MORE THAN 100 performances and workshops have been announced for the Kilkenny Arts Festival, which takes place next month.
The festival, in its 35th year, is expected to attract 85,000 people to Kilkenny for nine days of music, literature, visual art, theatre, children’s events and street performances. Officially launched in Dublin yesterday, it will kick off on August 8th with a free, open-air performance by the street theatre and circus group Theatre La Compagnie Malabar.
The opening concert features the world-renowned countertenor Andreas Scholl in St Canice’s Cathedral grounds.
Author Colm Toibín will host a season of films as a tribute to Irish theatre legend Donal McCann while the celebrated Belarus Free Theatre will give its first performance in Ireland.
The festival will also stage world music from Mali and Norway and feature live performances from indie stalwarts Mercury Rev and Spiritualized.
Irish acts include traditional music pairing Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, and singer Lisa Hannigan.
The festival, worth an estimated €8 million to the local economy, runs until August 17th.