SINGER-SONGWRITER
Sofia Tolvik
Nationwide. Until Thursday
In which a smart Swedish singer-songwriter embarks on a tour of Ireland's byways and highways (and small venues) in a camper van. Yes. A camper van. It's a neat idea, and a good fit for a musician with an adventurous spirit. Say hello to Sofia in Cork (Friday), Offaly (Sunday), Dublin (Monday/ Wednesday) and Louth (Thursday), and tell her The Ticket sent you. TONY CLAYTON-LEA
FESTIVAL
Spirit of Folk
Dunderry Park Co Meath Fri-Sun €40-70 spiritoffolk.com
One of the last open-air festivals of the year, Spirit of Folk brings some laid-back vibes and good musical buzzes to Dunderry Park. Acts playing over the weekend include members of Kila, In Their Thousands, Arborist, Tupelo and many more. Aside from the music, there’s also crafts showcases, yoga, talks, battle re-enactments and various Shamanic and Druidic ceremonies. You don’t get that lot at Longitide.
TIGER FRINGE FESTIVAL
Hilary Woods
Smock Alley Theatre Boys School, Dublin Until Saturday
7.30pm €11/€13 fringefest.com
One year you're all over the place, and the next you're not. Hilary Woods (above) used to be the bass player in Irish band JJ72, which flirted with mainstream success about a dozen years ago. Now solo, the academically inclined Woods launches her beguiling new EP, Night, with these shows, which form part of this year's spiffing Tiger Dublin Fringe. She will also perform tracks from last year's critically acclaimed debut The River Cry. TCL
FESTIVAL
Clonakilty International Guitar Various venues/times/ticket prices, Clonakilty, Cork Until Sunday. clonguitarfest.com
Oh, this is good: a music festival where approximately 85 per cent of the gigs are free. Sponsored/supported by various bodies – and celebrating its 10th anniversary – this year’s diverse event sees music acts of the calibre of Girl Band, Idiot Songs, The Lost Brothers, Rebecca Collins, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Elastic Sleep, John Spillane, Paula Gomez, and Michael McGoldrick (and many more besides) performing in bars and halls around Julian Cope’s favourite Irish town. TCL
ART
Kathy Prendergast
The Mill, Kinsale
Daily 10am-6pm Until Sep 28
[ Kinsaleartsfestival.comOpens in new window ]
Kathy Prendergast is exceptional among Irish artists in having picked up a prestigious award at the Venice Biennale in 1995. She’s also the opposite of the many hard-nosed, careerist artists who emerged in the 1990s. In fact, she’s positively reticent, which makes a substantial show of recent and new work, highlighting the Kinsale Arts Festival, all the more welcome. AIDAN DUNNE
TRAD
Seamus Begley, Catríona McKay and Chris Stout
Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda. 8.30pm €12/€15
[ droicheadartscentre.com Opens in new window ]
West Kerry accordionist, singer, razor-sharp wit and raconteur Seamus Begley lassoes Scottish harp and fiddle duo McKay and Stout for what might just be the tour of the year. Expect left-field interpretations of the familiar and more than a few avant- garde touches om this opening date of an extensive tour. SIOBHÁN LONG
