We are happy to announce that this year we have fire dance performance with live music in Portobello Square in front of the venue. Synchronised movements on a gypsy sound will amaze the audience with visual and dangerous live fire flames during the festival.
An Italian Festival without Pizza? No way! We are happy to announce that this year we have a pizza option on the 13th July during the Italian Fusion Festival. Pizza & Prosecco is a great combination!
On the Portobello Harbour in front of the BelloBar will be available the Dave’s Wood-Fired Pizza Van. In 2008 Dave Lennon, a Chef from Dublin, was traveling through Europe where he discovered traditional woodfired pizza ovens. So impressed by how these authentic ovens baked and tasted he knew he wanted to share this experience with Irish foodies.
Dave’s pizzas are made using the age old method that dates back to Roman times. The pizzas are made with a natural wild yeast (just like the Romans did!) to create a great tasting sourdough base. Better dough!!!
In 2009 Dave opened his first wood fire pizza truck, in a Dublin farmer’s market. Today, Dave’s operate a fleet of trucks, catering to markets, parties and events. And still, all pizzas continue the tradition of baking in a true wood fire baking, using sourdough with carefully selected ingredients.
The Piazza van will be open from 7PM during the Italian Fusion Festival.
We are happy to introduce the special guest of our lineup. This year the Italian Fusion Festival presents, from Cork, Laoise Leahy, who will sing in the last act with the Julien Colarossi Organ Trio.
With a wealth of experience and having trained in both London and Ireland, vocalist Laoise Leahy (Née O’Hanlon), has developed into one of the most accomplished, versatile and in-demand singers on the Irish jazz and pop scene. Laoise has performed and recorded with Bon Iver (4AD), Gilbert O’ Sullivan and the RTE Concert Orchestra, Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz), Brian Deady (Decca Universal), Efterklang (4AD/Rumraket records), Mary Coughlan (Rubyworks Records), Niall Mc Cabe Band, Jack O’ Rourke and Waiting Room in addition to varied theatre, commercial & studio sessions.
As lead vocalist, Laoise performs as jazz vocal soloist with many bands and large ensembles such as The Paul Dunlea Big Band / New Irish Jazz Orchestra, Hothouse Bigband, Cork Concert Orchestra, Cork Pops Orchestra, Opus Pocus Big Band among others and has toured with theatre companies throughout Europe. She is an avid songwriter and has had original music released by a UK independent record label and internationally broadcast on BBC, RTE 1, Sky Showcase, RTE Lyric Fm, Newstalk, RTE Pulse, Bath fm and Today FM among others. She has performed at many festivals including Electric Picnic, Cork Jazz Festival, Limerick Jazz Festival, Sproi fest and many more.
Laoise is passionate about vocal education. She graduated BMus (‘Vocaltech’ London College of Music, London 2004- 2007) and MA (Cork School of Music 2008 – 2010) with 1st class honours degrees and top overall performer awards from both institutions. She co-founded Corks first specialist vocal tuition centre ‘Voiceworks Studio’ with colleague Gemma Sugrue and currently enjoys lecturing full time at the Cork School of Music, specialising in pop and jazz vocal performance on the BA, BMus and MA degree courses.
