Event of the week
Inner Light
Monday, April 24th, Vicar Street, Dublin; 7.30pm; €25; ticketmaster.ie
In partnership with Irish Red Cross and Ukrainian Action in Ireland, the creativity/writing promotion charity Fighting Words presents a multi-strand event (book launch, photo exhibition, gig) that is emblematic and a celebration of Irish and Ukrainian cultural solidarity. A star-studded list of people will be in attendance, including Glen Hansard, Roddy Doyle, Lia Mills, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Cathy Davey, Paul Muldoon, Anastasia Kovalenko, Hugh Buckley, Kateryna Tarasenko, Frankham & Love, and Olha Mats. MCs are Dearbhail McDonald and Oleksandra Pishcheiko. All funds raised go to the Irish Red Cross Ukraine Fund.
Gigs
Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi
Saturday, April 22nd, Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park, Dublin; 8pm; €28; farmleigh.ie
“Acoustic roots music at its most glorious” is how Uncut magazine described Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi’s 2021 album, They’re Calling Me Home (which won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album). At this singular unamplified and unadorned show, which takes place in one of the elegant rooms at Farmleigh House, they will perform songs from that album as well as their Grammy-nominated 2019 album, There Is No Other.
Waxahatchee
Saturday, April 22nd/Sunday, April 23rd/Tuesday, April 25th, Pepper Canister Church, Dublin; 7pm; €28.50; ticketmaster.ie
Singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield formed Waxahatchee (named after the creek in Alabama where she grew up) in 2010 and has since forged distinctive styles that have been called “songs that play like fiery exorcisms” (Pitchfork). Two albums in the past three years have, in particular, highlighted her insightful, insidiously melodic Americana: 2020′s Saint Cloud, and last year’s I Walked with You a Ways. Each record displays Crutchfield’s artistic benchmarks and influences: Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Neko Case, and Dolly Parton. Yep – that good.
Cormac Begley
Sunday, April 23rd, Vicar Street, Dublin; 6.30pm; €29; ticketmaster.ie
It has taken a while for Cormac Begley to get from playing any and every venue in the land to making his headline debut at this venue, but the award-winning west Kerry concertina player has certainly paid his dues by this point. Notably, in the past few years, Begley’s prominence has risen by virtue of his best work to date: last year’s second solo album, B (so titled after the bass and baritone concertinas he plays throughout), has been garlanded from all corners as being a groundbreaking, virtuosic work. Two words? Must see.
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Lucia: A Suite for Guitar and Strings
Thursday, April 27th, Axis Ballymun, Dublin; 8pm; €16/€14; axisballymun.ie
Joseph Chester is usually viewed as something of a guitar-pop master craftsman, but here he dispenses with that and instead presents a suite of classical guitar-rendered music with a concept attached: parts of the life of Lucia, the daughter of James Joyce. Those familiar with classical guitarists (think Julian Bream, John Williams, Andrés Segovia, and Sharon Isbin) with a whisper of post-punk finesse will find much to blissfully wallow in here.
Theatre
Country and Irish
Monday, April 24th, Town Hall Theatre, Galway; 8pm; €20/€18; tht.ie; Tuesday, April 25th, The Glens Centre, Manorhamilton; 8pm; €17/€15; theglenscentre.com; Wednesday, April 26th, The Linenhall, Castlebar, County Mayo; 8pm; €17; thelinenhall.com; Thursday, April 27th, Backstage Theatre, Longford; 8pm; €18/€16; backstage.ie; Friday, April 28th, Ballina Arts Centre, Ballina, County Mayo; 8pm; €18/€16; ballinaartscentre.com
Author and playwright Patrick McCabe devises a funny and confrontational story about Albanian gangsters, Co Longford mafia, an Irish mother and a man (Donie Burns, performed by Peter Gowan) for whom time is quickly running out. Runs nationwide until May 20th.
Podcast
Where Is My Mind?
Friday, April 28th, 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin; 7pm; €27.40; ticketmaster.ie
Niall “Bressie” Breslin is, perhaps, better known by some as an award-winning podcast host rather than his role as frontman of Irish rock-pop band The Blizzards. The former career option (you can hardly call it a side hustle) made its debut almost four years ago and has since become one of the best podcasts to shine a light on mental health issues. The podcast makes its live debut at the 3Olympia with U2 bass player Adam Clayton, who will talk about how to be in one of the world’s biggest rock bands without losing the run of yourself.
Festival/music
Kilkenny Roots Festival
From Friday, April 28th-Monday, May 1st, Kilkenny; various venues/times/prices; kilkennyroots.com
Is Kilkenny Roots Festival really celebrating its 25th anniversary? That it has been going for such a long time is a testament to its quality – and this year is no different, what with touring back on track for everyone. Highlights include the debut appearance in Ireland of James Yorkston, Nina Persson (of The Cardigans fame) & The Second Hand Orchestra, Jolie Holland, Florence Dore, David Keenan, Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express, Martin Stephenson & John Perry, Carson McHone, and Kassi Valezza.
Festival/film
SOUND!
From Friday, April 28th-Sunday, April 30th, Donegal town; various times/prices; Regional Cultural Centre and An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, Co Donegal; regionalculturalcentre.com
A new festival in the arts calendar, and it’s a welcome one as it celebrates the artistry involved when placing sound and music in film. Highlights include a showing of the classic vampire film Nosferatu with a live drone/psychedelic soundtrack by Belfast-based Documenta, and a presentation by writer Sinéad Gleeson on electronic music pioneer Wendy Carlos. Advice? Take your protein pills and put your helmet on.
Still running
The Examination
Tuesday, April 25th, An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, County Donegal; Saturday, April 29th, Town Hall Theatre, Galway; brokentalkers.ie
Drawing on historical studies and declarations from former and current prisoners, Brokentalkers’ multi-award-winning play (including Best Production, Irish Times Theatre Awards 2020) explores mental health and human rights in the prison system. Gary Keegan and (former inmate) Willie White feature.
Book it this week
Sam Amidon, Irish tour; May 10th-13th; ticketmaster.ie
Gladys Knight, 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin; June 3rd; ticketmaster.ie
Dexys, 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin; September 25th; ticketmaster.ie
Busted, 3Arena, Dublin; October 6th/SSE Arena, Belfast; October 8th; ticketmaster.ie
