pant pant pant

I thought I'd filled you up for tips for this week already but a few crackers have come in so I could resist.

Had a great week myself, enjoyed some of the blues session in Nancy's on Thursday night after tag rugby where there was a big gang joining the two core lads - before heading down to catch the end of another great set from the Critters at their weekly session in the Gables on Douglas Street. Saturday night brought a high octane trad session at Foley's near Inch beach in Kerry where the tunes carried on in various camper vans outside til the birds were singing. Headed home to Cork on Sunday with the head spinning to a couple of sets in the Sin E where another trad session was in full flight but had an early night. Up at seven Monday to spend the day racing round the marathon course where the music went down a treat. The African Gospel Choir blessed the runners with soul on the first leg of their gruelling trip as they passed Blackpool church, Dave Henessy's trio gave them another lift in the morning sun with some cracking tunes as they headed east along the North Quays. Patrick Naughton's drummers drove them out the Lee Tunnel and kept the hearts pounding as they weaved back across Mahon and Blackrock and across past the Lough right to the western city limits before returning home to Pana and the Barrack Street Brass Band ... we had a total of 20 groups of performers to keep them going through the blazing sun, with loads of support from people gathered all along the way to shout encouragement. Really positive atmoshere.

I'm just out this evening from the opening night of the new production of Disco Pigs in The Everyman Theatre - in fairness it does a fabulous script proud. I was lucky enough to somehow find my way to corcadorca's original production when I was in college and had my mind blown by it and I suspect someone coming to this one for the first time would be the same - great performance and a more elaborate and cleverly conceived set with the added bonus of a great soundtrack from Irene Buckley.

So what do I have to add to my tips from last week that I just couldn't keep to myself? See below (I have included the original tips in a lighter colour so you have the full story biy...)

Wednesday 4th
9pm Utopianation, Barrack Street Andrea Bonino's latest project is Noizepod a "jam-based night of experimental music, free improvisation, noize, & hullabaloo..
(featuring andrea bonino & francis heery + eoin callery & friends, and more)" it's free in and should be worth checking out for those inspired to partake or open to share the exploration...


Thursday 5th

is as usual a stupidly full trough at which to gorge, starting at the

Crawford Gallery 1.10 pm when composer/pianist John Gibson peforms a programme of his own work with some of Cork's very finest musicians: Amanda Neary, soprano; Ciara Glasheen,cor anglais; Ruxandra Petcu & Eithne Willis, violins, Tomas McCarthy, viola; Joan Scannell, cello - there's bad weather forecast so it'll be shelter a world away from whatever's falling from the sky outside

9pm An Spailpín Fanac A mighty session that I would have said was unmissable if it didn't have such competition at the Roundy - Seamus Creagh with Aidan Coffey and Mick Daly should be serious craic. There's another band on from Newfoundland on and all....

9pm The Roundy The Polskadots have old friend Lucia Comnes as guest, a very special occasion and definitely one for the diary lads and from 5-7 Lucia will be giving an open workshop in Eastern European singing at the Glucksman Gallery in UCC, all welcome. And I've since realised it's Lucia Comnes rather wonderful combo from San Fran that'll be playing the Roundy with the Polskadots ... www.myspace.com/luciacomnes


9pm Triskel Jazz harmonica player Ray Preston is clearly a master and well respected by the looks of one enthusiastic expert (http://www.jazzeddie.f2s.com/jazz_harmonica.htm)
this gig with his quaret should be meaty - hear him here http://harmonica.co.uk/music/Ray_Preston_Making_Whoopee.wma


Saturday 7th

8pm Cork Opera House I'm well ticked off I'll be away for Rufus Wainwright, though he might be sold out already... www.rufuswainwright.com

That's it... I can't take any more.......... xx