Crowds of more than 100,000 are expected to attend the fourth annual Festival of World Cultures in Dún Laoghaire this weekend.
More than 100 acts and events from 45 different countries will perform in 27 venues across the seaside town in what has been described as a "multicultural fleadh ceoil".
The three-day event, which began yesterday, sees well-known Irish performers Liam Ó Maonlaí and Mairéad Nesbitt mingling with a Serbian "throat" singer, a 23-piece Caribbean jazz band and a Palestinian "Sinéad O'Connor".
"The Palestinian diva Amal Murkus has sold out the Pavilion theatre on Saturday night. She's like a Palestinian Sinéad O'Connor. She has that same quality to her voice that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck," Ms Trish Brennan, festival organiser, said.
Amal Murkus, who puts Palestinian poetry to music, will also take part in a panel discussion on international censorship and music on Sunday.
Sainko, the throat singer from Tuva, Siberia, will preform in Christ Church Hall at 3.30 p.m. today.
"It's a back of the throat warbling that sounds like two or three people singing at the same time. It's quite traditional," Ms Brennan said.
The People's Park has been given over to a "multicultural children's nirvana" with workshops in hat making, dance and DJ skills, puppet shows, clowns and storytelling.
The Harbour Plaza is the designated World Dance Plaza, with flamenco, traditional Indian folk dance, and tango lessons on Sunday at 2 p.m. followed by a céilí at 5 p.m.
The artist in residence, Nitin Sawhney, will hold a "masterclass performance" in what Ms Brennan describes as "rare groove" on Sunday at 4.30 p.m. in Newtownsmith Green Park.
Jazz Jamaica All Stars play tonight in the park at 5 p.m.
For more information and booking details, telephone (01) 230 1035 or visit www.festivalofworldcultures.com
