This weekend sees the start of the 2013 Earhart International Festival, and a host of fantastic events will ensure this year will be the best yet for Greater Shantallow Community Arts’ annual celebration of history, arts and culture in the community.

Ahead of the annual comics extravaganza that is the 2D Comics Festival, the Verbal Arts Centre are reminding the city’s budding young artists about their amazing 2013 comic art competition, ‘Colmcille VS Loch Ness Monster – the Battle!’

Fear not if you’re one of the many who missed out on One Big Weekend tickets! Derry will host its own alternative to the BBC’s musical Goliath in the form of next weekend’s North by North West Urban Festival.

Friday, 14th and Saturday, 15th June 2013 are dates that music fans will want to put in their diaries. In what will undoubtedly be one of the true highlights of the City of Culture programme when Phil Coulter returns to the ‘Town He Loves So Well’ for a unique and historic event at The Venue 2013. In the biggest and most ambitious concert he has ever performed in his hometown, Phil will be joined by a host of special guests, The Priests, Moya Brennan, Ralph McTell, Damien McGinty and local choir Codetta and the glorious sounds of the Ulster Orchestra.

A new exhibition entitled ‘Catholic Blood’ by Andrei Molodkin opens at Void on Patrick Street tomorrow night., May 18, at 7.30pm, with an artist’s talk at 8.15pm.

One is a well-known local crooner. The other, a former member of local heroes Tie The Boy. Now, musical cousins Martin John McCafferty and Tim Hegarty have come together to create a powerhouse of a new band they call DERRY...

The president of Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann has said the “warmth and friendliness” of the people of Derry will help ensure the success of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

Other Voices Season 11 (the second decade) is now being broadcast on RTÉ Two television on Wednesday evenings.

Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin will host one of the hottest new acts on the UK folk scene this Saturday, May 18, at 7.30pm when Rura perform.

Masons Comedy Club is returning to help supply the chuckles for City of Culture.

An evening performance of the long-awaited play ‘Re-energize’ will be captioned this Friday night, May 17, for audiences who are deaf or hard of hearing in the city.

A new drama exploring the origins of the Orange Order is continuing its tour of local primary schools.

Calling all linedancers.

The first lady of musical theatre, Rebecca Storm - who has wowed crowds with her performances in iconic roles such as Mrs Johnston in Blood Brothers, Eva Peron in Evita and Fantine in Les Miserables - is set to perform in Derry this weekend.

Derry’s Centre for Contemporary Art will tomorrow proudly present the first solo exhibition of Swedish duo, Goldin+Senneby, VWAP, to be shown here. VWAP launches at 6pm tomorrow, May 11, at the CCA in Artillery Street.

A superb new National Theatre production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet - in a version for young audiences - will have its world premiere at the Waterside Theatre later this month as part of Derry’s 2013 celebrations.

One of music’s most prolific singer-songwriters, Loudon Wainwright III makes his debut performance at the Millennium Forum next Tuesday, 14th May for one night only.
Father of musicians Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright, Loudon Wainwright III is a Grammy Award-winning American songwriter, folk singer, humorist and actor.

The critically acclaimed, award winning Rich Hall makes a stand up appearance in the Millennium Forum.

Bruno Mars, Biffy Clyro and Calvin Harris have been announced as the headliners for BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2013 in Derry which will take place from May 24-26.

Later this month the Playhouse Theatre of Witness project will offer members of the public a chance to see a free screening of ‘The Far Side of Revenge’ - a powerful humanizing documentary about its work.