Outdoor Music

The main stages at Spraoi focus on World and Contemporary music.  For the 2009 Festival the AOL Stage on John Roberts Square Stage ran over three days, focusing on World Music with a full line-up of bands from lunchtime through to late evening.   Just some of the bands featured were European folk senstions The 17 Hippies from Germany, swinging blues from The Kingsize Five, the dub rhythm beats of Lazy Habits from the UK, the infectious ska sound of The Naildrivers from Cork, and closing it out on Sunday was the hugely popular Waterford band Brass & Co.

The Irish Beats Stage on the William Vincent Wallace Stage also played host to some terrific Irish bands each day.  Just some of the bands to play included O Emperor, The Siam Collective, Gorbachov, Murder Clues, Deaf Animal Orchestra, Class of 1984, Shane Barry and the Distractions, The Grand Pocket Orchestra, Neosupervital, Together we are Nobody, and Crayon Smith.
 
Since its inception Spraoi has always been synonymous with the sound of drums and 2009 was no exception.   The Dojo Drummers, a magnificent taiko drumming group, were a huge hit,  as were probalby Waterford’s most popular group, the percussion group Tórann.   A 30 piece promenade brass band, In Vito Veritas Banda, came from France, and directly from the East End of London, The Cockney Awkestra did their very best to get everyone singing along.

Spraoi also featured other Waterford based music initiatives, including the Waterford Music Network "Teenage Kicks" stage on Sunday and Waterford Folk Club at Christchurch Cathedral on Friday evening.