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Laoise Leahy

02/07/2019/in Blog, Music /by IFF

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.

Short Video Competition 2019 Finalists

30/06/2019/in Blog, Video /by IFF

We are happy to present the finalists of the Short Video Competition 2019. All video will be projected on the 13th July during the Italian Fusion Festival. The winner will be announced during the event and will be awarded with a plaque and a small cash price.

Abrasion by Sefora Castro

Sefora Castro is a versatile artist, at 360 °. She began studying ballet dance and theatre at the age of five; at 18 she attends a professional Academy to become a complete performer in Milan, MTS – Musical the School, graduating in 2002. So she becomes a professional dancer, studying for years also modern dance, tip- tap, contemporary with great world-famous masters, and performing in the most renowned Italian theatres. In addition to dance, she also works in theatre as an actress for various companies; she works for the TV and the big screen too. After a 25-year career, in 2017 she moved to Dublin, where began working immediately as an actress: in two years she worked on more than 50 jobs such as adverts, music videos, short films, promos, etc.

Clown by Chiara Viale

Chiara Viale is an Italian born writer, director and producer based in Ireland. After obtaining a degree in English as a Foreign Language and Literature in Milan, I went on studying screenwriting in Dublin and I began making independent films. Since then she has written, directed and taken part numerous short films. In 2017 she started her first Independent Feature Film ‘The New Music’, which has reached completion in 2019. She also co-founder of the Dublin based independent production company Built To Fail Productions.

The Siege of Bóthar Anam by Marcus Maher

Marcus started out as a screenwriter, commissioned screenplays included the life of Simon Bolivar and Fredrico Garcia Lorca. In 2007 Marcus’ play Las Casas was performed at the prestigious Canning House in London, also his play Walton Lock was performed in Dublin. During this time Marcus’ passion for sport has seen him contribute and appeared on Team 33/Newstalk in Football/Cycling and Triathlon. In 2017 Marcus set out to complete a trilogy of Irish short films called ‘Cumann’ (Society) which reflect modern Ireland, his first short ‘The Siege of Bothar Anam’ which is set around the housing crisis won the special commendation at the x1 London Short Film Festival, Best Film at the Bedford International Film Festival in the US and the European Film Festival in Barcelona. His 2nd film -The Gallows Tree’ is currently in pre-production.

Bright Eyed in the Mornin by Maria Fiorentini

Maria Fiorentini, is an Italian director, actor and editor based in Dublin. She trained in Italy and Ireland in camera and stage acting. Since 2012, Maria has been involved in several short films selected in film festival in Ireland and world-wide. In “Container” directed by Baz David, she played a young immigrant mother on the streets of Dublin. In August 2015 she was awarded Best Actress at the Pav Reel film festival for her performance in that role.

Amore in Translation – Tuttifrutti by John McNally

Amore in Translation is web series produced by Joseph Morris, a writer director, a role where he leverages his passion for filmmaking and his extensive experience to further develop Amore in Translation. Joseph is truly versatile in the filmmaking spectrum from concept to storytelling and more recently video production and effects. He has directed on a range of award winning short film, most recently winning best short film at the Elevation indie Film Awards for Stuck home Syndrome.

Cascao & Lady Maru “One Place” by Miro Mastropasqua

Mirko Miro Mastropasqua is Miroimages. After his BA in literature sciences in Rome he starts to work for Xenon, a Berlin local TV creating short films and reportage shown in the Berlin regional broadcasting. He changes afterwards as video producer for MTV Networks. After producing and directing some music videos for the Berliner and Roman music scene he produces and directs many shorts, supported by different film festivals and institutions around the world such as Nisi Masa (FR), Generation Campus (RU), Black International Cinema (USA/DE), Molodist Talent LAB (UA), Longocampo Dox (RO), The Dresden Visegrad Forum (DE), Mediterranean Film Institute (GR), Reykjavík Talent LAB (IS) and many others. He is currently developing his first feature film supported by the Mediterranean Film Institute and Riga Script Meeting within an MA at the National Film School of Ireland.

Out of Competition

The wilderness within by Luca Trufarellli
The first was a boy by Shaun Dunne

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Poetry Readers at the Festival

21/06/2019/in Blog, Poetry /by IFF

We are happy to present the finalists of the Poetry Reading session “Beat it” who will be performing on the 13th July during the Italian Fusion Festival.

James Marchiori

James Marchiori is an Italian born, Dublin based poet and writer. He wrote his first verses at nine years old and, being part of prestigious cultural organisations, he has been collecting various literary awards across Italy, London, Barcelona, and Prague. He’s also been awarded at the European Parliament in Brussels for one of his poems, and he’s always been devoting his years between the professional and the artistic life with a great interest for the Surrealism era passing through the French Symbolism and Decadentism, the Dada Movement, and the Beat Generation. At twenty-one years old he published his first book of selected poems and, by his 28th birthday, other two poetry anthologies and short stories were out. His professional career brought him around the world from London to Los Angeles and New York, but he never stopped writing and studying philosophy and literature always taking tons of notes with him, no matter where his job experiences were heading to.

His last novel, ‘To My Beloved Heart’ is a tribute to the master, Edgar Allan Poe, his primary source of inspiration, and some signed copies are still available at Dubray Books, Rathmines. 2019 will also see his first English collected poems anthology; he’s also currently working on a crime story set in Dublin, with fragments of gothic, occult and supernatural elements. Bohemia incarnate, a soul devoted to Surrealism and Poetry. More details and complete Bio at jamesmarchiori.com

Merv Nickleman

Merv Nickleman, international poet, writer and philosopher is absolutely delighted to share his inspirational new poetry book, “Ten Phenomenal Poems That Might Just Change Your Life”, with his world-wide followers and lovers of poetry. Through his poems, Merv seeks to help readers embrace their universal, never ceasing human struggles, needs and desires.

His poems shed light on a myriad of shared human experiences including, first love, searching for home, pondering untaken paths, allergies, gaining insight, reminiscences, home from home, compassion, connecting to your roots and finding your tribe.

Massimiliano Bianchi

Massimiliano Bianchi was born in Rome, the job of his father implied a change of location every three years leading to integrate the journey as a constant of his life. He lived in several Italian cities to then settle in the beautiful Verona at the age of 12. After his undergraduate studies in Italy, he obtained a PhD in Neuropsychopharmacology from the University of Nottingham in England.

Massimiliano worked as a neuroscientist for the pharmaceutical industry first in Italy, then in the United Kingdom, France and finally Ireland, where he created a private neuroscience research company based in the prestigious Trinity College Dublin. In this University, he is also Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Psychology.

A professional neuroscientist and poet during the spare time, in his poems Massimiliano revisits psychological and introspective themes such as the human mind, existential traumas, the relationship with the ego, the journey, the encounter with spirituality and the nature. His first collection of Italian poems entitled “Odysseus – A poetic journey” was published in June 2018 by Oédipus Edizioni with the preface of the Italian writer Dario Voltolini.

The Italian Fusion Festival 2019 is now Sold Out

17/06/2019/in Blog, Tickets /by IFF

We’re delighted that this edition of the Italian Fusion Festival has sold out! Thank you to everyone who has bought tickets. We can’t wait to see you at the third edition of the Italian Fusion Festival.

We cannot promise to accomodate all requests, but you can request to add your name in our waiting list sending an email including your name and surname to info@italianfusionfestival.com We will contact you one week before the event to confirm if we have a space for you.

If you want receive updates and information about the next edition of the Italian Fusion Festival join our Newsletter.

The Julien Colarossi Organ Trio

14/06/2019/in Blog, Music /by IFF

We are happy to introduce the final act of our lineup. This year the Italian Fusion Festival presents The Julien Colarossi Organ Trio.

Despite the name, the Julien Colarossi Organ Trio is led by three distinct voices, working together in harmony and syncopation to make ‘Music’ the only real leader of the band.

This tight and groovy band draws inspiration from the straight ahead jazz classic organ trio sound of Jimmy Smith, all the way to the more modern Larry Goldings trio.The rhythm section features the very experienced Spanish drummer Gonzalo Del Val and the Irish Organ player Darragh Hennessy making for a very tasteful, solid and synchronized unit.

Floating in and out with the rhythm section, Julien Colarossi is known as a ‘dyed in the wool jazzer’ but he also brings a lyrical quality to his guitar playing from his roots deep in the mountains of beautiful “Val Di Comino” in Italy.

Their longstanding collaboration is quite evident in the original material that the band presents. The band recorded their first album in March 2019.

Julien has collaborated with many of Ireland’s finest jazz musicians, his professionalism, his ductility and his dedication to music has made him one of the most hired guitarist in the Irish scene. At the moment he’s actively involved in these projects: the Julien Colarossi Quartet, Francesco Turrisi Trio, Phisqa, the Riona Sally Hartman’s Band, Edel Meade Quintet, the Hot House Big Band.

Just for the Italian Fusion Festival the Julien Colarossi Organ Trio will play a few songs with the Irish jazz singer from Cork Laoise Leahy.

Win a Voucher for a Cookery Class at Pinocchio Italian Cookery School

10/06/2019/in Blog, Food, Marketing, Tickets /by IFF

We’re offering a voucher for 1 cookery class for 4 people to the value of 65 euro each at the Pinocchio Italian School of Cooking, 1 Pudding Row, Essex Street West, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. Each voucher can be used within 1 year from the date of issue. Chef Giuseppe Crupi regular on Ireland AM holds the classes.

Italian School of Cooking vouchers are valid on all Saturday classes Each class is a hands-on cooking experience at the end of which we all sit together and enjoy a typical Italian meal with fun. Duration time: 2h30.

Restaurant Pinocchio is offering as well to all audience of the Italian Fusion Festival a special price: €40 for a voucher for a cookery class (regular price €65) valid for one year. You can just contact them by email (info@flavourofitaly.ie) and mention Italian Fusion Festival to avail of this offer.

More info: http://www.flavourofitaly.net/content/85-italian-cookery-school-dublin

Anyone who bought online a ticket for the festival will be in with the chance to win the cookery class for 4 people voucher, so get your tickets now! Tickets are almost sold out! The winner will be announced before the last music act the day of the festival.

The Jaffa Cakes

06/06/2019/in Blog, Music /by IFF

We are happy to introduce the Swing part of our lineup. This year the Italian Fusion Festival presents The Jaffa Cakes.

Can you imagine a cover band who arranges the most famous songs in different styles and genre, still keeping their “sing-along” peculiarity? Miss Phoenix & The Jaffa Cakes is an original band based in Dublin that twists world famous songs into different unique versions, mostly jazz, swing, blues, combining post-modern flavours creating their own signature sound.

Started as a standard Jazz duet (piano and vocals), they found this new way to perform almost as a joke, but given that the result was unexpectedly remarkable, they decided to leave the standard jazz project and create the Jaffa Cakes. All the performers are Italian.

They met by coincidence in Dublin and after a jam session decided to work together. Paolo Zuddas on the drums, Dario Rodighiero on the piano and vocals, Plinny Phoenix as lead singer.

At the Radio Dublino Festival, The Jaffa Cakes will go back to origins, performing again as duet, piano and voice.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/JaffaCakesMusic/

Prosecco Tickets are sold out. Standard Tickets will be on sale from this Saturday

30/05/2019/in Blog, Tickets /by IFF

Prosecco Tickets (Tier 2) are now sold out! A limited numbers of Standard Tickets (Tier 3) will be available from this Saturday at 9am. Standard Tickets include the Festival Ticket + a Free Glass of Prosecco. Spaces are limited so hurry up and get your ticket before they are sold out!

The Brixia Trio

27/05/2019/in Blog, Music /by IFF

We are happy to announce a new addition to our lineup. This year the Italian Fusion Festival presents the Brixia Trio.

The Brixia Trio named after the wonderful town of Brescia in northern Italy, is a jazz ensemble based in Dublin, composed of Anna Bignami (Brescia, IT), Otso Kasperi Mielonen (FIN) and Enrico Goffi (Brescia, IT). The Trio doesn’t have a leader, it represents a communal effort and musical commitment. Each of the members present their own compositions to be then workshopped by the other musicians to create ONE sound without annihilating the individual’s intent. They have performed in various venues such as The Music Temple (Brescia, IT)

THE MEMBERS

ANNA BIGNAMI
Anna Bignami is a guitarist, composer and arranger based in Dublin Ireland.. Originally from Brescia Italy, she moved to Dublin at the age of 18 to attend the jazz performance degree course at Newpark Music Centre (now DCU).Eever since she moved she has been active in the Dublin jazz scene as well as in her home country playing in multiple projects such as PIUMA and MARE NOSTRUM

OTSO KASPERI MIELONEN
Is a Dublin based Finnish bassist, composer and extremist. Born in the city of Oulu, but grew up in the midst of Copenhagen from an early age. Otso has performed with regularly with the Carlsberg Big Band in Copenhagen and after moving to Dublin to pursue his studies at Newpark Music Centre (now DCU), he has been an active part of the Irish jazz scene.In Ireland Otso leads his own band Sisucunda, as well as performing along with Anna Bignami (ITA) in the duo Piuma.

ENRICO GOFFI
Based in Dublin, Ireland but grew up in a small foggy town in northern Italy, drummer and composer Enrico Goffi has been surrounded by music since a young age, Goffi has shaped his
own unique sound, crafting a sonority that draws inspiration from the landscape of Ireland, impressionistic literature and the improvisational spirit of jazz.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/brixiatrio/

Win an Italian Dinner for Two in Dublin

22/05/2019/in Blog, Food, Marketing /by IFF

Also this year we’re offering a voucher for dinner for two at Ciao Bella Roma to the value of 40 euro. Anyone who bought online a ticket for the festival before the 10th June 2019 will be in with the chance to win, so get your tickets now and don’t miss this chance to have a traditional Italian dinner on us!

Opened for the past 11 years, Ciao Bella Roma is a pizzeria and restaurant symbolising a long tradition of the Italian dining culture. It’s familiar ambiance welcomes you 12 hours a day, 7days a week (including public holidays) offering you the best choice of traditional Italian cuisine.Those who come will taste the flavors of our Italian kitchen, which is opened till late every night. There’s no better place in town for a real pizza or pasta with the best quality and fresh ingredients.