The Barrow River Arts Festival launched in 2011, with artistic direction from renowned violin and double bass duo Maya Homburger and Barry Guy. The festival returns for its second outing from 2—4 March, and once again takes place in Kilkenny and Carlow.

Though compact, the line-up is impressive. Katia and Marielle Labèque open the festival at Duiske Abbey in Kilkenny with a programme of Debussy, Stravinsky, Bernstein and Gershwin. Evan Parker will perform at the opening of the Albert Irvin exhibition on 3 March at Borris House in Carlow, with the vocal quintet Calmus Ensemble and the Aurora Trio (the latter featuring Barry Guy) appearing in respective concerts later that day at the same venue.

Once again at Borris House, the final day, 4 March, will see Calmus collaborating with the Kilkenny Camerata in a programme of Bach and Biber. Storyteller Eddie Linehan will appear earlier in the day, as will Irish actress Marcella Riordan, who will perform readings from Joyce and Beckett.  

For further details about line-up and tickets, go to barrowriverartsfestival.com.