Ireland’s annual Culture Night event will take place on September 25th in several cities and towns, bringing a diverse mix of music, art and theatre to the masses for no charge. The towns and counties participating are Dublin, Cork, Galway, Letterkenny, Limerick, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Tralee, Wexford and Waterford, as well as Belfast.

All locations will have various cultural pursuits on offer, but the main focus is on Dublin, where 124 venues will open their doors to an expected crowd of tens of thousands.

The musical highlights in Dublin include performances at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and the Royal Irish Academy of Music; a gig by six-piece vocal/ percussion band Cachimbo at the Heuston Luas Stop; an “Evening of Music” at the RDS; and the Discovery Gospel Choir, who will sing on Exchequer Street. Christchurch Cathedral will also open its doors for music until 10pm, while the NCH will host recitals by the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra.

One of the more ususual music shows on offer this year is at the Contemporary Music Centre on Fishamble Street. Irish composers Jonathan Nangle and Brian Bridges have created an installation that allows users to interact with their electronica composition using iPhones and iTouches.

For more details on Culture Night, see www.culturenight.ie