Trad, bad and dangerous to know

Dust off your fiddles, bodhráns and tin whistles: the countdown to the eighth annual Ennis Trad Festival has begun. The Co Clare event will take place from November 11th to 15th in various venues and hotels around the town, including the Glór Arts Centre.

Some of the acts billed for this year include Máirtín O'Connor, Cathal Hayden, Seamie O'Dowd and Jimmy Higgins, The Brock McGuire Band, and Dave Sheridan.

There will also be a number of workshops, free afternoon session trails and trad discos that will go on until the wee small hours. In addition to the main programme, organisers are launching a challenge for 14 of the country's best céilí­ bands, which will take place in Glór at 7pm on Sunday. The triumphant band will receive a €5,000 prize. ennistradfestival.com.

Imagine Arts Festival in Waterford winds down this weekend, having run since last weekend. Jinx Lennon, Jack L and Fighting Spiders will play in venues across the city over the next three days, as well as trad-oriented artists such as acclaimed concertina player Noel Hill. imagineartsfestival.com.