Festival 2008: Poets, pumpkins, performances

The Denmark Festival of Voice featured Australia's premier world-folk group Totally Gourdgeous. Comprising four of Australia's foremost singers and songwriters, who create musical magic on instruments made of gourds (dried pumpkins!) featuring soaring vocal and harmonies, beatboxing and other unusual vocal gymnastics.

Joining them on the bill was internationally recognized queen of choir Kavisha Mazzella and Zimbabwean storyteller and choir leader Valanga Khoza, both from Melbourne. From Perth came The Spooky Men of the West, Band of Angels, Summerhouse, Macedonian superstar Lena Trajkovska, Simon Nield, Dave Hyams Miles To Go Trio, The Lonely Brothers, Dammit Janet, Gosia Basinka and Steve Hammond.

Local stars Xave Brown with Caitlin Dethridge, Sue Cunningham, Simone Keane and world music maestros Mandala brought their special array of talents to the festival, along with hilarious MCs like Jon Doust. New to this year's program was the Bush Poets Breakfast, featuring Western Australia's champion of the bushy lip Cobber, from Perth, joining Peter Blythe, Rob Bazeley and Peg Vickers in what was popular event.

Seekers superstar Keith Potger brought his enormous wealth of experience; Peter Grandison of Shanghai Twang Studios gave the finer points of recording and producing a CD.

The Festival Club provided a vibrant and warm atmosphere with delicious cakes, a glass of fine wine. It was the social hub.

Festival Artistic Director Peter Keean reveled in a sell-out festival, a weekend of vocal heaven.