Friday
Eve
Opium Rooms, Dublin 11pm €10/€8/€5
opium.ie
There's no getting away from the fact that men dominate the goings on out front and behind the scene in clubland and dance music worldwide. Dublin crew Eve are aiming to change this state of affairs in the city by highlighting some hugely promising electronic music DJs and producers. By putting on parties with an all-female line-up – tonight feaures Jessica Eve, Lauren Kenny and guests playing deep techy and house beats – the plan is to show audiences and would-be DJs what can be done.
Loudon Wainwright III – Surviving Twin
Watergate Theatre Kilkenny 7.30pm €25/€22.50
watergatetheatre.com
Known primarily as an astute observer of human emotions – particularly where families, especially his own, are involved – Loudon Wainwright III presents the European debut of this part music/part theatre show. Expect pertinent selections from his back catalogue as well as readings from the journalistic work of his father. As part of Kilkenny Arts Festival.
Clare Teal / Guy Barker / RTÉ Concert Orchestra: First Ladies of Swing
NCH, Earlsfort tce, Dublin, 8pm, €39.50/€33/€27/€22/€12
nch.ie
More than half-a-century after their heyday, singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Billie Holiday continue to charm and fascinate in a way that one struggles to imagine the pop singers of today will. Polished UK vocalist Clare Teal (below), with conductor (and respected jazz trumpeter) Guy Barker lead the RTÉ CO through a programme of songs associated with the first great flowering of what became known as popular music.
Saturday
Pembroke
Workman's Club (The Vintage Room), Dublin, 8pm €10
theworkmansclub.com
A homecoming of sorts for this Irish born, Paris-based folk two-piece featuring Ellen Quinn Banville and Finola Cahill. Tonight the pair bring a stripped down version of their upcoming debut album, At Sea, which will be released in September.
Out to Lunch
Bar Tengu, Dublin (also Sunday) €65/€35
facebook.com/getoutotlunch
Now that's what you call a line-up. The Out to Lunch geezers put down their sushi long enough to book one of the tastiest bills seen in the capital for yonks. Take your pick from Ben UFO (right), the awesome DJ Sprinkles, Mr Ties, Laurel Halo, Willikens, Mark Ernestus, Lovefingers, Compassion Crew and tons more playing over the weekend. Oh and snooker-legend- turned- electronic-music- connoisseur Steve Davis as well as a host of great local talents and the Firehouse Skank Soundsystem. Well worth skipping lunch for.
The Weird Scientist
Grand Social, Dublin 6pm €15/ €10
grandsocial.ie
It's the takeover. The Weird Scientist collective are at large upstairs in the Grand Social for two rooms of fresh new electronic music, techno and hip-hop. Tonight's bill of fare features live sets from Fragile, Automatic Tasty, Oisin Murphy and Contour, while there are DJ sets from Handsome Paddy, Michael Lovatt, Fintan Lalor, Johno and Tiny Choons.
Blues, Roots and Brass Fest
Whelan's, Opium Rooms, Dublin
whelanslive.com
Across four stages in two bars a host of rootsy acts will be living it up for a weekend of homegrown music. Tonight you can choose from Galia Arad, Stephen Young and the Union, NC Lawlor, CC Brez, Gavin Glassand many more. And they are not looking for a penny of your money.
Twitch
Queen's Students Union, Belfast 10pm £10
twitchbelfast.com
Jay Donaldson is Palms Trax, the Berlin-based UK-born producer with a winning take on Chicago and Detroit electronic music. His releases for Lobster Theremin and Dekmantel such as the Equation EP show he can bring together throwback jams, underground grooves and pulsating peaktime house cuts. Support from the Twitch DJs.
Abstract
Opium Rooms, Dublin 10pm €15/€12
guyjstore.com
From Tel Aviv, Guy J has been turning audiences on with sublime melodic, moody house for the past decade or so. He's also done wonders for others too, with his Lost & Found label showcasing the work of people like Kevin Yost, Funk D'Void, Eelke Kleijn, Sahar Z and Brian Cid. He's also found a lot of fans for his own productions, especially with The Trees, The Sea & The Sun album for Bedrock. Support from Mulljoy and Stephen Flynn, with Moodybeats at large in the Garden.
Sunday
Ray Preston/John Donegan Reunion Quartet
JJ Smyth's, Aungier Street, Dublin 2, 5pm, €10
jjsmyths.com
Just because Ray Preston is Ireland's only jazz harmonica player doesn't mean he shouldn't get the credit for also being Ireland's best jazz harmonica player. A veteran of the Dublin jazz scene, Preston is fluent in the language of classic bebop and this is a rare opportunity to hear his chromatic harmonica-playing live. He is reunited with a long-time associate, UK-based pianist John Donegan, and a front-rank group.
Mastodon
The Limelight, Belfast 8pm £25
limelightbelfast.com
Only the non-believers regard metal music as degenerate, but Atlanta, Georgia's Mastodon put that notion to bed by being – wait for it! – ambitious and innovative. Blending hardcore and grindcore with stoner rock and other sub- variations, the band is regarded as one of the best genre acts of the past 30 years.
