NOT only will the hills be alive with the sound of music but so will the streets of Waterford when Pete Sammon, Artistic Director of Macnas, opens the Waterford Spraoi on August 2nd.
Born out of a desire to bring music, colour, excitement and madness to the streets of Waterford, it has evolved into its present three day format. Now an international rhythm festival, it attracts musicians from as far afield as Kenya, Japan and Holland to take part in this Mardi Gras style carnival.
The festival emphasis has been firmly set on drumming and when director T. V. Honan teamed up with traditional percussionist Tommy Hayes, the Spraoi drummers were born. Celebrating Irish, African and Indian rhythms, their shows will include inputs from Tommy Hayes, Mel Mercier and tabla player Siresh Manji.
Also performing will be Japanese drumming group Sen Ryo Taiko, paying their first visit to Ireland, to display their traditional percussion arts.
Other artists include BoomBaya from Kenya, Fan fare de Van Eerste Liedernacht from Holland, the Ebony Steelband from the Notting Hill Carnival, Ceol Batucada (Drogheda Samba Band), the Tallifornia Mandolin Band, The Maryjanes and Jack L.
Along the streets you will find a variety of musicians and entertainers including The Swamp Theatre Company from Sheffield who will present shows ranging from acrobatics to fire eating and clown walkabouts. Watch out for the giant street decorations on the Mad Garden theme which include giant insects, flowers and spider webs.
Percussion workshops begin next week and continue over the weekend. Further details from Garter Lane Arts Centre at 051-55038.
THE finale of this year's festival will be street theatre on Sunday night. Ragnarok, based on an ancient Norse legend, has a cast of 150 performers who will use giant puppets, light and pyrotechnics in an epic battle between good and evil when Odin and Loki fight for the soul of a Norse chieftain. The centrepiece will be a Viking longship which will be set on fire to carry his remains to his final resting place. A spectacular climax is promised with Theatre of Fire creating a rainbow bridge of light.