You don't have to go south of the border to find a Salsa party - just take a quick drive to Kilkenny, and you'll arrive at Ireland's first Latin music festival, the Kilkenny Beer Karnivale. Better get there before sundown, though, because tonight is the final night this two-day extravaganza of exotic Latin sounds. Last night's festivities were led by the Night In Havana Orchestra, but there's still time to catch Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers at Langton's tonight (10 p.m.). Pucho (left) has been playing his own mix of Latin, Jazz and Soul for 37 years, and his music has been described as "what James Brown would sound like after several Cuba libres under a full moon in Havana."
Party people are advised to form a conga line and follow La Ruta Loca, which takes in a number of free gigs in various pubs around the town. Highlights include The Latin Soul Salsa Band in Cleere's (4 p.m.), Fruitcake at the Pumphouse (8 p.m.) and Canteloupe in Paris, Texas (9.30 p.m.). DJs Jim Carroll, Fergus Murphy and Claire Moloney will also be spinning Latin sounds tonight, so get your Cuban heels on and get ready to rhumba.
