Yey, it’s that time of year again! If September still gives you shiver-inducing memories of the beginning of term and the monsoon rains outside are telling you that ‘Summer’ (HA!) is officially over, take comfort in the knowledge that the most depressing month of the year also plays host to the most innovative festival to hit Dublin. Yes folks, the eagerly anticipated Dublin Fringe Festival is upon us again.

The Fringe Festival is an exciting exploration of a variety of arts, from dance and theatre to dubstep and rock. This year it runs from the 6th to the 21st of September in a variety of locations throughout the city, with the infamous Spiegeltent being the hub of activity (this year located in the Iveagh Gardens). The nature of the Fringe Festival makes all forms of art accessible to people from all walks of life, wherever their interests lie.

Friday the 6th sees the Fringe Fest open in style with the BATUCADA! party, which promises to be a high-energy night of afro-latin style music, dance and performance. The highly popular La Clique is back for 2008 after it reached unprecedented success at last years festival. The show combines elements of caberet, burlesque and acrobatics – it’s sure to sell out so get your tickets for this one quick. The festival also boasts some quality gigs to cater for all musical tastes throughout September. Catch Manchunian rock veterans, The Fall, play the Spiegeltent on the 9th, Duke Special combines music with theatre through radio noir thriller, The Silhouette, on the 10th and sultry-voiced beauty Maria Tecce returns on the 12th and 13th after last years sell-out show. There’s also a fantastic Dubstep night in the Spiegeltent on the 12th and founding fathers of rap, The Sugarhill Gang, perform their 30th anniversary party concert at the Spiegeltent on the 14th.

If theatre and performance art is more your cup of tea then there is an unsurmountable selection to choose from – with theatre being the very essence of the Fringe Festival. Take a trip into the murky world of the likes of Salvador Dali and Luis Bunuel with a five minute personal Surrealist trip courtesy of Bootworks Theatre or, if you fancy something a little lighter, why not check out Tommy Tiernan’s directorial attempts in Help!, starring his cousin, Eleanor Tiernan, as a struggling comedian.

With over 200 events running over the course of the festival, the term ‘something for everyone’ could have been coined to describe the fringe fest. Don’t take my word for it, check out the listings for yourself and get booking. As my nan would say – It’s culture Dahling. Enjoy!