Going down in Cork this week...

Hey Cork gig-goers,

A very different week in store than last week but every bit as good... It was really nice to meet so many people at gigs during the festival at the weekend, encourages me to stay on after work this week and put another mail together tonight! I'm always happy when I'm asked to put a friend-of-a-friend on the list so don't be shy, or send folks to the online version at www.corklivemusic.blogspot.com .

We'd a great weekend of music - Saturday night was especially good - the Callinos' Schumann was gorgeous (they are sounding really really lovely, did an amazing job on a Schnittke piece last night with pianist Finghin Collins) and the T'ang's version of Mugam Sayahi was unforgettable they're dead cool - I was glad to see some friendly faces there to enjoy it... but the showstopper for me was the late-night Sunday gig when the T'angs played Gorecki's second quartet - really really special. It was a shame there weren't more in the audience but I guess 10.30pm on Easter Sunday was pretty ambitious...

Slight apologies to those who turned up to the Good Friday concert in St Mary's and found the sermonising and long religious interludes a bit much (myself included there!) - if I'd known I'd have warned ye. Hope you enjoyed the music all the same.

This week is not quite so high brow but none the worse for it...

Thursday 27th

8pm, The Whisky, Union Quay (formerly the Phoenix) - Don't be confused by the venue this ain't blues or rock - the lads at Plug'd are hosting some very sweet dreamy guitar music indeed for tonight, a chance that won't come round quickly again - headlining is James Blackwater whose minimalist 12-string guitar compositions have been lauded by The Wire magazine, The Observer, the Times and many more.... (listen to http://www.myspace.com/jamesblackshaw ). Jozef Van Wissem is a lutenist in a similar minimalist vein (http://www.myspace.com/vanwissem) ... Cian Nugent is from Dublin - a bit more melodic maybe and a nice combination all round.

Friday 28th

More fun than you can shake a stick at, bilocation would be a good trick tonight...

9pm, Spailpín Fanach Sheelanagig from Bristol are so great I just can't say it enough - they do a fantastically tight mix of ska and gypsy music with North African, jazz and Irish sounds thrown in - I defy you not to be hoppin around like a mad thing before the first song ends. A quick visit to their myspace will cheer you up right now... http://www.myspace.com/sheelanagiguk

9.30pm, Cyprus Avenue. They made the shortlist for the Choice music prize and while them feckers across the water mightn't've voted them NO.1 on the night there's no doubt there'll be a mad homecoming welcome for (and a rockin' set out of) Stanley Super 800, a Cork band to be truly proud of. http://www.myspace.com/stanleysuper800


Saturday 29th

Ridiculous amount to choose from on Saturday, I had to go and make a sandwich before I could even start listing them...

8pm Firkin Crane A night of music from India with dancing and all - 3 renowned performers from the UK for one night only - kathak dancer Amina Khayyam, sitar player Sam Randhawa with tabla player Udit Pankhania.

8pm Sláinte (the old Vineyard) The lovely girls at Ladyfest are fundraising for their upcoming festival by hosting transgender Rae Spoon from Canada with his rather delectable new cowboy folk sound - check out his myspace at http://www.myspace.com/raespoon lovely harmonica sounds and great songs.

10pm Liquid Lounge The hardworking boys at Club Ping Pong are celebrating this hugely successful alternative club night's first birthday with Liverpool's Kling Klang following the band's recent tour with Portishead - experimental electro future rock stuff... I'd say they're kicking live http://www.myspace.com/superposition

Sunday 30th

9.30pm Crane Lane Dublin's cabaret club Gypsy Hotel returns to the Crane Lane - I'd never heard of it til I happened on them just now on peoplesrepublicofcork.com but I've a sneaking suspicion it'll be a great night out - dress up wild and drink bourbon to the music of The Woodsmen http://www.myspace.com/theewoodsmen (punky folk think The Pogues) , Boom Jackson http://www.myspace.com/boomjacksonmusic (yeouch might be out for a smoke for this bit), seriously sexy Go-go girl Bella A Go-Go ( you-tube of her here ) and resident jump jive swing Dj Oona.

Monday 31st

9pm Triskel Another night of great music at what has become the home of jazz in Cork - one of Europe's key drummers Han Bennink with world-renowned Californian clarinettist Michael Moore and New York accordionist Will Holshouser. This looks like something for lovers of great jazz with the sense of playfulness it started out with - keep something in the tank on the weekend won't you? Triskel are doing a special deal too with dinner in the (DELICIOUS! I mean it - DELICIOUS!) word-of-mouth café (if you haven't eaten there yet you're in for a treat) and concert ticket for €30.


Right 2 hours later I'm ready to go home - if you can't find something in the above to tickle your fancy then that fancy of yours needs lookin' at.
But I ain't the girl to do it.

x Nicki