OPEN AIR
Paolo Nutini
Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 5pm €49.65
ticketmaster.ie
The past few years has seen quite a deserved turnaround in critical appraisal for Scottish singer/performer Paolo Nutini, who kick-starts the series of live shows at this leafy open-air venue. Empathetic support acts include Imelda May, Alabama Shakes and Gaz Coombes.
FRAME IT
The Frames
Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 5pm €40/€35
ticketmaster.ie
Twenty-five years after they first formed in the less than glamorous setting of busker slots in and around Grafton Street, those hardy Frames return with a celebratory attitude, a new Best Of (Longitude), and an enduring display of quiet-loud-quiet dynamics. New Orleans-style, Dublin-based Booka Brass Band support. Expect to miss the last bus home.
HOUSE
X-Press 2
Twisted Pepper, Dublin 10.30pm €14/€12
facebook.com/houseofxpress2
Like all good stories, this one has been going on a while. The X-Press 2 adventure began way back in 1992, when Darren Rock (Rocky), Darren House (Diesel) and Ashley Beedle began making records together. Beedle departed a few years ago, but Rocky and Diesel have continued to create and produce tracks that work well alongside such early classics as Muzik Express, Say What!, Smoke Machine and London X-Press. Support from the Bodytonic DJs.
JAZZ
Sue Rynhart/Dan Bodwell Duo
Áras Éanna, Inis Oírr, Co Galway 8.30pm €12/€6
araseanna.ie
Vocalist Sue Rynhart’s utterly fresh-sounding voice and double bass duo debut album was one of the surprise hits of 2014. The songs are quirky and unclichéd, with a refreshing disregard for genre or convention. There is plenty of spontaneous content in the interaction between Rynhart’s precise, classically-trained vocals and Dan Bodwell’s rumbling bass.
