Tasmania’s Festival of Voices (FoV) has announced its full 2024 program. In what will be its 19th year, the Festival will present performances in Hobart, Launceston, Huon, Port Arthur and New Norfolk from 28 June – 7 July.

In the light of the cancellation of this year’s Dark Mofo, Festival of Voices now takes the cake as “Tassie’s biggest winter festival for 2024”, says its Artistic Director Isobel Marmion.

“We’re thrilled to announce the star-studded line-up today, sure to spread joy and celebrate the power of song and the delight of music this winter,” said Marmion.

Festival of Voices. Photo courtesy of Festival of Voices/Facebook

This year, the Festival’s international headliner is American Grammy-winning vocalist Macy Gray. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of her debut album On How Life Is!, the idiosyncratic RnB star will perform songs from the album, as well as hits from across her career.

Two stellar Australian vocal ensembles also top the bill. The Song Company will bring its program The Stars Turn to Hobart on 4 July, featuring works by Australian composers Elena Kats-Chernin, Nigel Butterly, Katy Abbott, Alice Chance, Sonya Holywell, Chris Williams and a world premiere work by Angus Davison.

The Canberra-based Luminescence Chamber Singers will perform a new song cycle compared by Dan Walker alongside a 16th-century work by Andreas Vesalius, De Fabrica Humani Corporis, on 29 June. The group will also be performing at the annual Choral Soirée at the Government House Ballroom on 1 July.

“[These performances] are sure to hit a high note, along with workshops from a cappella and gospel to pop and classical – a variety of experiences sure to suit all musical persuasions,” said FoV Senior Choral Producer Joan Wright.

There are returning favourites, too: The Voices@5 series will be presented once again, with  11 local and mainland vocal ensembles performing across 1-5 July; the annual Festival staple The Big Sing invites both artists and audience alike for a singalong.

Festival of Voices in 2022. Photo © Alistair Bett.

A performance of The Tasmanian Songbook opens the festival, which Marmion said will “[celebrate] Tasmanian songs and stories and [highlight] the diversity and uniqueness of our island state.”

Choral highlights include: Hold Me Up, a program of women’s song hosted at the Cascades Female Factory (30 June); Vox Harmony and Melbourne’s Concordis Chamber Choir performing modern Australian repertoire (3 July); a performance by Spinifex Gum (4 July); a four-choir exploration of works spanning the 14th to 21st century for In Quires & Places (5 July), and a gentle festival wind-down, Dream a Little Dream on 6 July.

Cabaret and comedy selections include Mama Alto’s Round Midnight, Geraldine Quinn’s BROAD, Bron Batten’s Onstage Dating, and Loafaoke, a karaoke night dedicated entirely to songs made famous by Meat Loaf. Another Festival highlight is MASSAOKE Oz, which invites ’80s and ’90s music fans to battle it out for Best Decade in costume and song.

Already announced for the festival is  art pop “crowd favourite” Montaigne (6 July) and a series of workshops led by Australian and international choral powerhouses: the acclaimed conductors Elizabeth Scott; the Boston-based Anthony Trecek-King; composer and choirmaster Paul Jarman, and American choral director Deke Sharon.

“These global superstars will host workshops and provide coaching and instruction to enthusiastic amateurs, experienced singers, and everyone in between, ensuring there’s something to suit everyone,” said Marmion.

The Grand Finale Concert on 7 July will feature Festival artists The Velvetones, the Concordis Chamber Choir, the winners of the Corporate Choir Challenge and more.

The full Festival of Voices lineup can be found here. Tickets are available now.