival was handed over to Eventi Management who produced the festival virtually, and in a live capacity in 2021. The 2022 Festival is happening this August 26th – 28th with Karen Underwood and Laoise Leahy and their respective bands headlining the Festival.
Karen Underwood:
Karen Underwood is a soul singer, and storyteller. Having moved from her home in Chicago, she has lived in Cork for more than two decades, performing in countless festivals, concerts and shows. She has whipped up audiences with her confessionary style performances and powerful, touching voice. A champion performer beloved in Ireland’s second city, she has truly won the hearts of the people of Cork, Ireland and beyond.
Laoise Leahy:
Having performed with the likes of Damien Rice, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Bon Iver, Damon Alburn, Jack O’Rourke, Brian Deady, acclaimed singer and educator – Laoise Leahy performs original soul music chronicling her performance life of over 20 years as well as singing some famous soul covers. As a dynamic and versatile performer, her original work pushes the boundaries of soul music, incorporating influences of jazz, blues, electronic, dance, folk and more. A unique style and fusion-based soul sound, this is a concert that will wow all in attendance.
Soul Fest believes strongly in making culture, and the cultural offerings of Cork City accessible to everyone in the city and hope that this project will provide a unique, informative and educational experience for students who would not otherwise experience this kind of music in their daily lives.
Tickets for the Karen Underwood and Laoise Leahy concerts at city hall are on sale now from €27 from www.soulfestcork.com.
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