- Culture
- 02 May 23
Body & Soul Festival 2023 takes place from June 16-18 at Ballinlough Castle Estate, Co. Westmeath.
Body & Soul festival have announced 22 additional acts to this year's lineup, featuring Alison Goldfrapp, Fever Ray, much-loved comedians like Alison Spittle, David O’Doherty - plus podcast hits Louise McSharry and I’m Grand Mam.
With community taking centre stage at Body & Soul this year, a dedicated programme will spotlight creative communities through performances, workshops, talks and panels with a whopping 19 guest community curators.
The festival has also unveiled the wild array of spaces, stages, nooks and crannies for attendees to discover - whether you want to throw shapes on a bass-filled dancefloor, catch up on some comedy, or lose your stress with a hot stone massage.
The Body & Soul Stage is where the majority of headline acts perform, like the newly announced Fever Ray - one of pop’s true visionaries and boundary breakers. Synth-pop superstar Alison Goldfrapp and electronic duo The Blaze join the previously announced Moderat, The Murder Capital, Hennessy Hip Hop Trail talents Denise Chaila, Kojaque, Kneecap and Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra.
These headliners share the stage with emerging talent and legendary acts from various musical genres, like the legendary The Tulla Céilí Band, founded in 1946 in Co. Clare, alongside Aoife Nessa Frances, BCUC, Beth Orton, Gwenno, Kokoroko, Kormac's Equivalent Exchange, Kurt Vile & The Violators, MEUTE, Public Service Broadcasting, Tinariwen, Weval and Ye Vagabonds.
Inspired by the graceful curves of ship hulls, nests, rib cages, and curved parametric shapes, the Body & Soul stage is created by their 10-year long collaborator and expert, Toby Hatchett. The wooden stage softens and smooths, creating an intimate and focused space for performances that transports you to another world.
In the midst of the ancient woodlands, where legends of past parties linger, lies The Beacon Sound System. A dance haven and festival-favourite realm dedicated to electronic beats; brand new acts announced today including Dublin DJs Bella Festa, curator of An Taobh Tuathail on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Cian Ó Cíobháin, producer, podcaster and DJ Kate Brennan Harding, seasoned promoter, booker and DJ Lolz, Belfast native Marion Hawkes, staples of the party scene Mother DJs and the energetic and diverse Neil Flynn.
This wealth of newly announced party-bringers join the iconic earlier announced acts The Blessed Madonna, Avalon Emerson, Shanti Celeste, HAAi, Gerd Janson, Gilles Peterson, Efa O’Neill and Sara Miller.
Home of the legendary closing ceremony The Pagan Rave along with Sing Along Social and newly announced festival fun The Craic’d Ceili, The Beacon Sound System is a custom-designed 30ft geometric totem that will draw you in from all directions.
A spectacular lineup of Irish and international acts will take the The Hennessy Hip Hop House stage - including Gemma Dunleavy, Aby Coulibaly, Bon Voyage, Celaviedmai, God Knows, JyellowL, MuRli, Nealo, Negro Impacto, RíRá, Ruby Ivy, Strange Boy and Sweetlemondae.
Renowned DJs Aoife Nic Canna, Arveene, Bé, Ben Bix x Little O, Billy Scurry, CC, Daddy G, DJ Flip, DJ Mek, DJ Tu-Ki, Glen Brady, Handsome Paddy, Hewan Mulugeta, Mango, Moving Still, Nightmares on Wax, Queen Beatz, Stevie G Soundsystem and Tee Cardaci will also bring the energy.
During the days, immerse yourself in conversations and panel discussions, graffiti, breakdance classes and workshops from an eye-catching lineup that is steeped in Hip Hop history from collaborators like Breakdance from Northern Soles Crew, District Presents: The Future of Irish Music, Graffiti from Rask & Sums, Hip Hop Karaoke, Paint & Sip with Simba, Talk: From Hip Hop to Bass, The Story of Irish Hip Hop: The Music, The Culture, The Community.
The Secret Orchard is dedicated to highlighting the height of Irish talent, with new addition Jealous Of The Birds, whose new album Hinterland comes out 19 May, joined by the previously announced Ailbhe Reddy, Joy (Anonymous) (Live), Junior Brother, Real Lies, Ruti, Sorcha Richardson and THUMPER. In partnership with Bulmers, the playful and vibrant stage, constructed entirely from sustainable materials, boasts an aesthetic inspired by the humble honeycomb, invoking the bees that pollinate apple trees.
A mix of live music, comedy, conversation and drag cabarets from the ridiculously entertaining Paradise Cabaret will grace the stage, featuring both emerging and established acts. Multi-talented Irish comic Alison Spittle brings the laughs alongside the legendary David O’Doherty and social media stormers Michael Fry & Killian Sundermann.
Thought-provoking conversations with Amanda Adé X Off Trance and Creative Conversations with Ruth Medjber, plus live podcasts by chart toppers I’m Grand Mam and Louise McSharry will open up your mind.
The Cabin in the Woods boasts a carefully curated lineup of DJs who spin slow-burning jams and laid-back grooves with a touch of the unexpected. By day, the cabin transforms into a haven for workshops, conversations, and quirky experiences, adding another dimension to your festival adventure.
To mark the 13th year of Body & Soul, the festival organisers have extended this milestone celebration to the wider creative network. A dedicated programme that spotlights creative communities through performances, workshops, talks and panels will take place with 19 guest Community Curators who will curate a corner of the festival this year - asking members of our community to invite their community.
These activities will be showcased across the festival and spotlighted on the The Sanctuary Stage - including Conor Creighton who will create a Love School at the festival, Níall Ó Murchú who will lead a blissful breathing session, The Useless Project who will host workshops on intergenerational knowledge and nature and Guzzle who will curate a special Summer Solstice feast.
Fellow Community Guest Curators also include Alltar, Alessandra Azevedo, Amanda Adé X Off Trance, Claire Davey (America Village Apothecary), Conor Creighton, Dafe Orugbo, Guzzle, Louise McSharry, Martin O’Donoghue, Níall Ó Murchú, The Pagan Rave, Rudi Lee McCarthy, Ruth Medjber, The Useless Project, Seanchoíche, Mother DJs and late night curators Kev Freeney, Simon Cullen & Simon O’Reilly (The Ambient Broadcast).
Awe-inspiring art installations, long table banquets and many initiatives will keep Body & Soul attendees grounded in creating the most sustainable festival in Ireland.
- Early Bird: Leave No Trace Weekend Camping - SOLD OUT
- Tier 1 - Leave No Trace Weekend Camping: €219.00 + service charge - SOLD OUT
- Tier 2 & Tier 3 - Leave No Trace Weekend Camping: €239.00 & €249.00 + service charge
- Campervan Ticket - €95 + service charge
- The Payment Plan €249 + booking fee: Pay 50% now and 50% on 31 May
- Team Ticket: €1245 + booking fee – Enjoy a discount when you purchase 6 for the price of 5 tickets.