It’s a folkin’ brilliant line-up.

Cork Folk Festival returns this autumn with four days of folk music, featuring over 50 events running from September 29th to October 2nd.

Headline act this year include Mary Black accompanied by Bill Shanley, Pat Crowley, Nick Scott, Richie Buckley and Liam Bradley, with support from Gráinne Hunt at the Cork Opera House, while DANÚ will also feature along with legendary Chieftains’ musicians Sean Keane and Matt Molloy.

At Live at St Luke’s, Colk Folk Festival celebrates the album launch of composer and fiddle player Clare Sands, and the Fiddle Fair will be celebrating 30 years with Liz Doherty’s Fiddlesticks, North Cregg, Catriona McKay and Chris Stout, Lena Jonsson and Johanna Juhola.

There’s a Céilí Mór at Douglas GAA and a Folk Fest for all the fam in Fitzgerald’s Park with trad band Torcán and Douglas Comhaltas too as well as a Gate Cinema showing of Dark Horse On The Wind, The Life and Songs of Liam Weldon presented in association with IndieCork Film Festival.

You can check out all the ticketed events here, but the city will be alive with free fun events throughout the weekend.

Here’s the best of the free stuff to check out:

Thursday, September 29th

• MTU Bishopstown Exhibition Centre: 1pm Concert with singer Thomas McCarthy.
• The Corner House: 5pm Tunes, 9pm Dizzy Blues Band
• Sin É: 5.30pm Trad Sessions
• An Spailpín Fánach: 9.30pm Trad Session

Friday, September 30th

• MTU Cork Rory Gallagher Theatre: 1pm Jackie Daly and Matt Cranitch.
• St Peters Church: 1pm John Murphy and John Neville
• Sin É: 5.30pm Trad Sessions
• Cork City Library: 6.30pm Book Launch; The Jackie Daly Collection of Original Irish Tunes
• An Spailpín Fánach: 9.30pm Trad Session

Saturday, October 1st

• Cork Bridges Song Tour: 11am With Mick Buckley meet at North Mall.
• Cork City Library: 1pm Creative Tradition presents an all-abilities trad session.
• Cork City Children’s Library: 3pm Storytime for Children with Maria Gillen.
• An Spailpín Fánach: 3pm Trad Session.
• Sin É: 5.30pm Trad Sessions
• The Corner House: 6pm Song with Pat Horgan and Stayin’ Down Shoes.
• An Spailpín Fánach: 9.30pm Trad Session

Sunday, October 2nd

• Fitzgerald’s Park: 2pm Folk fest in the Park, Torcán, Douglas Comhaltas.
• Charlies Bar: 3pm Trad Session
• The Corner House: 5pm Sunday Songs
• Sin É: 5.30pm Trad Sessions
• The Corner House: 8pm Old Time Ho’Down.
• An Spailpín Fánach: 9.30pm Trad Session
• The Gables Bar: 9.30pm Trad Session
• The Crane Lane: 11.30pm Two Time Polka.