Previous Music Projects

In May 2003 Gerry Mulkerrins produced a Live CD featuring 16 bands playing at the Quays Club Venue in Galway City. The successful CD was launched as part of the national fundraising project to support the Cystic Fibrosis Charity in association with the Sun newspapers Ciaras Crusade Campaign.

Gerry has extensive career in sound production with Music Film Radio & TV companies, touring the world with bands and theatre groups. This combination of audiovisual experience led him to begin the Spirit of Voice musicl event presenting International song and spoken word artists in concert and workshop.

Spirit of Voice began in 2004 as a 1 day event in Galway City featuring choirs, sean nos singers, poets, rappers and opera soloists. Vocal genres on display included Galways Nuig & Gospel choir: Peter Byrne; Man & the Machine presenting Melody choral and beatbox rhythms.

2005 The Spirit of Voice developed its theme to mix international vocal genres styles together. The 3 day event was a huge success highlighting intercultural diversity in the workplace plus providing a platform for showcasing new talent. A dvd was produced to support Cystic Fibrosis fund featuring many headline acts including Julie Feeney; People of Note choir; Aine Ni Dhroighneainn; Orlaith Ni Mheachair.

2006: Spirit of Voice grew into a 5 day event, supporting the "City of Equals" presenting 55 live acts in 11 venues, with concerts & workshops headlined by Sheila Chandra, Princeton Katzenjammers; Donnacha Toomey; Michel Brandt; Shaz Oye; Nicola Williams receiving national media attention from John Kelly (RTE lyric) and Derek Mooney (RTE 1) who presented interviews with artists involved.

2007Spirit of Voice presented a selection of international and local acts representing their cultural voice. Featuring 20 artists and headlined by Rónán Ó Snodaigh; Mfa Kera; Gearoid Maclochlainn; Eric Ekhart; Linda Coogan. The festival also hosted singing workshops and school storytelling projects, providing a major Irish festival for solo singers and spoken word artists

AFRICA DAY GALWAY 2008 2 days of celebration supported by Irish Aid, featuring Reap the Runway African fashion show and drumming workshop and schools art projects at NUIG college bar followed by outdoor stage in Eyre Square, Galway presenting Choirs, Dancers, music groups, poets and comedians from Africa in a full days music schedule

2008 4 days of concerts featuring Sean Tyrrell's Midnight Court, Ewa Gigon, Stacey Nolan, Wild Myrtles, Bahh Band and Jhall together with vocal workshops from BBC's Jonathon Keeble, Michel Brandt, Federico Betti. Also presenting Telling Tales audiovisual storytelling event which is accessible for deaf people via sign language translation.

AFRICA DAY GALWAY 2009 3 days of celebration supported by Irish Aid, beginning with a Talent competition in Lisbrook house featuring multi instrumentalist Toluking and his band and youth hip hop act winners the Lucky Crew
A second day of events presented the Spirit of Rhythm and Design Arts mural workshop in Arus Na n Gael, and following on May 25 a spectacular live music show during the outdoor World Volvo ocean race stage with 4 acts playing live to a crowd of 3000 people. Headlined by Nigerian groups Oleku and Motema to celebrate Africa Day

2009 3 days of International celebration of Song and Spoken Word featuring headline performances from Linton Kwesi Johnson Reggae Dub poet, Martin Toal UK operatic tenor, Dublin Jazz Pop group Carosel , Popstars Size2shoes and Bangladesh band Rong Also starring new acts, The Lantanas, Toluking Band, Helen Webb, Stacey Nolan, Kayla McDonagh and Marty Mulligan. Plus produced the festival themed song Hal101jah featuring one hundred Galway voices together with the Mervue Choir.

AFRICA DAY GALWAY 2010 Celebrating Culture through Music Sport and Education.
Featuring 5 a side Soccer Cup tournament at Mervue United AFC. 6 Galway Schools entering teams to represent 12 African nations in a series of football matches, together with Educational Cultural Ambassador visits provided to participating schools. Congratulations to winning team Kenya and best player from St Patrick’s school, Jersey design Winners Nigeria. Supported by Irish Aid, FAI, Galway Sports Partnerships, Galway City Council, Supermacs & Coca Cola. AFRICA DAY MUSIC event at the Quays Venue, presenting Neil Sparkes, Toluking, Lucky Crew, Dread, Bombanova and many more...l

2010 3 day song and spoken word event featuring international performers in concert & workshop. Acts included UK hip hop poet band Kate Tempest & Sound of Rum , and Irelands finest original soul singer Brian Deady Band , highly talented musicians Aindrias de Staic & Tom Portman , singer songwriters Seamus Ruttledge, Stacey Nolan, Sophie Coyle, Rappers Lucky & B.O.T , Creative Storytellers Atlantis Collective with Dons Goodbye Cafe group the traditional voice of Orlaith ni Mheachair with workshops facilitated by voice coaches Michel Durham, Helen Webb, Mallika McCarthy and Claire ni Grianna.

AFRICA DAY GALWAY 2011 Celebrating Culture through Music Sport and Education.
Featuring the Tenpin Bowling Cup tournament at City Limits Oranmore. 5 Galway Schools represented 12 African nations in a series of games, together with Educational Cultural Ambassador visits provided to participating schools . Congratulations to winning team Kenya and St Patrick’s school, Jersey design Winners St Josephs Kinvara. Supported by Irish Aid, Galway County Council , City Sports Partnership, Galway City Council, Supermacs & Bus Eireann.. AFRICA DAY MUSIC event took place at Aras na nGael Galway featuring bands Stewert, Toluking, Helen Webb, Lady Alice Fashion show, Divine rappers & the Kingdom dancers, and Solas Arts Group.

2011 a series of launch and social inclusion events ,plus weekend of concerts and workshops. Featuring a variety of musical performers in running order, Michael Chang George Grasso from Trad All Stars, Casey Leigh soloist, Nigerian band Toluking, dubstep with the dubdoctors soundsystem, Sonke multicultural choir, Elektro swing DJs Ali Duvet, Cantina Bop kundalini yoga chant Nina Viertel from Berlin, Chill Barbershop, sean nos singer Orlaith ni Mheachair , baritone Darragh McGann , 40’s swing trio the Bugle Babes, songwriter Erika Feeney from Sweden, Irish Beatbox champion Whitenoise ,Reggae Malaysian Roots crew Madu, Folk Poet Seamus Ruttledge together with vocal coach Michel Durham , Classical vocalist Kayla McDonagh and pianist Mark Keane , Jazz singer Helen Webb with guitarist Nathan Fury plus Workshop Facilitator Mallika McCarthy

2012 3 day event held in An Taibhdhearc venue, Galway presenting a selection of song and spoken word performers in concert and workshop events. Featuring new and established acts Little John Nee songster storyteller, Nanu Nanu, with Laura Sheeran & Marc Aubele electro alien pop, the Wildflowers group Noriana Kennedy, Noelie McDonnell and Nicola Joyce irish folk trio, Fia Rua, Orlagh De Bhaldraithe, Miriam Donohue & Mike Chang, Tom Portman singer songwriters, Orlaith Ni Mheachair, Peneleapai band traditional sean nos, The Good Vibe Society rappers hip hop , Mallika McCarthy vocal coach. Plus the photographic exhibiton "Instrumental" by Vanessa Jordan together with the festival MC's actors Helen Gregg & Debbie Wright


Objectives
Spirit of Voice focuses on world voice styles and international singers and spoken word artists working together in the same arena.To stage events that unites language and cultural songs, describing audibly the traditional vocal core that is derivative within music.Please applaud the human voice!

SPECIAL THANKS TO VENUES WHO HAVE HOSTED SPIRIT OF VOICE CONCERTS
Galway Rowing Club: Johnstons Hall; Crane bar
Menlo Park Hotel, Tullys Bar, St Nicholas Church;
An Taibhdhearc; The Quays; Kings Head;
Busker Brownes: Bold Gallery; Club de Burgos;
NUIG College Bar, Eyre Square, HMV Music Store
Galway City Museum; Galway City Library;
United Methodist Church, Victoria hotel; Abbey Church;
Kellys,Western Hotel; Cellar Bar; Gallery Cafe;
Arus na nGael; Spirit Centre; Lisbrook House;
Westside Library; Meyrick Hotel; Rahaly Castle;
Gaf Youth cafe; Garden Party Stradbally Hall;
St Colmans Church; The Village Craughwell;
Ballinlough Castle: Radisson Hotel, Ballina Street & Arts Festival;
Electric Picnic festival; Volvo Ocean Race stage; Foyles Hotel Clifden