Monday
Music City 2016
Various venues/times/admission prices Derry
musiccityderry.com
Now in its fourth year, Derry's Music City seven-day event features a wide range of music acts to suit various tastes: The Strypes, Girls Names, R.S.A.G., Overhead, The Albatross, Saint Sister, The Willis Clan, Bitch Falcon, and David Kitt. Derry acts featured include Mercury Music Prize nominee and Choice Music Prize 2015 winner, Soak, Best Boy Grip, Our Krypton Son, The Clameens, Paddy Nash & the Happy Enchiladas, Strength, and Triggerman.
Melody Gardot
National Concert Hall, Dublin, 8.30pm, €55/€50/€45,
nch.ie
Philadelphia-born singer Melody Gardot comes complete with a tragic backstory, movie-star looks and a stage presence like the jazz divas of old. But Gardot is the real deal, a talented and versatile singer who combines delicacy with passion, strength with vulnerability, and one who – creditably and unusually – writes all her own material. Piaf meets Holliday meets Waits – irresistible.
Tuesday
Roamer
Arthur's, Thomas St, 8pm, €12/€8 (also Wednesday)
improvisedmusic.ie
Inevitably, some of the brightest young things of Irish jazz are "roamers", based abroad for the sake of their careers. Home for the summer are singer Lauren Kinsella (right) , who is getting serious notice for her fearless improvisational singing in London; Simon Jermyn, fast becoming one of the go-to bassists on the creative Brookyn scene; and saxophonist Matt Halpin, who is building a following for his Cologne-based trio, Last Chance Dance. Only dynamic drummer Matt Jacobson is based in Dublin at the moment. If you were to pick a group that represents the best of the current generation, these four would almost certainly feature.
Srutháin Ceoil
Ionad Cois Locha, Dunlewey 8pm €8 086-6050110
Donegal takes a snapshot of its own music at this point in time with a fourth album release by Tionscnamh Lugh, a local music network that fosters local music with a healthy mix of genteel and steely encouragement. Gathering tonight for the celebrations are: Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Moya Brennan, Paddy Glackin and Donal Lunny.
Wednesday
PhotoIreland Festival
IDEALS: City Assembly House, South William St; New Irish Works: The Library Project, Temple Bar; Youngdon Jung: The Copper House Gallery, Synge St; Flâneur – New Urban Narratives (July 3-24): Smithfield Sq; How to Flatten a Mountain: Rathfarnham Castle (July 8-24)
photoireland.org
It's PhotoIreland month and the main shows, including IDEALS at the City Assembly House are spread as usual between venues throughout Dublin. That's before you get to the outlying exhibitions, encompassing Historias Immediates at the Cervantes Institute in Dublin and venues further afield – Carlow and Lismore Castle. Other shows and events form part of the open programme. For full listings and locations, pick up info at The Library Project or one of the other venues or check photoireland.org
Iarla Ó Lionáird and Steve Cooney
Old St Mary's Church, Clonmel 9pm €20
junctionfestival.com
Hot on the heels of his recent triumph with The Gloaming and his cameo in Brooklyn, our most inimitable singer, Ó Lionáird, reconnects with a favourite collaborator, Steve Cooney, for a magical night of music as guests of Clonmel's Junction Festival. A meeting of two musical forces.
Thursday
My Brilliant Friend
Michelle Browne, Avril Corroon, Ella de Búrca, Lisamarie Johnson and Laugh a Defiance
Temple Bar Gallery, 5-9 Temple Bar Until September 3
templebargallery.com
With a nod to Elena Ferrante, five artists were invited to look at female solidarity, work, economy, protest and how to negotiate life in Dublin as an artist and a woman in 2016, in the context of unsettled times and various pressing crises. Their responses promise humour, warmth, solidarity and generosity and aim to make the show a venue for gathering and meetings.
Ronan Guilfoyle - Two Trios
JJ Smyth's, Aungier St, 9pm, €10
jjsmyths.com
As one of the strongest voices in Irish jazz, Ronan Guilfoyle may divide opinion at times, but his creativity and work-rate cannot be questioned. This time, the internationally respected Dún Laoghaire bassist presents not one but two contrasting trios, the first with scorching Tipperary guitarist Joe O'Callaghan, and the other with the bassist's son, guitarist Chris Guilfoyle, whose fluent playing decisively rebuts accusations of nepotism.
Junction Festival
Various venues, Clonmel, Co Tipperary July 4th-10th
Bridget Cleary was the last witch burned in Ireland. In 1895, she became a victim of superstition, after her husband Michael and her family suspected her of being possessed by a fairy. That might be a strange place to take inspiration from for a festival, but the Clonmel Junction Festival is embracing "Bridget – the entrepreneur, the seamstress, the milliner – while at the same time celebrating Irish folklore, fairy tales, and witches" through it's bustling programme. There are more than 100 events in 30 venues in just seven days – that's quite the bit of programming magic by Mary Hickson. Highlights include performance by The Unthanks), Lisa Hannigan, Hauschka, Caoimhin O'Raghailligh and many more.
