Body & Soul: The Rise and Rise of One of Ireland's Best Festivals

Body&Soul, which celebrates its tenth birthday in 2019, ranks right up there among Ireland’s most beloved festivals. And for very good reason. With its unique and diverse focus on music, art, performance, community and creative expression, this genuinely is a labour of love that consistently delivers a very special festival experience, over the June bank holiday weekend.

”There is a certain energy that coalesces when people come together with a common or shared purpose,” Avril tells us, “and it was that energy that inspired us to create Body&Soul.”

Ballinlough Castle in Westmeath has served as the festival’s beautiful home, with great distinction, over the past decade. But the inspiration behind the concept was born earlier, during Avril’s adventures across South America, Asia, India and the United States, a time when she herself was buzzing about ways to marry ancient cultural practices with a modern style and approach.

“I witnessed how other cultures celebrated their traditions and rites of passage,” she explains. “From a solar eclipse party in Brazil, to the ritual and procession of the Kumba Mela in India, to the creativity and wildness of Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert – all of these experiences gave birth to the desire to create our own modern-day interpretation of the age-old tradition of celebrating the Summer Solstice in Ireland.”

In 2010, at the height of the recession here, Body&Soul was launched as an independent festival, timed to run on the June bank holiday weekend: the weekend of Solstice. It soon carved out a special identity that no other festival in the country could come close to.
“We moved away from the concept that a festivals’ merit was based on its headliners, and spearheaded a new movement that put music, art, wellbeing, food, sustainability, and creative collaboration on an equal footing,” Avril says. “It was a success because we were ahead of our time.”

ALTERNATIVE REALITY

Another factor that sets Body&Soul aside from the competition is its unique energy as a female-led festival.

“We’re not festival producers,” Avril tells us. “We curate and craft a festival party that we, as women, want to go to, which in turn positively impacts on how we shape the festival in terms of music, design, ethos, and vibe. Our focus has always been on creating a more immersive environment that tends both to your wild side, and to the part of you that wants to feel cared for.”

Since its formation, Body&Soul has radically redefined Ireland’s festival culture. Despite a few changes over the last ten years, creativity, innovation and evolution remain constant features of the festival.

“We want to give artists a platform to express themselves, hone their craft and reach a wider audience of thousands,” Avril explains. “We collaborated with those at the centre of Irish creativity, as well as incredible international artists like Burning Man’s Shine, Lucent Dossier and David Best.”

By placing themselves firmly in a position that welcomes meaningful conversation and debate, Avril and the team have crafted a festival that is at the forefront of social change in Ireland. This year, 50% of attendees have opted to pitch their tents in the ‘Us&You’ Leave No Trace camping areas.

And in this rapidly changing world, there’s no doubt that festivals like Body&Soul, with their powerful emphasis on inclusivity and togetherness, are becoming more vital than ever.

“There’s a relentless pressure on people to be better, busier, successful, to look a certain way, and to push themselves further,” Avril says. “We stop that clock on the Friday, and invite everyone that comes to the festival into an alternative reality that allows them to be free and express themselves in whatever way they want.

“When it’s all done and dusted, we want people to go home with a glint in the eye and a twinkle in their hearts.”

• The 10th Body & Soul Music and Arts Festival runs 21st-23rd June 2019. Tickets and full line-up available here: bodyandsoul.ie