The Guide: Events to see, shows to book and ones to catch before they end

Event of the week

The Great Christmas Concert

Thursday, December 15th, NCH, Dublin; 8pm; €35/€30/€25; nch.ie

Yes, it’s very much that time of year, but this one holds a particularly special place in the festive events calendar. It is, of course, the first GCC since 2019, but just as important is the line-up: alongside the Lassus Scholars and Piccolo Lasso, the Orlando Chamber Orchestra, conductor Ite O’Donovan, and guest soloist mezzo-soprano, Aebh Kelly, are students of the Royal Irish Academy of Music and young Ukrainian musicians. The evening’s programme of music includes Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and seasonal favourites such as Jingle Bells and O Holy Night.

Gigs

Lankum

Saturday, December 10th/Saturday, December 11th, Vicar Street, Dublin; 7pm; €32 (sold out); foggynotions.ie

There isn’t any band, Irish or other nationality, like this one and that’s a fact. New music and a third album (as Lankum; they changed their name in 2016) are on the damp and bleak horizon, but for now, these two gigs will go some way to make sure that even the staunchest of disbelievers are converted. Describing the music is almost pointless, but here we go, anyway: traditional Irish folk music pulled through a time machine that has also landed in decades when psychedelia, prog, and punk ruled. We could say more, but hearing is believing.

The Coronas

Wednesday, December 14th-Sunday, December 18th, 3Olympia, Dublin; 7pm; €39.90 (sold out); ticketmaster.ie

Another Irish band for whom the word “submit” isn’t in their vocabulary, The Coronas have persevered to the extent that some were only too ready to cast them aside as also-rans, but the past few years (and their two most recent albums, 2020′s True Love Waits and this year’s Time Stopped) has brought about a change that perhaps only the band could have foreseen. The fan base seems to be growing, too, as this sequential run of sold-out Dublin gigs proves. The band also play INEC, Killarney, County Kerry, Wednesday, December 28th.

The Blades

Friday, December 16th, The Academy, Dublin; 7pm; €30; ticketmaster.ie

Never say die seems to be the motto if not the mantra of certain Irish bands, and so The Blades return, post-pandemic, with their annual pre-Christmas gig. The 1980s-era songs for which they are justifiably renowned (including Ghost of a Chance, The Bride Wore White, Hot for You, Downmarket, The Last Man in Europe, and Revelations of Heartbreak) will keep the nostalgists in the audience happy, but let’s not forget lead singer/songwriter Paul Cleary’s more recent material such as 2016′s sublime baroque pop song, Kingfisher Blue. Life in the old dogs yet? Wuff, wuff!

Friday, December 16th, Whelan’s, Dublin; 8pm; €25 (sold out); ticketmaster.ie

Resolutely independent, the stubbornly named HamsandwicH pulled another rabbit out of the hat this year with the release of their excellent fourth album, Magnify. The surprise was not that they had actually released a new album (which arrived seven years after Stories from the Surface – the duration of time between records a classic case of not only life getting in the way but also completely obstructing the view) but that it was so good, so progressive, so pop-friendly catchy. Their gigs? A rock/pop riot of good vibes and great tunes.

Spoken word

Dublin Story: Grand Slam 2022

Sunday, December 11th, Abbey Theatre, Dublin; 6pm; €28/€25 (sold out); abbeytheatre.ie

Subtitled Precious: A Night of True Personal Stories Worth Treasuring, this marks yet another re-emergence of a much-loved performative (and shared experience) show. Hosted by Irish comedians Colm O’Regan and Sharon Mannion, the Dublin Story Slam is an open-mic competitive storytelling event that allows an audience to hear personal stories (in other words, quite amazing, sometimes unbelievable, often funny, regularly poignant true tales). Originally scheduled for 2020, this features eight previous Story Slam winners contesting for the title of Grand Slam Champion. On your marks – ready, steady, speak. Visit dublinstoryslam.com for further details.

Comedy

Sarah Millican

Sunday, December 11th-Tuesday, December 13th, 3Olympia, Dublin; 7pm; €33 (sold out); ticketmaster.ie

Sarah Millican discovered her true calling when her marriage was severed in 2004. Lacing natural comedic sensibilities with jokes about the fractured relationship, Millican’s path from ingénue to one of the UK’s most established comedians was one of struggle but that changed in 2008 when she won the Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Since then, Millican has trounced the competition with a sequence of stand-up shows that astutely looks at body image, personal relationships, and gender-conducted behaviour.

Podcast

The 2 Johnnies Podcast Christmas Party

Saturday, December 10th, 3Arena, Dublin; 6.30pm; €68/€50.90 (sold out); ticketmaster.ie

The 2 Johnnies. Photopgraph: Hannah Devaney

It must be dream come true for Tipperary’s Johnny McMahon and Johnny O’Brien (aka, respectively, Johnny Smacks and Johnny B). Just over six years ago, living in Cahir, they were making a living as a hurl maker (O’Brien) and as a butcher in a local supermarket (McMahon), but their lives changed when they were asked to MC a fundraising event at a GAA club. Within months, their full-time jobs were jettisoned and since then the duo has attained a level of success that has far exceeded even the most optimistic of expectations.

Still running

Ciara Roche – Nightcall

Until Sunday, December 18th; Ashford Gallery, RHA, Dublin; adm free; rhagallery.ie

Small but brimming with vivid features, the work of award-winning Co Wexford artist Ciara Roche is influenced by life’s familiar but often overlooked mundanities: taps in public bathrooms, a sit-down chipper, and bedrooms.

Book it this week

Christy Moore, NCH, Dublin; March 18th and March 25th; nch.ie

Unthank/Smith, Empire, Belfast, March 27th and Liberty Hall, Dublin, March 28th; ticketmaster.ie

Sam Smith, 3Arena, Dublin; April 14th and April 15th; ticketmaster.ie

Blur, Malahide Castle, County Dublin; June 24th; ticketmaster.ie