Cork's popping

The latest fest on the block, the Heineken Red Hot Festival to be held in Cork next week, beats a slightly different over-sized drum in that it's combining music and comedy with pub-trails and theme party nights. There's also that ever so rare festival occurrence: a free open-air concert.

Running from Thursday until very late on Sunday week, the music end of things is headed up by those musical versions of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Ocean Colour Scene who will be performing a massive open air concert in the city centre on the Saturday.

Other musical moments include Aslan, relative local newcomers Junkster and Juniper, Sex Chocolate (a Hot Chocolate tribute band, I imagine), 1970s retro band The Boogie Allstars, Cuban heroes Salsa Brava, Buffalo Soldier (a Bob Marley tribute band) as well as a whole posse of dance DJ's including Donal Dineen, Donal Scannell and David Holmes. On the comedy side of things, the Opera House plays host to Ardal O'Hanlon on Thursday, 17th, where the successful enough author will be previewing new material from his forthcoming British tour. The following night in the same venue, Ben Elton takes to the stage in his first Irish gig since he headlined The Point Depot in Dublin four years ago.

Those famous Perrier-blessed sons of Navan, Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan, are in the Opera House on Saturday night for the gig with the most curiosity value - it will be Tiernan's first home gig since his Edinburgh heroics while the star of this year's Cat Laughs, Paul Merton, brings his very funny show to the same venue on the Sunday.

Tickets for all shows are available from HMV and usual outlets nationwide. Credit Card bookings are available on 021-270022. Tickets for the shows at the Opera House can be booked by ringing the venue on 021- 270022. There's a festival information line on 01-4569-569 and accommodation information is available on 021-273251.