DIGITAL BISCUIT
Science and Cinema
Science Gallery, Dublin, digitalbiscuit.ie
The Digital Biscuit Film and Technology Conference extravaganza is up and running at the Science Gallery in Trinity College Dublin. The event sets out to test and tease boundaries between science and film with a series of talks, seminars and less conventional presentations. Such prominent professionals as David Chase, creator of The Sopranos, and Neil Jordan, among our most celebrated films-makers, are among those presenting material at the Biscuit. It all ends on Friday evening, but there remains a packed programme. Donald Clarke and Tara Brady will both be at the podium. On Friday, at 10.15am, Donald will deliver a lecture on "Computers versus the Movies: Aesthetics Gone Bad". At 2pm, Tara, President of the Dublin Film Critics Circle, will join fellow DFCC members John Maguire and Gavin Burke for a consideration of "the Science of Film Criticism". There's more where that came from.
TRAD
The Pipes, The Pipes
The Dock, Carrick On Shannon 8.30pm €12/€10 thedock.ie
For some months now, DJ and Ticket columnist Donal Dineen has been working on this project: a celebration and exploration in music and live art performance of the uilleann pipes, with pipers Padraig McGovern, Leonard Barry and Maitiu Uí Casaide. Tonight will also feature contributions by French visual artist Lionel Palun and Spanish painter Guillermo Carrión. Come with antennae on high alert.
TRAD
Temple Bar Tradfest
templebartrad.com
Continuing throughout the weekend, this year's festival is more robust and eclectic than any previous year's. Concert highlights include a gathering of Liam O'Flynn, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, Paddy Glackin and Neil Martin in St Patrick's Cathedral tonight; tomorrow night's trio of Matt Molloy, John Carty and Arty McGlynn in City Hall; and Sunday night's closing gala concert with Dubliners fiddler John Sheahan, Damien Dempsey, Declan O'Rourke and Susan McKeown. What a way to send January packing.
TRAD
Ballincollig Winter Music Festival
021-4871388; whitehorse.ie
This is a festival that's been quietly gathering momentum and kudos over the past few years, and this year's ambitious line-up speaks volumes about Leesiders' appetite for inventive, energised music. Matt Cranitch and Jackie Daly bring the wily delights of Sliabh Luachra to the party, alongside Italian folk duo Marco Fabbri & Gabriele Caporuscio. Then there's piper Tiarnán Ó Duinchinn, Cór Cúil Aodha, The Four Star Trio, as well as The Hothouse Flowers on Sunday – a feast for staunch traditionalists and blue sky listeners alike. SL
TECHNO
Lee Holman
Electric Garden, Galway 10pm €5 before midnight/€7 leeholman.com
Galway techno faith-keepers Kinetika roll into 2015 with a visit from techno producer and DJ Lee Holman. The Wexford man has recorded for the likes of Graphene, Ferox, Nightvision, Mowar, Children of Tomorrow and his own Kawl imprint, while he was a longtime resident alongside Fabrice Lig at Sub- Scape in Antwerp. Support from Jasper and Karl Hickey. Jim Carroll
JAZZ
Ian Shaw, Phil Ware Trio
JJ Smyths, Dublin, 8.30pm, €15, jjsmyths.com
Vocalist Ian Shaw first took the stage as a comedian on the UK circuit, and though he has since become one of the leading jazz singers of his generation, there is still plenty of wit and wisdom in his live performances. There's also a searching musical intelligence at work, abetted for this one-off Dublin appearance by his frequent collaborator, leading Dublin-based pianist Phil Ware. Cormac Larkin
