Summer isn't the time to be spending every evening racing from venue to venue as is my habit and I have devoted a little of my listening time to more outdoorsy pursuits - tonight sees my tag rugby team (the Multiple Scoregasms) compete in the final for the, er, much-coveted winners title in the beginners league out at Stiofain Naofa.
A whole heap of fresh air and fun was had at the Cork Cycling Festival last week too which turned out to be a great success altogether. We had the biggest turnout ever (I'd say) for the Critical Mass cycle (last Friday of every month from Daunt Square at 6pm) and the exhibition in the Unitarian Church had some cool stuff in it - good luck to sculptor Rob Ireson as he heads for 6 months to work in residence at Mantua. The cycling picnic was on of the nicest Sundays I've had this summer, messing around at the Atlantic Pond with a big gang and loadsa bikes, what more could you want? And the festival was not without its musical highlights. I heard not one but two (wildly different) versions of The Bells of Shandon - one from Hammy Hammond at the foot of the bells on his quirky Historical/musical tour on the Wednesday night, and one from Tony Desmond as we took time out to chill at Sli Cumann na mBan on Saturday evening. At the Pimp My Bike workshop on Saturday I jazzed up my steed with some homemade bells, thereby turning bumpy badly finished roads and potholes (the bain of my cycling life) into a source of jingly amusement - cycling arts how are ya. And the Red Singing Bikes was a gas highlight that I was delighted to be part of as we 12 performers raced round town with our great groaning pipes and pimped bikes just as shops were closing on Saturday night - looking forward to seeing the festival film in due course.
ok you want a few good musical tips for theis coming week? go on then, just a few....
Friday 1st
6.30pm, Sin É - I'm a regular at this great trad session but noticed that it wasn't as terrifyingly packed as usual last week (as in you can see the bar from the door) what with people making weekend trips, so now's a good time of year to head down. Messy as ever of course!
Monday 4th
11.30pm, Crane Lane - yes, it will be the night before back-to-work day but it has been impressed upon me in no uncertain terms that this free gig by cult hero Jeff Lewis (http://www.thejeffreylewissite.com) is not one to miss so don't be saying you didn't know. This is the biggest band he's taken to Cork so far I understand... here's a video taster http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSdZ_yZP8bk
Wednesday 6th
9pm, The Pavillion - Are they brilliant or what? Mick Flannery and John Spillane are playing a benefit gig for Free the Old Head of Kinsale. Definitely one to make a date for and I am happy to be a designated ticket outlet. Drop me a mail or call me and i'll be happy to sort you out with a ticket for the tidy sum of €15.
That's it for this week. See you next Wednesday!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Global talent in Cork this week!
Hello friends,
Well thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday night to Cyprus Avenue for helping make it a lovely evening altogether. A real nice mix of music and people, hopefully we can do something similar again soon. Those who missed Samuel James will have a last chance to see him tonight as he's playing the late gig in the Crane Lane after Alabama 3 and PLEASE if you know anyone in Clonakilty please let them know he's playing in De Barra's tomorrow.
I didn't post any review on the West Cork Chamber Music Festival as I was a bit frazzled with Sam coming over. It was a lovely week as ever though I must confess I became increasingly downhearted about our audience profile - they are all lovely don't get me wrong, fantastically loyal and enthusiastic and friendly - but where is everyone under 50? Compared to audiences for classical music in Cork it has a whiff of the cruise ship and yet the team working on it is so cool and young and fun - and in terms of music the festival is WAY more groundbreaking and contemporary than most of what's available in the city.I dunno, I suppose it has to do with the location and timing more than anything.
Musically it was one of the best I've seen, though. The Irish premiére of Gorecki's second quartet was magical at a late night concert in the church in the hands of the stunning Royal String Quartet from Poland. The Royal quartet played many of my favourite performances in the festival - their job on Mozart's G major Quartet K.387 was a perfect pleasure for me , I don't think I'd heard it before but in their hands it seemed the funniest, sweetest most brilliantly conceived piece ever. I was delighted to hear some more good Greif (groan, it was better than good anyway) and to discover some great female composers - Poland's Grazyna Bacewicz, Lera Auerbach from Russia, Estonian/Ukraninian Galina Grigorjeva and visiting composer Vanessa Lann (who has a myspace with her more experimentl stuff on it). One piece that blew me away was Lua Descolorida by Osvaldo Goljov who was born in Argentina of Jewish Ukranian & Romanian parents - I'll be downloading that one today now I think of it. So in all alot of what was really special for me came from Eastern Europe which has given me some ideas for holidays next year I can tell you.
One of the biggest highlights of the festival for me was that a kind bike shop owner called Nigel had sposored 10 bikes for the festival's use which made things really pleasant - musicians, audience and festival workers were all making use of them and having great fun.
Which leads me nicely into a plug for the Cork Cycling Arts Festival which runs 21-27th July next week - there's an exhibition, Film Nights (Feature, Documentary and Shorts) as well as lots of different tours. Check out the website for the programme and be sure and be on your bike next Friday in Daunt Square for what will hopefully be the biggest Critical Mass cycle in Cork yet. The picnic on Sunday 27th will definitely be a fun one too...
Ok tips for the next week:
Wednesday 16th
Crane Lane, Alabama 3 is, I believe, sold out, but you can sample the atmosphere afterwards and take your last chance to hear my new friend Samuel James at 11.30.
Thursday 17th
Glucksmann Gallery, 6pm It's a while since I had the opportunity to plug a free gig and it's always a special pleasure. There is a serious lack of Indian music being performed live in Cork so I'm delighted to see a duo under the name of Komal giving a performance of Sufi Chant and Traditional Indian music. Rajpal Khosla from Punjab, India studied with Sufi singer Ustad Prem Raza of the Patiala Gharana for over 10 years. He will perform both traditional and modern compositions on vocals & the Indian Harmonium accompanied by honorary Corkman (originally from Punjab too) Raj Padam on the tabla. I'll have to miss it as I'm flying home for my sister's wedding but you would be crazy to!
Friday 18th
Dervish (that nice hippy shop next to the Bodega), Upstairs, 7pm There's another chance to enjoy that gorgeous Indian music if you can't make Thursday - go on, forego the after work Friday drinks - have a bite in the Eastern Tandoori on Emmet Place instead and head over to the gentle surroundings of Dervish and let yourself be transported across the globe. Indian music, for me, speaks directly with your inner being, you don't need to know anything about it, just be open and let it happen.
Monday 21st
Cork Opera House, 8pm There is a big move on to see Tinariwen at Cork Opera House where they'll be taking the seats out so we can truly let loose to this Touareg rock from Mali - the tickets are steep at €30 but what you get is a world-class act unlike any other that literally EVERYONE has been talking about. I won't bother banging on about them as there is quotes from all the top International press on their website www.tinariwen.com and music on their myspace www.myspace.com/tinariwen.
See you there!
xc
Well thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday night to Cyprus Avenue for helping make it a lovely evening altogether. A real nice mix of music and people, hopefully we can do something similar again soon. Those who missed Samuel James will have a last chance to see him tonight as he's playing the late gig in the Crane Lane after Alabama 3 and PLEASE if you know anyone in Clonakilty please let them know he's playing in De Barra's tomorrow.
I didn't post any review on the West Cork Chamber Music Festival as I was a bit frazzled with Sam coming over. It was a lovely week as ever though I must confess I became increasingly downhearted about our audience profile - they are all lovely don't get me wrong, fantastically loyal and enthusiastic and friendly - but where is everyone under 50? Compared to audiences for classical music in Cork it has a whiff of the cruise ship and yet the team working on it is so cool and young and fun - and in terms of music the festival is WAY more groundbreaking and contemporary than most of what's available in the city.I dunno, I suppose it has to do with the location and timing more than anything.
Musically it was one of the best I've seen, though. The Irish premiére of Gorecki's second quartet was magical at a late night concert in the church in the hands of the stunning Royal String Quartet from Poland. The Royal quartet played many of my favourite performances in the festival - their job on Mozart's G major Quartet K.387 was a perfect pleasure for me , I don't think I'd heard it before but in their hands it seemed the funniest, sweetest most brilliantly conceived piece ever. I was delighted to hear some more good Greif (groan, it was better than good anyway) and to discover some great female composers - Poland's Grazyna Bacewicz, Lera Auerbach from Russia, Estonian/Ukraninian Galina Grigorjeva and visiting composer Vanessa Lann (who has a myspace with her more experimentl stuff on it). One piece that blew me away was Lua Descolorida by Osvaldo Goljov who was born in Argentina of Jewish Ukranian & Romanian parents - I'll be downloading that one today now I think of it. So in all alot of what was really special for me came from Eastern Europe which has given me some ideas for holidays next year I can tell you.
One of the biggest highlights of the festival for me was that a kind bike shop owner called Nigel had sposored 10 bikes for the festival's use which made things really pleasant - musicians, audience and festival workers were all making use of them and having great fun.
Which leads me nicely into a plug for the Cork Cycling Arts Festival which runs 21-27th July next week - there's an exhibition, Film Nights (Feature, Documentary and Shorts) as well as lots of different tours. Check out the website for the programme and be sure and be on your bike next Friday in Daunt Square for what will hopefully be the biggest Critical Mass cycle in Cork yet. The picnic on Sunday 27th will definitely be a fun one too...
Ok tips for the next week:
Wednesday 16th
Crane Lane, Alabama 3 is, I believe, sold out, but you can sample the atmosphere afterwards and take your last chance to hear my new friend Samuel James at 11.30.
Thursday 17th
Glucksmann Gallery, 6pm It's a while since I had the opportunity to plug a free gig and it's always a special pleasure. There is a serious lack of Indian music being performed live in Cork so I'm delighted to see a duo under the name of Komal giving a performance of Sufi Chant and Traditional Indian music. Rajpal Khosla from Punjab, India studied with Sufi singer Ustad Prem Raza of the Patiala Gharana for over 10 years. He will perform both traditional and modern compositions on vocals & the Indian Harmonium accompanied by honorary Corkman (originally from Punjab too) Raj Padam on the tabla. I'll have to miss it as I'm flying home for my sister's wedding but you would be crazy to!
Friday 18th
Dervish (that nice hippy shop next to the Bodega), Upstairs, 7pm There's another chance to enjoy that gorgeous Indian music if you can't make Thursday - go on, forego the after work Friday drinks - have a bite in the Eastern Tandoori on Emmet Place instead and head over to the gentle surroundings of Dervish and let yourself be transported across the globe. Indian music, for me, speaks directly with your inner being, you don't need to know anything about it, just be open and let it happen.
Monday 21st
Cork Opera House, 8pm There is a big move on to see Tinariwen at Cork Opera House where they'll be taking the seats out so we can truly let loose to this Touareg rock from Mali - the tickets are steep at €30 but what you get is a world-class act unlike any other that literally EVERYONE has been talking about. I won't bother banging on about them as there is quotes from all the top International press on their website www.tinariwen.com and music on their myspace www.myspace.com/tinariwen.
See you there!
xc
Friday, July 11, 2008
1-2-3 sorry it's so short...
Hi all,
I haven't had a chance to post this week what with trying to catch up with myself after my 10 days at the Bantry festival. My lickle sister is getting married next weekend and I am rehearsing with a few friends as we're singin in da church so all busy busy. No time to post a full tips this week but the next one will go onto http://www.corklivemusic.blogspot.com/ as planned so do sign up if you want to get it.
3 things I wanted to say tho...
1. Two-time Polka are launching their new CD tonight 7-9 in the Crane Lane should be a barrel of fun.
2. I'm organising this gig tomorrow night, it'll be a lot of fun so if you are not going to Oxegen, Kinsale or Carrigaline come on down to Cyprus Avenue for an evening of great music and good craic. Samuel James is, as I type, in the baggage collection area of Cork Airport - he's come all the way from Portland, Maine to share his music - please come and support! And afterwards Harry J, Niwel and Rory will have some sweet reggae harmonies to bring the sunshine even if HAARP is determined to keep the rain falling on us til our spirits are so sodden we'll do anything... It's at 9pm tomorrow Saturday 12th and is €10 in.
3. Some of you may not be familiar with Cork Autonomous Zone on Barrack Street. It's a special place where various community, activist and creative groups meet as well as being home to Barracka Books bookshop. The space is rented and everyone who uses it makes a small contribution to its cost. The space could be used alot more though so if you need space for something or would like to meet people who are using it and help them decide on CAZ's direction come along next wednesday 16th at 8.30pm. As Niwel would say, it's an open sea, no sharks or jellyfish...
x Nicki
I haven't had a chance to post this week what with trying to catch up with myself after my 10 days at the Bantry festival. My lickle sister is getting married next weekend and I am rehearsing with a few friends as we're singin in da church so all busy busy. No time to post a full tips this week but the next one will go onto http://www.corklivemusic.
3 things I wanted to say tho...
1. Two-time Polka are launching their new CD tonight 7-9 in the Crane Lane should be a barrel of fun.
2. I'm organising this gig tomorrow night, it'll be a lot of fun so if you are not going to Oxegen, Kinsale or Carrigaline come on down to Cyprus Avenue for an evening of great music and good craic. Samuel James is, as I type, in the baggage collection area of Cork Airport - he's come all the way from Portland, Maine to share his music - please come and support! And afterwards Harry J, Niwel and Rory will have some sweet reggae harmonies to bring the sunshine even if HAARP is determined to keep the rain falling on us til our spirits are so sodden we'll do anything... It's at 9pm tomorrow Saturday 12th and is €10 in.
3. Some of you may not be familiar with Cork Autonomous Zone on Barrack Street. It's a special place where various community, activist and creative groups meet as well as being home to Barracka Books bookshop. The space is rented and everyone who uses it makes a small contribution to its cost. The space could be used alot more though so if you need space for something or would like to meet people who are using it and help them decide on CAZ's direction come along next wednesday 16th at 8.30pm. As Niwel would say, it's an open sea, no sharks or jellyfish...
x Nicki
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