IN PICTURES: Denmark Festival of Voice draws crowds to series of inspiring events

The 20th edition of the Denmark Festival of Voice has been hailed as a celebration of a diverse range of musical talent and collaboration between artists. The festival ran across four weekends and lured artists from across WA and the Eastern States to perform at a selection of local venues. Performances from Vicki Thorn, Helen Shanahan, Angie Coleman and Adam Grok were among the highlights, according to festival co-ordinator Matt Eastwell. Each weekend was cantered around a different theme which allowed local artists who are a part of several bands to flex their multifaceted musical talents. “I was really happy that at the end of each weekend it was a completely different feeling we generated,” Mr Eastwell said. “We showcased a different side of the human voice.” The annual festival took on a new format this year with the line-up spread across the month. “Because of the format we were able to utilise the local musicians who are in different bands by programming them to make sure we could see all the different facets of their musical artistry,” Mr Eastwell said. “That was a component that wasn’t as possible with the format when the festival was in three days. “The feedback I got from audience members was that it took a lot of the anxiety of fear of missing out and there was a really relaxed and chilled out vibe going on in the festival.” The 2022 edition of the festival incorporated some new and improved venues. “Part of the success of the festival is building these venues as characters of the festival, like St Leonard’s Church, that was one venue I just couldn’t do without,” Mr Eastwell said. “We took a lot of effort this year to make sure that sound in the Art House was top quality so anything I put into that space wouldn’t be a secondary venue. “We had an open space and open stage, I wasn’t sure how It would go, it could have been absolutely empty and no one wanted to touch it but it was packed and every night people were clambering to get their names on the list.” Mr Eastwell said the festival was a melting pot for collaboration between artists. “These are performers that came down, local musicians, and aspiring musicians,” he said. “What happened because of that were all these beautiful connections that started forming between local musicals, visiting Perth musicals and interstate musicians. “That was a beautiful thing to stand back and watch and how it was building community and reinforcing people’s aspirations.”