Unless you're really into the guitar, the chances are you won't have heard of most of the artists who are scheduled to play at the Walton's Guitar Festival of Ireland. But don't let that fool you.
These are top names on the international scene, and they showcase a variety of performance styles and musical influences. Basically, you could stick a pin in the programme and come up with a good gig - but here are some suggestions.
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet Appearing in Ireland for the first time, this group was hand-picked by Pepe Romero more than 25 years ago from his guitar students at the University of Southern California. Famously, they like to move from Aaron Copland to Led Zeppelin, offering klezmer dances or reggae rhythms alongside Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite and impersonating everything from a samba band to Balinese gongs and Japanese koto drums. Definitely not to be missed. National Concert Hall, Saturday June 30, 8pm
Dave FlynnFor the first time this year the festival has, in conjunction with Temple Bar Properties, commissioned a new piece from the young Irish composer Dave Flynn. Winner of the 2002 IMRO award and the 2004 Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Composers Competition, Flynn was recently commissioned by RTÉ to compose a concerto for traditional musicians and the RTECO, to be premiered next year. "My music is a bit like an iPod with its shuffle function switched on," he writes on his website. "You get an eclectic mix of almost all musical styles, which shuffle into each other in unexpected ways." The premiere of The Errigal Suite will be given by John Feeley, Clive Carroll and Alec O'Leary and admission to the concert is free. Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, Sunday July 1, noon
Berta Rojas Ever wondered why there are hardly any women guitarists? Wonder no longer because there are more and more of them on the international scene - partly thanks to the efforts of such players as Berta Rojas, a charismatic Paraguayan guitarist who has been promoting her fellow females, as well as fellow southerners, in the wider guitar world.
Her own playing has been compared to liquid crystal, which is pretty good to be going on with.
National Gallery of Ireland, Friday
June 29, 8pm
Joscho Stephan Trio If Django Reinhardt and the famous Hot Club de France style of guitar playing floats your boat, check out the Joscho Stephan Trio from Germany. With music deeply rooted in the gypsy swing of the 1930s, this group draws on a host of influences to perform everything from jazz standards to Stephan's original compositions.
Sugar Club, Sunday July 1, 8pm
WoorkshopsAnd finally - if you're even thinking you might, maybe, one day, pick up a guitar and start to play, make sure you get to at least one of the workshops and seminars on offer during the five days of the festival. These informal sessions offer a chance to get up close and personal with some of the personalities who'll be performing in Dublin, and promise a world of tips, advice, inspiration and sheer entertainment.
Various times and venues, further details from www.gfi.ie
