As momentum builds for this year’s Body & Soul Festival, we take a look at the sheer scale of bold and immersive treats in store as the festival joins in the global celebrations to mark fifty years of Hip Hop.
Ballinlough opens its doors to the inimitable Body and Soul Festival this June, and we’re looking forward to catching a stellar line-up of Irish and international hip hop acts, who are coming together as part of global celebrations to honour every aspect of hip hop culture. This year sees the return of the iconic Hennessy Hip Hop House, as the international brand raises a glass and acknowledges how fifty years ago, hip hop gave a voice to a generation of talent in the South Bronx that felt distant from society and used it as an outlet of expression.
More recently, hip hop has evolved to become one of Ireland’s most loved music genres, thanks to a group of pioneers who proudly convey Irish culture through their art. These early prodigies have helped forge a platform for an explosive new generation of fearless and daring new artists to burst onto the Irish hip hop music scene.
And so to celebrate this special half-century milestone, members of this new era will take to the stage in Ballinlough with Hennessy this June, kicking off on Friday with the critically acclaimed JyellowL, who’s debut 2020 album D|vision reached No. 2 on the official iTunes album charts and was nominated for Irish Album of the Year at that year’s RTÉ Choice Music Prize Awards.
The very special celebratory opening night also features a talk entitled From Hip Hop To Bass: Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra (A/V Show), with sets from an array of fabulous talent including Ben Bix, Executive Steve, American house and funk DJ Tee Cardaci, and Irish DJs Aoife Nic Canna, Handsome Paddy and RíRá.
Others joining them on the night include British DJ and Massive Attack star Daddy G, jazz and soul artist Hewan Mulugeta, Limerick rap star Strange Boy and hip hop fanatic Arveene.
Day Two begins with conversations and panel discussions from emerging Irish voices with District Presents: The Future of Irish Music, graffiti from Rask & Sums (TdaKlann) and breakdance from Northern Soles Crew.
Hip Hop Karaoke will provide major fun afternoon vibes, while later in the day Arveene hosts The Story of Irish Hip Hop with amazing guests such as Kojaque, Glen Brady and Rask. The day’s musical offerings get underway in the company of Dundalk duo Negro Impacto, Irish award winning DJ Mek, Dublin rapper Nealo, rising Irish act Ruby Ivy, Chicago born house DJ Queen Beatz and I.T.F World Scratch Champion DJ Flip.
Saturday evening sees Irish sensation Aby Coulibaly take to the stage, with sets from Glen Brady, Nightmares on Wax (DJ set), God Knows and MuRli and Dublin MC and DJ Mango guaranteed to get the crowds dancing into the night.
Sunday dawns with an eye-watering lineup, alongside panel talks, graffiti, breakdance, workshops, Paint & Sip and a conversation hosted by Cork’s Red FM Stevie G on Hip Hop’s influence in Art, Dance and Fashion.
Musicwise, Sweetlemondae gets an exciting final day underway, while proceedings later that evening see rising rapper and songwriter Celaviedmai raise the energy level with what promises to be an incredible live set.
After dancing all day long to performances from DJ Tu-Ki, CC, Bon Voyage, Stevie G Soundsystem, Moving Still, Tee Cardaci, one of Ireland’s best known DJs Billy Scurry is set to close out a perfectly served weekend for Hennessy at Body & Soul 2023, keeping crowds dancing into the early hours.
In addition to amazing beats and tunes in the Hennessy Hip Hop House, revellers can also look forward to catching four incredible headliners along the Hennessy Music Trail over the weekend, with performances from Kojaque, Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra, iconic Irish rap star Denise Chaila, and Gemma Dunleavy, all taking to the stage this year. Bring it!
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Strictly Over 21’s
BODY & SOUL FESTIVAL 2023
16 – 18 June 2023 | Ballinlough Castle Estate, Co. Westmeath, Ireland | bodyandsoul.ie
