Boutique, Unique and Perfectly Curated: Body & Soul returns this weekend

The time has finally come for BODY & SOUL to lift the solstice skies and open its glittering festival gates as it welcomes back audiences for a celebration like no other! It will open its doors once more on Friday 17 June in Ballinlough Castle Estate, County Westmeath - with a final few tickets up for grabs for those who are quick.

Bringing together a stunning programme of exhilarating live acts, from music and comedy, to cabaret and spoken word, alongside exceptional guest DJs and a host of creative, interactive experiences, the 2022 edition of Body & Soul has been curated with extraordinary attention to detail and collaboration at its heart.

From its progressive, independent approach, to meticulous design credentials, a totally re-imagined site layout and intentionally intimate scale, this year’s festival is ready to bring audiences a magnificent weekend escape, which includes six newly commissioned stages, an expansive Sanctuary experience, a stunning art trail and space to explore the natural beauty of Ireland's Ancient East at Ballinlough’s spectacular walled gardens, woodlands, lakeside and natural amphitheatre.

With time left to reveal a few final surprises across the weekend, Body & Soul 2022 highlights include a live performance from Róisín Murphy, who makes her Body & Soul Festival debut; a special DJ and AV set by Jon Hopkins and a Sunday night finale from Mogwai, with further appearances by artist, MC and poet Sampa The Great, Lisa O' Neill & Crash Ensemble, EFÉ, Sprints, Pillow Queens and Soda
Blonde, as well as CMAT, King Kong Company, Lee Fields, Mother DJs, Yard Act and Yves Tumor.

With the atmospheric Woodlands Stage playing host to Kelly Lee Owens, Suzanne Ciani, Just Mustard, AE MAK, Overhead, the Albatross, Fears, Houseplants, Remi Wolf, Sinead O'Brien, John Francis Flynn, Sofia Kourtesis and Godford, as well as a live edition of Blindboy Boatclub’s The Blindboy Podcast and more, the festival’s newly commissioned, 35ft tall Beacon Stage, will act as a party magnet for high octane DJ sets and late night adventures, with highlights including Optimo 25, Byron Yeates, Donal Dineen and Chloé, as well as Saturday night’s Pagan Rave and fun packed daytime experiences, including Mother Drag Aerobics and Body Holiday’s Bingo.

The Hip Hop House, hosted by Hennessy showcases the best of Ireland’s progressive new hip hop and soul scenes, from Mango x MathMan, Jafaris, Nealo and EMA b2b Nevan, to Abbacaxi, Aby Coulibaly, Ahmed with Love, Alicia Raye, Bella Festa, Caleb Kunle, Celaviedmai, FYNCH, JYellowL, Khakikid, Louise Chen, Malaki, Monjola and Negro Impacto, while the arrival of the lively new Secret Orchard, hosted by Bulmers in the walled gardens, brings everything from the talk Awakenings: Psychedelics, Healing & Nature featuring Jon Hopkins, Sam Gandy and Irish Shaman John Cantwell; to comedy from David O’Doherty and Shane Daniel Byrne; live music from rock sitarist Bishi, opera singer Emma Nash and solo performances from David Kitt and Robert John Ardiff. Spoken word and conversation is represented by Felispeaks, Saint Etienne’s Bob Stanley on The Birth of Pop and podcast The Last Bohemians, whose host Kate Hutchinson will chat to Suzanne Ciani, along with a special presentation from Heaney’s HomePlace, featuring performance poet Stephen James Smith and Queering the Green contributors Paul Maddern, Séan Hewitt and Sarah Clancy.

The walled gardens’ Endless Love programme brings a vibrant space to sit and enjoy wonderful food offerings from Food On Board - launching as Ireland’s first Circular food court in the company of eclectic, cabaret showcases including Haus of Mockie Ah’s Drag Brunches and Bingo, a Rise & Shine Comedy Buffet, the ‘3 Courses of Connection’ dining experience and a traditional Ceilí; while the
intimate and contemplative Let's Find Out? Stage is a home to exciting ambient and folk leaning artists, who will perform alongside silent film screenings, soundtracked live by the Let's Find Out Collective, poetry and workshops, all curated by renowned Irish filmmaker, musician and long time festival friend Myles O’Reilly, and Doolin Arts. The Cabin In The Woods is a brand new, old time, hot spot deep in Ballinlough woods, to discover the softer sounds of americana, soul, funk and boogie as darkness sets in.

With immersive pop-up appearances, including Bibliotherapy sessions with Ella Berthoud; Tarot readings by Canadian musician King Khan, connected to his project the Black Power Tarot; operatic interludes from Emma Nash; forest foraging walks with musician Peter Broderick; and trad magic from The Fiddle Fair Sessions, plus 15 specially commissioned new artworks from Aoife Dunne, Maser, Bishi and Alan Meredith and more to be discovered across the site, further highlights include an immersive audio experience of Jon Hopkins’ album Music for Psychedelic Therapy and the winning work for The Bulmers Art Bursary: ‘Siansán’ by Shantanu Starick, made in celebration of Ireland’s wild bees.