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SPRAOI PROGRAMME NOW ON RELEASE
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Held over the August Bank Holiday weekend in Ireland, the Spraoi Festival is an annual riot of colour, energy and excitement with an atmosphere that is unique among Irish festivals. It takes over city centre areas of Waterford for three days, transforming the streets and quays of the city into a giant stage for acts from all over the world. Spraoi is committed to the advancement of street arts, and the festival produces, premieres and showcases some of the best in the world. The festival is also a platform for top quality world music. And it's all free!
2008 sees a three day programme of events kicking off on Friday to sundown (and beyond) on Sunday. It will feature the Irish premiere of the large scale street theatre production “Hydromania”, presented by one of Britain’s leading street spectacle companies, Avanti Display. Also receiving Irish premieres are Sienta La Cabeza from Spain, the USA Break Dancers, The Silly People from Canada, Mimbre from the U.K. and Bash Street Theatre with their new production “The Station”, a production which has been co-commissioned by Spraoi in association with ten other international festivals.
There’ll be some great world music to be heard, from the first appearance in Ireland of big-voiced singer Jason Isaacs and the outstanding Dave Connelly Big Band, to the Latin Dub Sound System, who deliver a live music experience never to be forgotten, part sound system, part South American orchestra featuring an ever changing array of like-minded singers and MCs. Also on the bill are the funky sound of the Fat 45’s, who were a massive hit in The Chapel at the Electric Picnic last year. And there’s the Guinness Rhythm Route to look forward to, with great music in just about every city centre pub over the three days.
Special events include sprÓg, Garter Lane’s pre Spraoi Festival for children, two events in Christ Church Cathedral, the Teenage Kicks stage, the Firework Finale, and the Spraoi Festival Club.
And biggest of all, the traditional climax of the festival, Spraoi’s own parade production on Sunday evening, “The Iron Tide”.
"The biggest street party in Ireland"
The Examiner
"This was Spraoi at its world class best, stunning, exciting and spectacular"
The Munster Express
"Art of fun reclaims the streets"
The Irish Times
