Patti Smith Quartet

Wed 15th July, 2026 Doors: 7:00pm
@ Heineken Big Top

Galway International Arts Festival and Róisín Dubh present

Patti Smith Quartet 

Heineken® Big Top  

Galway International Arts Festival 

Wednesday 15 July 2026 

 

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. 

 

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. Her live performances have been met with widespread critical praise, hailed for their emotional power, spontaneity and enduring artistic vitality. 

 

Smith’s literary achievements are equally celebrated. Her memoir Just Kids, chronicling her deep friendship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and the evolution of their work, won the National Book Award [USA] in 2010. It was followed by acclaimed works, including M Train, Year of the Monkey and A Book of Days. Her latest book, Bread of Angels: A Memoir was recently published. Continuing her commitment to humanitarian and environmental causes, she remains a vital cultural voice. 

 

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.   

 

Please Note:

Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult 25+. Standing. These tickets are NONREFUNDABLE except in the event of a cancellation or postponement.