Avril Stanley is the founder and director of the much-loved Body & Soul festival, which returns to Ballinlough Castle Estate, Clonmellon. Co. Westmeath from June 16th - 18th with a musical line-up that includes Moderat, The Murder Capital, Denise Chaila, Kojaque, Kneecap Fever Ray, Alison Goldfrapp, Tinariwen and Ye Vagabonds - but that's only the beginning of a weekend that offers an eclectic array of happenings across a variety of different areas - and that's before you get to the legendary Pagan Rave.
Are you going to party with us? Or will you let the FOMO get the best of you? Body & Soul is coming - June 16-18.
— Body&Soul (@BodyandSoulIrl) April 28, 2023
Tickets here 👉https://t.co/APWNNHlppW pic.twitter.com/O4oNWvAhzp
We asked Avril for her choice cultural picks...
FILM
I'm proud of Irish cinema, and love our very own Martin McDonagh's The Banshees of Inisherin, but there's a special place in my heart for the lesser-known, underappreciated films. Last year, B.J. Novak released Vengeance. It tells the story of a New York writer who sets out to investigate the mysterious death of a girl in Texas he had briefly dated. The film is strangely brilliant and explores America’s contemporary issues from a dark, comedic perspective. Ashton Kutcher also delivers a great performance as some sort of intellectual cowboy villain.
MUSIC
My enthusiasm for the upcoming festival is palpable. With each artist announcement comes more anticipation and we feel the muses have really gifted us this year with an impressive lineup showcasing our favourite artists such as Fever Ray, Moderat, Denise Chaila, Kurt Vile, Tinarawen, Aby Coulibably, Sorcha Richardson, Beth Orton, Kojaque, The Blessed Madonna, Shianti Celeste and many more.
One of my all time favourite female artists, Alison Goldfrapp, with her debut solo album The Love Intention (due for release on May 12th) is the perfect match for Body & Soul 2023. The album marks her reawakening as a dancefloor priestess, in an intoxicating showcase of the house and disco influences that have always been at the heart of her multi-faceted musicianship. A live show with dancers, visuals and her exquisitely alluring voice is undoubtedly meant to be experienced live and I am thrilled at the thought of seeing her take the stage with our festival-goers on the Saturday night.
BOOK
While my personal preference leans towards non-fiction, I must say Sheila Heti's novel, Pure Colour, has been a delight. However, my current reading material is a fascinating collection of stories called Sadvertising by Ennis Cehic (he's not Irish, mind you). The book is a clever, often comical commentary on the world of advertising and its impact on consumerism and office culture. The tales are wonderfully absurd, strange but equally thought-provoking and take me outside of my own world.
THEATRE
It’s been hard for me to find time for theatre, especially with the festival gearing up, but there’s a play at Smock Alley Theatre coming up by Terrence McNally called Master Class. It’s presented as a fictional master class by American-Greek soprano singer Maria Callas. If I miss it, make sure you don’t.
Teaser video for MASTER CLASS (11 - 27 May). An audience with Maria Callas. Spend an evening with 'La Divina' as singers are put through the wringer. Tony award winner for best play. Proudly co-producing with @OnceOffHQ in assoc with @IrishNatOpera. https://t.co/jtwMhnZpje pic.twitter.com/Z2gbQwmhnz
— Smock Alley Theatre (@smockalley) April 28, 2023
TV
I don't watch a lot of TV, but I've been hearing some great things about a show called The Bear. It's about a young chef who returns home to run his family's Italian beef sandwich shop after the suicide of his older brother. I've heard it's an honest and realistic portrayal of the restaurant industry, and the storyline seems intriguing. Probably about time I watch it.
GIG
This is a biased answer, but I must say that I am very much looking forward to our lineup this year. We've got a great balance of international and local Irish acts that will set our stages ablaze. From Denise Chaila to Kojaque and Alison Goldfrapp. It’s going to be spectacular.
ART
As someone deeply invested in the concept of community-building, I’m always drawn to ideas that explore this theme. Recently, I visited an exhibition at IMMA titled Scene of the Myth by Sarah Pierce. It looks at the notion of gathering, reflecting and acting in community through a series of works spanning over twenty years of her practice. What struck me is Pierce's concept of the "community of the exhibition" which talks about this unique ability of exhibitions to bring us together to create a sense of belonging. It's a powerful, creative concept that I believe embodies the essence of what the Body & Soul festival is all about.
PODCAST
I’ve listened to my fair share of Una and Andrea’s United Ireland podcast during the pandemic, which looks at how issues in small places have a much bigger context for us all. They are on a hiatus at the moment, but I am looking forward to the next season.
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TECH
In this fast-paced, technology-driven world, there's an app that's caught my attention - Radio Garden. It's been bringing me much joy lately as I explore live radio stations from around the globe. The interface is unique, with a rotating earth that you can spin and pin to any location to listen to a radio station. It's a refreshing change from the curated, algorithm-powered playlists we've become so accustomed to. You can travel the world, experiencing the sounds of Zimbabwe one moment and Italy the next. It's a little escape from the ordinary, and I'm grateful for the discovery.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
Certainly, we're living in a time of great change and there's no denying the impact that artificial intelligence (AI) is having on our world. The rate of progress is truly astounding, and it's clear that AI will bring about a significant shift in the way we live and work. However, as automation takes over more and more, I believe there will be a renewed appreciation for human craftsmanship and the value of the hand-made. We'll see a growing interest in the art of making things by hand, and a renewed focus on the value of creativity and individuality in our society, which will, hopefully, make us more community-focused.
The Body & Soul Festival takes place at Ballinlough Castle Estate, Clonmellon. Co. Westmeath from June 16th - 18th - find out more here.
