Dublin City Soul Festival ~ On a mission to soothe your soul

A FREE Festival for the People of Dublin

Back with a bang and on a mission to soothe your soul and lift the mood of the nation with their annual feel-great celebration of peace, unity & love the 4^th annual Dublin City Soul Festival promises to provide much needed reasons to be cheerful! From Thursday May 27^th to Sunday May 30^th hundreds of musicians will take to the streets, bars, cafes and public spaces to celebrate all that is good about Ireland.

This year’s unique line up of events includes the popular *‘Rising Stars’ event which will once again see Meeting House Square in the heart of Temple Bar transformed into an urban picnic space from 5pm on Thursday 27^th – Saturday 29^th of May. While the final line-up is a closely guarded secret, already confirmed are Mob Fandango, Fiach, Jezzebelle, Jupe, Mark Conway and the Ratzingers – and that’s just the Opening Night Party, with special guests yet to be revealed. Admission is free as always and organisers are promising a relaxed, friendly, welcoming atmosphere for one and all.

Organisers were once again overwhelmed by the response from the world’s emerging artists to their Rising Stars search with entries received from; America, Australia, Belize, Canada, Egypt, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Poland, Scotland, Spain and Togo.

Festival Founder and CEO Chris Maher said: “This year’s Dublin City Soul Festival is going to be bigger than ever as top class musicians take to our streets to entertain the people of Dublin. Temple Bar will be buzzing and humming to the sound of Soul music and we hope to fill the streets and provide FREE entertainment for all.

“We are also delighted to have received such a great response again this year from artists around the country and across the globe. We’ve had great fun listening to all the submissions for the Rising Stars element of the Festival and they are now available for the public to enjoy on the events dedicated website www.risingstars.ie where they can, listen, download, share and vote for their particular favourites.”

To celebrate their 4^th anniversary in style Dublin City Soul Festival will also be giving three holiday trips of a lifetime to Memphis and one trip to New Orleans away. Members of the public can enter the online draw at www.soul.ie.

The world’s only Soul Picnic will be back again, despite a funding cut from Dublin City Council. Festival founder Chris Maher said; “If I have to cycle everywhere for the next 12 months to help cover the costs I will. Festivals drive tourism and the revenue generated is vital to our economy and the Soul Festival and our showpiece Soul Picnic event attracts a large overseas audience…the show must go on, no matter what.” The Soul Picnic is a free family day featuring six hours of live music in a picnic style and the entire event is broadcast live on 103.2 Dublin City FM.

There’s lots more cool free stuff to see and do including the City Soul Trail – free live music & DJ’s in Dublin’s best bars and venues, an Icons of Soul Photographic exhibition, Secret Soul Parties, Soul Cinema screenings and the ever popular Soul Food Restaurant Trail which will offer people a chance to enjoy some mouth-watering soul food from May 17^th in selected venues with the good people at Bridgestone Guides on board to help find Dublin’s Best Soul Food.

Watch out for more reasons to be cheerful coming soon from….

‘Dublin City Soul Festival ~ a celebration of peace, unity & LOVE’

Thursday May 27^th – Sunday May 30^th 2010

Soul Festival Weekend Highlights:

• Thursday May 27^th from 5pm – Opening Night Urban Picnic Party @ Meeting House Square, Temple Bar – Free Admission, All Welcome
• Thursday May 27^th from 10pm – Groovalizacion DJ’s present an evening of eclectic Afro Funk, Brazilian Samba & 70’s Blaxploitation anthems at Solas Bar on Wexford Street  – Free Admission, All Welcome
• Friday May 28^th from 5pm – Rising Stars Showcase & Urban Picnic Party @ Meeting House Square, Temple Bar – Free Admission, All Welcome
• Saturday May 29^th from 12pm – Soul Festival DJ’s & Bands on the Gig Rig Stage to launch Point Village Market @ the o2 arena – Free Admission, All Welcome
• Saturday May 29^th from 7pm – Soul Jam Party @ Meeting House Square, Temple Bar – Free Admission, All Welcome
• Sunday May 30^th – the world’s only Soul Picnic – a friends and family affair from 12pm – 6pm in Merrion Square Park and broadcast live on 103.2 Dublin City FM

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For further information please contact:

Chris Maher, Founder and CEO on 087-6031022 or email: chris@soul.ie

www.soul.ie