Kilkenny Arts Festival

Various venues, Kilkenny Until Aug 18 kilkennyarts.ie

Don’t look now, but those smarty-pants in Kilkenny are at it again. Alone of the country’s major arts festivals, Kilkenny rarely (if ever) succumbs to the tried-and-trusted-usual- suspects trap. Yes, they have (good though he is) Mick Flannery tonight, but that’s the exception to the rule. This week sees other, more interesting international fare, notably Rachel Grimes (US), Archie Bronson Outfit (UK), Aziz Sahmaoui (north Africa), Matthias Loibner (Austria), Ivo Papasov (Bulgaria) and, from Ireland, 3Epkano (pictured), Dinah Brand, Kate Ellis and Seamus Fogarty.

Can’t make this week? Not to worry: next week sees the likes of Jape, Josh T Pearson, and A Winged Victory for the Sullen performing at various venues around the city. See next week’s Ticket for details.

Can't see these? Catch this:  Japandroids Thurs, Dublin