Martin Hayes and Dennis CahillThe World Fleadh, which runs in Portlaoise from next Thursday until August 4, is recognised as Ireland’s biggest Irish and Celtic music festival, offering large scale marquee concerts and theatre concerts with the finest Irish traditional, contemporary and Celtic music performers in the world.

Offering a bumper blend of entertainment from morning through until night, this impressive event will feature some of Ireland’s most celebrated and successful musicians.

In addition, it plays host to a number of Ireland’s top ceili bands, a scheduled session trail, world title competitions, master classes and demonstrations in various performance styles.

To add to the excitement, the festival organisers have planned an incomparable range of family street and fringe activities to take place during the festivities.

The main musical attractions at the Festival Dome this year include the Sharon Shannon Band (featuring Shane MacGowan, Damien Dempsey, Mundy and Dessie O’Halloran), Tommy Fleming, Frankie Gavin & Friends (featuring Brian Kennedy, Moya Brennan and Anthony Kearns) and a country music special with Mike Denver, Ray Lynam and Roly Daniels.

Another major feature of the World Fleadh is the Festival Club where festival goers will have a chance to see great Irish artists such as The Hothouse Flowers, The Wolfe Tones, Jack L, Seamus Begley and Jim Murray in more intimate surroundings.

This year’s Theatre Concerts include performances by Lunasa, Sean Keane, Mairtin O’Connor and Grada (www.theworldfleadh. com).

The line-up for August Feile 08 — or the West Belfast Festival, as it is affectionately known — has been revealed and the event again promises an eclectic musical mix to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

Running from August 2-10, celebrations kick off on Saturday August 2 in the city centre’s Bank Square with an exciting three nights of musical entertainment in preparation for the headlining acts that will be appearing at Andersonstown Leisure Centre from August 7-10.

Former lead singer from The Specials and a founder member of Fun Boy 3, Neville Staple, has opening honours at Bank Square with his ska-style music, while — having been nominated for the Best Band in the 2007 Meteor Ireland Music Awards — The 4 of Us are back at the same venue on August 3 with vibrant international trad outfit, Flook, appearing the following night.

Boasting talented musicians from Cuba, Argentina, Spain and Italy plus the cream of domestic Latin players, Havana Son headline the event’s International Night with an Eastern European and Salsa musical extravaganza at the Andersonstown Leisure Centre on August 8, while hometown boy Brian Kennedy returns to his roots for a special musical evening at Clonard Monastery on August 6.

Kennedy will be supported by renowned harpist and songwriter, Emer Kenny, and the fantastic Feile Women’s Singing Group.

Check the festival website at www.feilebelfast.com for confirmation on acts, dates and events.

Gig round-up: New York singer-songwriter Chris Brokaw is in Auntie Annies on Sunday with support from local lady Eilidh Patterson while, as expected, the legendary Tom Waits has sold out all three of his concerts at Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The John Hewitt International Summer School is presenting a real treat for traditional music fans when the celebrated fiddle and guitar duo Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill whose ‘live’ concerts are legendary, perform at Armagh’s Market Place Theatre on Wednesday, and expect explosive special effects as a dancer’s shoes burst into flames live on stage when Irish dance show, Magic Of The Dance, hits the Grand Opera House on Sunday and Monday.

damien.murray@hotmail.co.uk