This year’s Westport Arts Festival sets to light up the autumn evenings with several colourful events, from October 1 to 10. The festival’s big international event is the circus theatre of Cirque Trottola. This is a first-time Irish visit for the beautiful circus company which performs to sell-out shows all over Europe.
Fionn Regan is due to rock out the Wyatt Hotel on Saturday October 2. His folk-tinged acoustic-rich debut, The End of History, has been followed by the more jagged release, The Shadow of an Empire. He includes Glastonbury and Electric Picnic among his many performances.
Newry-based The 4 of Us bring acoustic intimacy into Matt Molloy’s on Wednesday, October 6. The Alan Kelly Quartet and Fidil continue Westport’s long-term relationship with the edgiest and best of traditional music.
Comic cult-hero Andrias De Staic combines story-telling with music to portray the crossing of continents on just 80 quid. Local events include the ever popular St Patrick’s Drama Group’s Makem and Clancy are Coming. Westport native, soprano Emma Kate Tobia presents folk songs of rebellion and passion. Noted local songwriter Tony Reidy portrays new album Hayshed Days.
Other theatre events include the enchanting A Spoonful of Silence, and Seven Deadly Sins which brings the audience on tour to spy on scenes of this unusual play. There are also two piano-plays based around composer Chopin’s life including The Last Ballade, written and performed by Michael Lunts. Other festival highlights are the outdoor drive-in cinema showing The Life of Brian and the beautiful Oscar-nominated animation The Secret of Kells, featuring the much-loved voice of Mick Lally.
Otherwise look out for Nostalgia Night, featuring jazz, barber shop and fancy-dress; salsa with Cuba Libre; Blink visual arts linking in with Culture night tonight the September 24. Season tickets at €100 are also recommended and apart from discounted drive-in cinema parking costs, cover all listed events. For more details see www.westportartsfestival.com or contact 087 4120176.
