It’s Body & Soul weekend! Here’s what we can’t wait to see at the festival

Body & Soul weekend has finally arrived, and we have the IMAGE edit of where to be throughout the festival

It’s Friday, it’s summer and it’s set to be the warmest weekend of the year so far (jury’s out on how sunny it’ll be, but we’ll still take it). And what better way to celebrate than with the first major festival of the summer, Body & Soul, in Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath. Weekend tickets and Sunday only tickets are still available, so if you’ve got no plans and could swindle a Monday off, grab some pals and head down for a boogie.

While each stage and area over the weekend will be packed with things to do, see and dance to, we’ve picked our favourites from the bunch to present you with a go-to guide for the weekend.

Music

Mango x Mathman — Friday, 19:15-20:00 at the Midnight Circus

Irish urban music is having a moment, and leading the charge are Dublin’s Mango & MathMan. Working collaboratively since 2016, the two’s distinctive blend of heavy bass, detailed production, razor-sharp lyrics and Dublin wit have defined them as definite ones to watch on the Dublin hip hop scene. Catch them on Friday evening as a kickstarter to the weekend.

Pillow Queens — Friday, 00:00-01:00 at RTÉ 2FM Rising

Come midnight, make your way to the RTÉ 2FM stage to watch the inimitable Pillow Queens take to the stage. Cathy, Rachel, Pam and Sarah take their inspiration from US indie & punk, while staying true to their Irishness — try to catch the distinctly Dublin colloquialisms weaved into their lyrics.

Wyvern Lingo — Saturday, 18:30-19:15 at the Body & Soul Stage

Saturday night’s first port of call is the main stage, where from half six, you can see arguably the biggest Irish girl group of the last ten years bring the house down. Wyvern Lingo have been writing music together since they were 11, mixing their listening of Led Zeppelin and Joni Mitchell with the R’n’B and pop of the 90’s. Expect

fun, innovation and plenty of killer harmonies.

OSHUN — Sunday, 19:45-20:45 at the Midnight Circus

Hip-hop, soul, Afrofuturism, goddesses and Yoruba history — if it sounds like a bit of you, get to the Midnight Circus stage on Sunday night to see OSHUN make their Irish debut. A completely unique and innovative US act, OSHUN are all about connecting to our inner selves and bringing the history of ancestors into a killer performance onstage. When IMAGE spoke to the girls about how their music will make the crowd feel, they replied with one word: “hydrated”. Sign us up.

Wellness

Let’s get it OM — Saturday, 14:45 at the Sanctuary Workshop

Body & Soul isn’t all about the music, and there are plenty of opportunities for wellness and self-care across the weekend. Head to the Sanctuary Workshop on Saturday to let Fiona guide you through a magical ritual of OM yoga, meditation & mantra “dedicated to connecting your mind, body & soul” (see what they did there).

Headcleaner — Sunday, 17:30 at the Sanctuary Workshop

If you feel like, by Sunday, your head needs some breathing space, head back to the oasis of the Sanctuary Workshop to have a guided meditation to harness your breathing and bring some much-needed wellbeing to your brain for the night ahead.

Culture

Sentimental Garbage hosted by Caroline O’Donoghue, with guest Sarah Maria Griffin — Sunday, 14:10-15:10 at the Library of Progress

If you haven’t already tuned into Sentimental Garbage, the award-nominated book podcast hosted by author and journalist Caroline O’Donoghue, then Sunday is your lucky day. For this very special episode, Caroline’s guest is author Sarah Maria Griffin. The topic? Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy. See you there.

Emmet Kirwan’s Beats Verses Rhymes — Sunday, 16:30-18:00 at the Library of Progress

After Sentimental Garbage, stay in your seat for Beats Verses Rhymes — a selection of Ireland’s best emerging hip hop and rap artists hosted by Dublin Old School writer and star, Emmet Kirwan. This year’s line-up includes (deep breath) Stephen James Smith, Natalya O’Flaherty, Emmet O’Brien, The Poet Geoff, Roxanna Nic Liam, Lewis Kenny, Dagogo Hart and Trudie Gorman.

Featured image: Body & Soul

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