Patti Smith is coming to Ireland next month, but she won't be playing a regular rock gig. Instead, the American singer, songwriter and punk poet will be hosting Liss Ard '97, a four-day cultural event in Skibbereen, Co Cork, starting on September 3rd. Ms Smith will be inviting a number of special guests to join her in acoustic sessions and poetry readings in the idyllic grounds of Liss Ard, with the aim of establishing a world-wide appreciation of poetry, music and art in relation to nature. This inaugural event will be Ms Smith's only European appearance, and during the four-day tree-kissing festival, she'll preview material from her new album, due out in October.