We’re going to have to wait until the end of May for the full programme launch, but in the meantime, the Galway Arts Festival 2013 have announced the addition of some pretty great acts/shows to this year’s line-up. Check out the latest Galway Arts Festival additions below:

Howie The Rookie
A major new production by Landmark Productions, The electrifying Howie the Rookie, written and directed by Mark O’ Rowe and starring Love/Hate actor Tom Vaughan-Lawlor,  will  run at An Taibhdhearc from the 22nd – 27th July.

This exciting production brings together one of Ireland’s leading playwrights, Mark O Rowe who has won a Irish Times Theatre award for the play, and one  of the country’s most powerful actors In Tom Vaughan-Lawlor who thrilled audiences with his performance in the wildly popular RTÉ crime drama Love/Hate for which he most recently was awarded Best Actor in a TV Series (Nidge in Love/Hate) at the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs).

Damien Dempsey
Damien Dempsey will support Glen Hansard in the Festival Big Top on July 25th. Ever since he burst onto the Irish music scene with his 1997 single Dublin Town, Damien Dempsey has captured the pain and triumph of life far removed from the world of Ireland’s Celtic Tiger. He continues to use his  immense talent and passionate songwriting to chronicle the lives of those who live in an Ireland that is often overlooked. A gifted live performer, Damien has sold thousands of records, toured the US and supported the likes of Bob Dylan, Sinead O’Connor, Willie Nelson and Morrissey.
 
After performing and helping to write the official Irish Euro 2012 song The Rocky Road to Poland (all proceeds of which went to charity) Damien released his sixth studio album, Almighty Love, in October 2012. Hotpress called Almighty Love ‘a powerful album’. A recent Sunday Times profile of Damien paid special attention to the, ‘overwhelming sense of community that quickly spellbinds his audience.’

The Rite Of Spring/Petrushka
Fabulous Beast premiered the Stravinsky double bill in the hallowed ground of Sadler's Wells, London. The critical reaction was outstanding, with The Guardian’s Judith Mackrell writing, '...Keegan-Dolan's wheeling, skittering choreography is an abstract force, untethering the dancers from their personalities and ordinary life...there's no doubting the spell of Keegan-Dolan's imagination'.

The Arts Desk's Matthew Paluch was enthusiastic with his praise writing, 'All of the dancers do his work more than proud, and the scores are played in piano version with nimble precision and tasteful nuance by Lidija and Sanja Bizjak. Overall, Fabulous Beast more than warrant their fabulous name.' The Financial Times said The Rite of Spring was, 'a brilliant response to Stravinsky’s dramatic programme', while The Independent declared it, 'A celebratory double bill is inspired by heartlifting music...glorious'

An understandably delighted Paul Fahy, Artistic Director of the Galway Arts Festival, added in response, "It has been a wonderful privilege watching Michael Keegan Dolan and Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre re-imagine The Rite of Spring and create the brand new work Petrushka in the rehearsal room in Galway over the past few weeks. The final dress rehearsal at the Black Box Theatre last week before the company departed for London was such an exciting evening, and the technical accomplishments of both the dancers and the creative team are just terrific. London audiences reacted so enthusiastically as the show opened at Sadler's Wells and it was great to witness an Irish company command such acclaim at one of the world's leading dance theaters. Galway audiences are in for an absolute treat in July."