While this summer sees many music festivals return to the stage on grand estates and fields across the country, a smaller stage is making its journey around Kerry.

COVID Care Concerts will take place in 13 nursing homes around the county including Killarney over five days beginning this Sunday.

Festival in a Van is a mobile live arts event that brings live performance to communities throughout Ireland.

Musician Bryan O'Leary will play in Turreencahill Community Centre this Friday.

Festival in a Van is a mobile live arts event that brings live performance to communities throughout Ireland.

On Friday, Festival in a Van will tour Kenmare, visiting schools and care homes with Joe Thoma and his band. It will finish the day with a trad session as a public finale in Parnell Place Kenmare at 4pm.

Also on Friday in Gneeveguilla, Turreencahill Community Centre will feature musicians Bryan O’Leary, Matt Griffin, Annmarie O’Riordan and Eoin O'Driscoll. There are limited tickets available, please contact Tureencahill Community Centre on 085 877 1949.

Then it's on to Killarney on Saturday, visiting the Killarney Men's Shed, Care Home and Direct Provision Centre with Aoife Granville and Deirdre Granville. These intimate performances will provide entertainment and give that festival experience to audiences in a familiar setting.

The Festival in a Van will also support shared Ukrainian and Irish Music Sessions in Killarney and Tralee, programmed and produced in partnership with Music Generation Kerry on Sunday.

The Local Live Performance Programming Scheme 3 has helped to support performances by local Kerry musicians, artists, and performers. It has also welcomed back audiences and offered relief through performance and entertainment.

COVID Care Concerts have also returned to the county due to support received through the scheme. They are outdoor concerts organised by the Mobile Music Machine and will perform in 13 nursing homes around Listowel, Tralee and Killarney over five days beginning this Sunday.

Not all festivals welcome thousands and not all concerts have pop stars, but music and performance always provide the audience with a unique experience. These special series of performances hope to do just that.

Events funded through the Local Live Performance Programming Scheme 3 will be happening throughout Kerry up to the end of June. A full schedule of events is available on www.kerrycoco.ie/arts/events-festivals/.