Cathy Desmond talks to Liam Byrne, who is to bring the sound of the viola da gamba to Kilkenny as part of the city’s arts festival.

We bring you a round up of all the latest news and reviews from the world of entertainment. 

Thomas Bartlett and Paul Muldoon weren’t surprised that lines by Ireland’s great poet worked so well as song lyrics, writes Padraic Killeen

MUSIC NEWS: Is it really eight years since the last New Order album? The Manc electronica outfit have announced a new release, Music Complete, for September 25, complete with keyboard player Gillian Gilbert, albeit without bass player Bernard Sumner who has been estranged from the band since 2007.

Bryce Dessner of The National has a long-held affinity with Cork. It’s part of the reason he’s organising an impressive music fest in the city, writes Ed Power

Kilkenny Arts Festival

Miserablist of the 1990s Beth Orton is calmer now and her music is better, says Ed Power

MUSIC NEWS: Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody, below, is one of the busiest men in show business at the moment.

This weekend’s Cave concerts are performed 88 steps down in a chamber beneath the earth, says Alan O’Riordan

MUSIC NEWS: After the incidents and controversy generated by the recent Swedish House Mafia concert in Dublin, chances are that promoters, gardaí, local authorities, etc, will go all out to be seen to be on top of events in their area.

Corcadorca present a rehearsed reading of Pat McCabe’s Stars of Bel Air at Triskel at 6pm this evening. Also this evening at 8pm Bowerbird presents folk acts Andy Irvine, Sam Amidon, Adrian Crowley and Serafina Steer at Triskel Christchurch.

The Bowerbird gigs at Triskel Christchurch feature both veterans and hot new talents of the genre, writes Nicki ffrench Davis

MUSIC NEWS: If you’re considering getting an emo haircut for summer, this report from Down Under may make you think again.

What I do: I do lots of things. At the moment I am playing the part of Beauty in the Everyman Palace Theatre Christmas Panto, Beauty and the Beast, which is hard work, but great fun.

THE enigmatic Dublin-born fiddle player Caomhín Ó Raghallaigh has stirred the traditional scene, releasing five albums in 10 years, four of them collaborations with leading lights in Irish music.

SUMMER arrived early in more sense than one as Cork Opera House began its push for a bright season of music, drama, comedy and festival performances.