Galway Arts Festival – Music

Various venues/times/prices Until Jul 24 galwaysartsfestival.ie

The organisers of the Galway Arts Festival don’t always get it right, but this year it seems as if the stars (pop stars, that is) have aligned just so in order to attract casual passers-by as well as avid fans.

The music shtuff (as they say in the Wesht) kicks off tomorrow with a performance from Bell X1, whose latest album Bloodless Coupis up there with the year's best. Joining them in the Festival Big Top is Liam Finn (son of Neil) and Duke Special.

For something completely different, how about next Tuesday's performance by Iarla Ó Lionáird at St Nicholas's Church, where the celebrated Irish ambient sean-nós singer previews his forthcoming album, Foxlight.

Other top-notch acts to keep an ear out for include Fionn Regan (Róisín Dubh, Sunday); Richmond Fontaine (Róisín Dubh, Tuesday); Blondie (Festival Big Top, Wednesday); And So I Watch You from Afar (Róisín Dubh, Thursday); James Vincent McMorrow (pictured; Róisín Dubh, Friday 22nd); and Iris DeMent (Campbell’s Tavern, Headford, Sunday 24th).

Can’t See That? Catch This

Lisa Hannigan Wed, Donegal