First Fortnight, Ireland's first mental health arts festival, opens this Wednesday January 4 with a packed show at The Workman's Club.

Amongst the top talent on display are Delorentos (whose forthcoming Little Sparks album is generating much positive buzz), Pugwash, VerseChorusVerse, Tieranniesaur, Mark Geary and novelist Alex Barclay, who will kick things off with a short story. Tickets are only €5.

Run in association with See Change, Ireland's Mental Health Stigma Reduction Partnership, First Fortnight runs until January 14 and aims to create discussion and understand of mental health problems while challenging stigma through the use of live music, spoken-word, theatre, film and visual arts.

Other acts set for the festival include Cashier No. 9, Royseven and Le Galaxie. The full line-up can be viewed at [link]www.firstfortnight.com[/link]