Hobart's Festival Of Voices Releases Full Program

Hobart's renowned Festival of Voices is back for another year of celebrating all things musically vocal with an expansive program of performances, public events and artist-run workshops from Friday, July 4, to Sunday, July 13.

This year marks the event's tenth anniversary, so the scope of its program is fitting enough in breadth and depth to ensure that this year's festival stands out as its most impressive showing to date.

“In our tenth birthday year we're thrilled to present some of the world's most exciting artists in Hobart, to perform, collaborate and learn from a dynamic community of singers and choirs joining us from across the world,” festival chief Paul Kooperman said in a statement.

Among the standout guests performing and/or hosting workshops this year are renowned singer-songwriter Ben Lee (July 5); ARIA Award-winning songstress Clare Bowditch (July 11); and US-based five-piece a cappella outfit The Exchange (July 12).

Extending the birthday celebrations will be the Bonfire and Big Sing on July 11, to be held at Salamanca Place. The Bonfire and Big Sing sees a mass of choristers getting their gang vocals on around a giant campfire, and this year they'll be joined by The Exchange and fellow guests The Spooky Men's Chorale to create one seriously heart- and mind-warming experience.

Fans of voices with a little edge of sultriness to them are well looked after as well, with the festival's cabaret/alternative music series Voicebox making a return in all its debauched, cocktail-soaked glory. Must-see appearances among the seductive shows include rising diva Erin Markey (July 5), the acclaimed Kim Smith (July 4, 11), Aussie music icon Tex Perkins and guitarist Charlie Owen (July 4), US tenor Will Ferguson (July 6), sci-fi legend and signer Jane Badler (July 9, 10) and renowned Australian cabaret diva Meow Meow (July 5).

As if all that wasn't enough, the range of workshops on offer includes sessions with Tennessee gospel legend Eric Dozier (July 11, 9-13) with the Southern Gospel Choir, and British conductor David Lawrence (July 8, 9-13) showcasing Mozart's Requiem for lovers of music with a more classical bent.

Other attractions include Big World, Small Voices (July 12), which brings together 30 Tasmanian and Chinese students aged 10-17 for an a cappella performance in MONA's Nolan Gallery before they head to China to repeat the feat at next year's Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, and Voices @ The Barn, a pairing of food and music in Rosny Barn that features performances from the likes of Your Theatrics International Cabaret Contest 2014 winner Melody Beck (July 6) and Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier (July 12) playing cuts from their most recent album, Stories of Ghosts.

The festival will wrap with the magnificent Finale Choral Concert, a summary piece that encapsulates the event's spirit, at Federation Concert Hall on July 13, which brings the audience into the spotlight as much as any of the artists.

Tickets for the 2014 Festival of Voices are available now. For more information on events, venues and ticketing, see the festival website.

Check out a highlight reel of last year's event below: