Abbey Road 2

Torann are recording final segments of their second album at Spraoi Studios and plan to release it this summer after re-mixes.

The band will also play live at this year’s Spraoi Festival. It’ll be different and special, full details once we suss-out the idea.

                          

‘Spraoi celebrates its 20^th birthday this year. Why not invite friends and family along? Spraoi and An Post have produced a special postcard to help you do just that. Just collect a card from: Waterford City libraries, Post Offices, banks, hotel receptions, Tourist Office, arts venues, selected shops, etc. Stamp and address it to family and friends and let’s get them here for Ireland ’s big birthday party in 2012.’

                          

‘Spraoi celebrates its 20th birthday this year. Why not invite friends and family along? Spraoi and An Post have produced a special postcard to help you do just that. Just collect a card from: Waterford City libraries, Post Offices, banks, hotel receptions, Tourist Office, arts venues, selected shops, etc. Stamp and address it to family and friends and let’s get them here for Ireland ’s big birthday party in 2012.’

                          

Twenty Spraoi’s One BIG BANG

It’s hard to believe that next year will be the 20th Spraoi Festival. There’s a special fundraiser for Spraoi in The Forum this New Year’s Eve, Big Bang at Midnight.

Mixing elements of performance, sets, visuals, live-soundtrack and a sprinkle of theatrical-technicality Spraoi is set to manufacture a magical moment at midnight worthy of any continental club.

Top band Swampstompers and Bounce D.J.’s also feature. The Big Bang at Midnight offers fantastic New Year’s Eve party value at €10. Doors 10.30pm.

Don’t miss out!

Swampstompers

Bounce DJs

Live Spraoi Show

10:30

Admission €10

                          

Gareth Jones entertains the crowds at Spraoi Festival 2011.

                          

Spraoi Festival was delighted to present the premiere of the Fanzini Brothers new show Professor Plunger.

Since then the inventive Irish act has been on the road, including successful, if damp, shows at Kilkenny Arts Festival. The Professor recently brought his unique experiments to Puck Fair and entertained all round him with his musical bell playing finale.

Several of the audience got in on the act, helping out the absent minded professor work his experiments and his camera and even joining him for a few photos. The Professors next adventure sees him going to Nepal and Bhutan with the Smile Project charity www.thesmileproject.ie performing for poor orphans and street kids.

                          

Nice picture in Monday’s Irish Times of the ‘Three Rivers Project’ hanging in Kilkenny for the Arts Festival. Members of the public made replica stained-glass panels in Waterford, Carlow and Kilkenny earlier this year.

They were subsequently installed for Carlow’s Eigse Arts Festival, Spraoi International Street Arts Festival and Kilkenny Arts Festival. The project was initiated and led by Spraoi’s Artistic Director Mike Leahy, with special thanks to Eigse’s Artistic Director Tara Connaghan and Kilkenny’s Artistic Director Damien Downes.

VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO MADE THE PANELS. TAKE A BOW! THEY LOOK WONDERFUL.

                          

Huge crowds flocked to Waterford over the Spraoi Weekend to watch an amazing variety of events.   The weather held good, and the audiences were in great spirits as they were entertained by street theatre performers from all over the world.  Particular highlights were Galumpha and The Always Drinking Marching Band in the Big Top, while Professer Plunger and Sid Bowfin on the streets drew large audiences to all their shows.

The new location at the Courthouse for the Irish Music Stage was wonderful, while the band on the John Roberts Square Stage and in Blackfriars attracted big crowds.

The spectacular Spraoi Parade on Sunday “An Bosca Beo” was undoubtedly a another highlight, with the 300 costumed performers and gigantic floats.

Check out the Spraoi Flicker pages for all the photos from Spraoi 2011:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/waterfordspraoi

                          

Spraoi Programmes are now available throughout the city and county, in Libraries, Shops, Art Galleries, shops/businesses.

Programmes can also can be viewed and downloaded from the website..