DOLLS IN HOUSE; ULTIMATE IRELAND.

Byline: MAEVE QUIGLEY; DEMELZA de BURCA

The legendary New York Dolls, Bon Iver and Primal Scream are just a few of the acts that are rocking this year''s Galway Arts Festival. Connacht''s capital city is hosting a feast of amazing talent and fun for all the family that kicked off on Monday and runs until July 26. Fans of glam/punk rockers New York Dolls will be treated to an intimate gig at their only Irish date tonight at the Risn Dubh.

The band created punk rock before there was a term for it. Their drug-fuelled, shambolic performances influenced a generation of musicians in New York and London, who all went on to form punk bands. When the Dolls started out in 1970 they were Syl Sylvain, David Johansen, Johnny Thunders, Arthur Harold Kane, Billy Murcia, and later Jerry Nolan. Murcia died in 1972.

Thunders died from drugs in 1991. Nolan passed away in 1992 following a stroke and Kane died from leukaemia just weeks after the 2004 reunion concert.

Today the Dolls are made up of David Johansen, Syl Sylvain, inset, Steve Conte, Sami Yaffa, and Brian Delaney and released a new album, Cause I Sez So, last May. Fans lucky enough to get tickets for tonight''s sold-out show should expect to hear mega-hits Trash, Personality Crisis, Looking For A Kiss and Pills.

The Risn Dubh on Dominick St is proving to be a popular spot for gigs throughout the festival with an impressive line-up featuring Jerry Fish and The Mudbug Club on July 18; soul singer Candi Staton (best known for the hit 'Young Hearts Run Free') on July 19; Brooklyn's powerhouse Indie-folk band O'Death on July 20; soul legend Brooker T, former leader of The MGs and the man behind the classic instrumental 'Green Onions') on July 21; and Jack L on July 24.

The Risn will also hold its popular annual Trad Lunchtimes from July 16 to 25.

Following his performance at this year's Glastonbury, American Bon Iver (Indie-folk singer Justin Vernon) brings his haunting melodies from his critically acclaimed album For Emma, Forever Ago, to the Festival Big Top on Thursday, July 23 at 8.30pm.

Also playing the Big Top are David Gray (July 21 with support from David Kitt) and African star Femi Kuti on July 22.

Superstar DJ David Holmes has pulled out of his Big Top gig alongside Primal Scream and Spiritualized next Friday but organisers told The Beat they are hoping to get a replacement.

Latin music fans can look forward to the New York salsa sounds of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra in the Radisson on July 19.

Other highlights this year include a major dance show by Michael Clark, inspired by the Glam era of David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Lou Reed is having it''s Irish premiere this week in the Black Box with its last two shows tonight and tomorrow night.

As usual theatre is playing a vital role in the festival and the Propeller theatre company is staging two works by Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Merchant Of Venice - in the Town Hall from July 22 to 26. The Druid theatre is staging Tom Murphy's The Gigli Concert in the newly refurbished and soon to be reopened Druid Theatre finishing up on July 25.

Funnyman Tommy Tiernan will play a run of shows at Cuba, Eyre Square, finishing up tomorrow night. Also playing Cuba are David O'Doherty (July 20) and Maeve Higgins (July 22).

The great British artist David Hockney will exhibit his visual interpretations of stories from the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales in the same venue. Also in the Festival Gallery, the photo exhibition Child Soldier will be held.

No arts festival is complete without the spectacular Macnas parade. This year the Macnas parade Orfeo, directed by Noeline Kavanagh, based on the idea of Orpheus' journey to the underworld takes place on Sunday at 10pm.

For tickets and more information go to www.galwayartsfestival.com.

CAPTION(S):

ORIGINAL: Lead singer David Johanson