Monday
Walk, Talk and Sing
Starts at St Patrick's Cathedral 6pm Adm free
libertiesfestival.ie
This sounds like gas craic. The Liberties is Dublin's oldest area, as every single person who has lived there for any amount of time will tell you. As part of the Liberties Festival, St Patrick's Cathedral tour guide Reg McCabe and Jerry O'Reilly of the Goilín Traditional Singers' are organising a walking, talking and singing tour of the historic area. All visitors are welcome to join in. So basically it's like Sing Along Social, accept you don't have to go outside to smoke your Johnnie Blues. It kicks of at St Patrick's Cathedral 6pm and is free.
Tuesday
Brittlefield
Gallery 1, RHA Gallagher Gallery, Dublin
rhagallery.ie
There is a new immersive installation at the heart of the first major survey show by Aideen Barry (right), an artist whose Gothic-tinged performances, films and installations explore obsessive-compulsive behaviours, the unease and anxiety surrounding social roles and expectations, and the way we enact identities. Oh, and she can be really funny as well.
Wednesday
Rufus Wainwright
National Concert Hall, Dublin 8pm €55/€50/€45
nch.ie
He's smart. He's witty. He's multifaceted. And his version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah is a show-stopper. This is a rare solo gig from one of the most talented songwriters around; expect to gently dab tears of joy and sorrow away from your eyes.
Sligo Jazz Festival
Sligo town Jul 19-24
sligojazz.ie
Sligo gets its jazz on this week with a small army of musicians – from legendary professionals to rank beginners – all heading west. The bill includes the starry Impossible Gentlemen, with drummer Adam Nussbaum and pianist Gwilym Simcock; unique UK vocalist Liane Carroll; and local guitar hero Mike Nielsen. But the real stars of the festival are the enthusiastic students on the accompanying summer school, who turn Sligo into downtown Manhattan for a week, one during which the sun always shines. Honest.
Thursday
Prince – a Tribute to the Music
Academy, Dublin 7pm €17.50
ticketmaster.ie
In a celebration of the music of our dearly beloved Prince, an ensemble gathering of Irish musicians (under the band moniker of True Funk Soldiers) will raise funds in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. Purple praise, indeed, to Paul Noonan and Dave Geraghty (Bell X1), Steve Wall (The Stunning), CC Brez, Bronagh Gallagher, Wyvern Lingo, Gavin Glass, Roisin O (right) and – yes, you guess correctly – very special guests.
Shivers
Electric Garden Galway 10pm €10/€8/€5
electricgalway.com
Kerstin Egert is Tama Sumo, a Berlin-based DJ and producer with an impeccable pedigree when it comes to working out what will move a dancefloor. She's the selector who has made her bones as a longstanding resident at the city's Panorama and Berghain with an arsenal of deep, soulful house and techno.
St John's Priory Summer Series
St John's Priory, Kilkenny 7.30pm €12
tickets.ie
The right kind of music in a church is often hard to beat for atmosphere and acoustics, and for the next two weeks this lovely space is perfectly positioned for just that. The St John's Priory Summer Series starts with performances from Jófríður and Asta Fanney (Iceland), Talos (Ireland), and Daniel Martin Moore (America).
Boyle Arts Festival Main Exhibition
King House, Boyle, Co Roscommon July 21-August 1
boylearts.com
Paul McKenna has cast the net wide for his survey of artists associated with the north and northwest, this year's centrepiece show at the festival. Among them are Neisha Allen, Cathy Carman, Comhghall Casey, Malachy Costello, Aidan Crotty, Diarmuid Delargy and Eileen Ferguson.
Michael Buckley's Dublin Standard Time
JJ Smyths, Aungier st. 9pm, €10
jjsmyths.com
The saxophonist live is one of the most impressive and fluent improvisers the Dublin scene has ever produced.
