Since launching its programme one month ago, expectations for the annual Cork Midsummer Festival have been fervent to say the least.

This coming Sunday (June 15) is the date the eagerly awaited arts extravaganza finally gets under way, with a plethora of artists, performers and productions, both home-grown and international, eager to grace stages of all shapes and sizes over the coming three weeks.

That the event now ranks as one of the most experimental, innovative and forward thinking, not to mention professional, festivals in Ireland, and indeed Europe, is no small feat. Open to all contemporary art-forms, the Midsummer Festival provides a hugely valuable annual platform for local, national and international artists and arts organisations specialising in theatre, film, dance, visual art, photography, sculpture, literature, poetry and family entertainment. With that in mind the Cork Independent casts an eye over the next 21 days and picks out some of its most exciting events.

The Spiegeltent

The famous tent of mirrors makes yet another welcome return to Cork, three years on from it's debut appearance. Many regular Midsummer patrons will already be familiar with the travelling venues uniquely velvety charm. But for those yet to experience the tents charms, this years line-up features some thrilling, not to mention one-off, opportunities, to acquaint themselves.

The Spiegeltent bill features some truly inspirational talent, some of which will be very familiar to Cork audiences, others who are making the trek to Leeside for the first time ever. Over the three weeks fans will be treated to music, theatre, bingo, tea parties club nights and circus events. Particular highlights include Choice Music Prize Nominees Stanley Super 800 who will don their Stetsons, pour some hooch and deliver a rare Country & Western set on Friday, June 20.

Those Ping Pong clubbing gents have pulled a rabbit out of the hat with their contribution to the Midsummer madness. Faust, those legendary experi-mentalists will make their debut Irish appearance on Saturday, June 21. Stalwarts of the early 70s German Krautwork scene, Faust have fashioned for themselves a unique place in rock history. Expect cement mixers, angle grinders and a whole lot more.

The equally legendary, influential and unpredictable post-punk group The Fall will also make their Cork bow on Thursday, July 3. The post-punk icons, led by the enigmatic Mark E Smith, have released some 27 albums, 50 compilations and more then 50 singles in their lifetime and have changed their line-up a similar number of times. Set to be a definite highlight of the year.

Other noteworthy shows include local death rockers Rulers of the Planet (Tuesday, June 24), folk singer-songwriter Mick Flannery (Tuesday, July 1) and Cork's own eternal pop-rock favourites, the Frank and Walters (Wednesday, June 25) who will play their Grand Parade album in its entire chronological order. The tent, meanwhile, goes into clubland each and every night with David Hoyle's Last Resort. Expect the unexpected.