CULT
Keaton Henson
National Concert Hall, Dublin 8pm €35 nch.ie
UK singer/artist Henson isn’t known as a commercial prospect, despite the fact that his sad, sparse music is supremely accessible and melodic. He is also something of a performer recluse, so this gig – as part of NCH’s This Must Be The Place series of concerts – is a veritable coup. He performs with a 16-piece sinfonietta from Crash Ensemble.
FESTIVAL
Rudimental
Custom House Square, Belfast 7pm £27.50 belsonic.com
This London drum’n’bass band (with special guest Duke Dumont) kickstarts Belsonic 2015, the Belfast-only festival that continues throughout August. Next Thursday sees Paloma Faith headline, while other acts in the series include Stereophonics (August 21; special guests The Coronas) and Hozier (August 24; special guests Little Green Cars, Wyvern Lingo).
GATHERING
Majestic Creatures
Tivoli, Dublin 3pm €12 huntandgather.ie
A chock-a-block day and night from the Hunt & Gather crew. Aside from the music, there’a rake of sideshows from fortune-telling and table-tennis to bingo and a hula-hoop workshop, all of which aim “to cater to your inner child”. On the music tip, the three stages will feature Ed Davenport (Counterchange), Lando (Ultramajic), Twin Headed Wolf, Handsome Paddy, Nightflight DJs, Colin Devine, Phil Galvin Jr, Big Daddy Can and many more.
PRIDE
Ride Weekend
Electric Galway 8pm €10/€8 (also Sunday) electricgalway.com
Forget the arts festival or race week, the real action out west happens during this weekender to “celebrate diversity, inclusivity, queerness and ridebags” as part of Galway’s Community Pride festival. It kicks off with Tonie Walsh’s That’s So Gay talk before P Disco and Byron join him and the confetti cannons for a frenzy on the dancefloor. On Sunday, the ALICE Day to Night party (starts 4pm) ensures the weekend ends with a bang.
HOUSE
Element
Crystal, Waterford 11pm €20/€15/€12 duskymusic.com
If you're in the market for high-calibre house and techno, you'll be happy to meet Dusky. London duo Nick Harriman and Alfie Granger-Howell have been producing standout cuts for the last couple of years like Flo Jam and Mr Man. Along the way, their classy, distinctive grooves have gained them many friends and fans, from clubs like Berlin's Panorama and Ibiza's Space to labels like Dogmatik and Aus.
LIBERTIES IMPROV
Concrete Soup: Izumi Kimura, Cathal Roche, ¡NO!
Arthur's, Thomas St 8pm, €5, facebook.com/notwhatuno
The monthly Concrete Soup sessions are a bubbling laboratory for some daring experiments in music. Taking liberties with musical orthodoxy this month are Japanese pianist Izumi Kimura and Sligo saxophonist Cathal Roche. Sonic irrigation for the open of mind.
