This article is from page 32 of the 2009-06-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
GRAFFITI art and east African ac- robatics are just two aspects of an exciting programme of events an- nounced for the fourth annual Ennis Street Festival.
The two-day festival takes place at locations around Ennis from July 4-5. Music and dance feature promi- nently in a festival teeming with cultural influences. Local acts share the bill with performers from Spain, Brazil and Africa. O’Connell Square will be the setting for the festival gig rig, where musicians will perform from 1.30-5pm on Saturday.
Among the groups to look out for are Hakuna Matada. High-flying duo Michaela and Ali will be performing different styles of acrobatics, a com- bination of traditional East African acrobatics mixed with modern Euro- pean styles.
Kicking things off at the gig rig will be singer/songwriter Billy O’Brien. O’Brien’s music tells stories of his travels down through the years. He released his debut album to much ac- claim earlier this year.
Saturday’s also sees performances from groups representing the En- nis Band’s Project and Alele, a band who’s sound is a blend of traditional Irish, Spanish and oriental music.
Also on Saturday, Woodquay will rock to the sounds of blues, jazz and rock at a concert organised by the Crow’s Feather.
Art also plays an important role in this year’s festival. Graffitti Man- ners – a showcase of graffiti art – will go on display outsides the Arts and Craft Shop on Merchant’s Square.
The event is a joint initiative between Clare Youth Service, the drug educa- tion and prevention project and the Art and Craft Shop.
The aim is to show that instead of criminalizing young people who wish to express themselves in an ar- tistic fashion, it is possible to provide a space and listen to what they are SrA NTs
Depending on the weather, there are also plans for a live graffiti dem- onstration on the gig rig on Saturday morning.
Prizes will also be presented to the winners of the “Ennis of my Dreams’
art competition in the Clare Museum on July 4 at lpm. All entries for the competition are currently on display at the Clare Museum. The exhibition concludes on July 5. The competition invited students to submit paintings and drawings on the theme “Ennis of my Dreams’.
Elsewhere on the programme, an outdoor painting session will take place at Merchant’s square while members of the Working Actors Workshop of Theatre Makers will perform Aesop’s Fabulous Foibles and Fables at the Temple Gate hotel.
There will be an open air BBQ at
Brogan’s Bar at lpm on Sunday while Chef Pedro Garzon will prepare a g1- ant Spanish paella at Brandon’s Bar.
The Ennis Street Festival was estab- lished in 2006 to promote local and international artists and art forms.
The festival is run by a volunteer committee made up of Ana Bella Al- varez, (Chair Person and Treasurer), Sara Jay, Secretary, Ana Colomer, (Administrator) and Karin Wimmer, (Advisor).