Iconic musician Patti Smith will perform what promises to be an unmissable concert at the Heineken Big Top at Galway International Arts Festival next July.
Please Note: Please make note of the stage times for Patti Smith Quartet at the Heineken Big Top on Wednesday 15th July, 2026
7pm Doors open
8pm Patti Smith on stage
9:45 Róisín Dubh Indie Club on stage
Patti Smith’s live performances have been met with widespread critical praise, hailed for their emotional power, spontaneity and enduring artistic vitality.
Born in Chicago and raised in South Jersey, Smith moved to New York City in 1967, where she became a central force in the city’s vibrant arts scene. Her groundbreaking 1975 debut album Horses, now enshrined in the National Recording Registry, announced a fearless new voice, whose influence continues to reverberate across generations. Smith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
Across her remarkable career, Smith has released a series of acclaimed albums, including Radio Ethiopia, Easter, featuring the classic Because the Night, co-written with Bruce Springsteen, Dream of Life with its anthemic People Have The Power, co-written with her late husband Fred Sonic Smith, Gone Again, Gung Ho, Banga and more. A four-time Grammy Nominee, she has also received major recognition for her work in film, literature and visual art, including an Emmy nomination for Steven Sebring’s documentary Patti Smith: Dream of Life.
For this special GIAF performance, Smith appears with Tony Shanahan on bass and keyboards, who she has collaborated with since 1996, her son, guitarist Jackson Smith, who she has collaborated with for over a decade, and Seb Rochford on drums.
Patti Smith’s Galway debut promises an electrifying, deeply moving night at the Heineken Big Top!
Photo Credit: Tom Dumont
Accessibility and seating: wheelchair accessible, dedicated accessible raised ramp (please note the area can be reserved for people with mobility issues through our box office). Please contact the box office in advance
Disabled Parking Spots: Cathedral Square car park (3), disabled parking on University of Galway campus is marked in the following map: parking locations map and blue badge owners can park anywhere on campus.
Toilets: accessible toilet is located at the rear of the Big Top. GIAF volunteers are on hand to facilitate entrance to the accessibility area.
