MUSIC NEWS: The Ticketis the official media partner of First Fortnight, the 10-day festival which runs in Dublin from January 4-14th. The multi-venue event aims to challenge the stigma around mental health and incorporates a number of gigs into its programme, including Therapy Sessionsat The Workman's Club on January 4th, 6th and 11th.

Performers will include Mark Geary, We Cut Corners, ex-Thrills man Ben Carrigan, Sacred Animals, Verse Chorus Verse and more. Cashier No 9 will close the festival on the 14th with a gig at the Button Factory, with support from Le Galaxie and guests. There will also be a screening of music documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnsonat The IFI on the 7th.

Johnson has granted permission for his artwork to be printed on one-off T-shirts, which will be on sale at the screening.

There will also be plays, exhibitions and discussions based around mental health throughout the festival. Founder JP Swaine said that First Fortnight didn’t want people to be “guilt-tripped” into attending. “We want people to be fascinated, engaged and motivated to attend,” he said. firstfortnight.com