If all else fails, Dance Yo' Ass Off

Wow what an amazing 9 days of music I had during the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, perhaps my best ever. I kind of decided against giving tips for it this year since I was madly busy and I'm not aware of this blog having ever convinced anyone to go - but this year I met more friendly faces who've never been before than ever which was great. I did some target marketing instead, dragging Niwel and James down for Lera Auerbach's extraordinary late-night performance on the Friday night which we were all blown away by in our own ways. What an astounding talent and mind - composer, pianist, poet, definitely the most powerful impression on me of the festival.

Highlights of the week are too numerous to mention but I wanted to say instead how much more I appreciate this year the significance of this festival internationally to the performers and composers. They say there's very few other opportunities for them to meet and work together over so many days and that the relaxed and friendly atmosphere is pretty much unique. It's always interesting to see performers who have never been before - at first they can seem a bit aloof because I guess that's how things usually work and then after a few days they 'get' the whole thing and start to relax and open up and enjoy themselves.

Actually, I will mention one piece I enjoyed alot just because it came out of last year's festival and that's John Kinsella's new work 'On hearing Purcell and Shostakovich at Bantry House' which was premiered on the first night by the Vanbrugh Quartet. Oh, and wow what a discovery, the epic 24 Preludes and Fugues by Shostakovich which Alexander Melnikov played across two evenings... am hugely delighted to have found and downloaded Keith Jarrett's recording of same - highly highly recommended, I downloaded it here .

So, anyway, I have a few tips for you.

Thurs 16th - Sat 18th July
8pm Cork Opera House Opera lives on in Cork (despite Opera 2005's loss of funding and Ellen Kent's ending of touring productions) with Berstein's Candide. Directed by the amazing John O'Brien I have no doubt that he will bring out the very best from Opera 2005's Chorus and the orchestra (he's a great conductor and chorus master), particulary since I know John is mad about Bernstein he'll see to it that it's done great justice. And the story sounds great craic altogether. Did I mention that the wonderful Mary Hegarty is starring alongside Nyle Wolfe? No one better to do risqué I'd say, which is what Candide is all about... Oh, and it's in English and was composed that way so we can all relax and enjoy it, no stress!

I've booked seat L16 for the Saturday night show but I'm all on my own and would love some company! Tickets are just €21-€26 which for opera is simply unheard of. It's a brave undertaking for the producers who really don't want to let opera die - please come along and enjoy the show with me?

Monday 20th July
8pm Cork School of Music I've said it before but this Chucho Valdés concert is going to be superb and it's a fundraiser for a worthy cause in Cuba .... In support of the fabulous Irish-led Unacorda project (which is establishing a training programme for a new generation of Cuban piano-tuners and technicians) the legendary Chucho Valdés - definitely not one to miss: “[He] put Cuban jazz on the world map long before the Buena Vistas” John Fordham, The Guardian "Valdés's command of the keyboard is so technically staggering as to be stupefying” All Music Guide Tickets are €28 and available from Pro-Musica and Ticketmaster.

Thursday 23rd July
9pm The Roundy Somehow sultry and airy all at the same time, singer-songwriter Francesca Baines will be unveiling some new songs and new instruments with guest musicians .. €9

12 Midnight, Crane Lane I didn't think I could do that crazy high energy punk dancing I've seen - born too late and a little too gentle I just didn't think it was in me. Then I went and saw 'PostKrautBillyPunk' Los Langeros play again at the LV some time ago, always great craic but wow, this time before I knew it my bones were hoppin all over the shop FREE

Monday July 27th
12 Midnight, Crane Lane Swing Jazz outfit The Darktown Strutters are king of Cork swing Gary Baus on Sax & one of the best guitarists around Breandain Ó Ruaidh, with David Duffy on Bass & Dave Ryan on drums. Fresh from a masterclass with Lee Konitz in Cologne (yes, you read that right!) this should be a great night and it's free free FREE.

Wednesday July 29th

8pm The Pavilion I really like this Eliza Gilkyson, never heard of her myself but she's very well established, Americana/Folk kind of stuff with brains. Nice live performance from the Philadelphia Folk Fest here €12

8pm Cork School of Music Rodrigo and Gabriela need no introduction... tickets are available from Fred Zeppelins, Plug'd and tickets.ie costin €24.25

9.30-Late-Night, Crane Lane Boy, do I appreciate it when I'm invited to Dance Yo' Ass Off and I sure hope to do just that for this night hosted by the legendary Jerome Rimson... he'll be djing classic soul from 9.30 and from midnight his Inner City Blues Band will take to the stage where you can expect to hear some of the city's best musicians - you don't make this band if you don't got soul. Definitely a night to get on down and it's FREE too.

Friday 29th July
9.30 The Pavilion It's the Doubletime! 6th Anniversary special with the wonderful Gary Baus in the driving seat for what will be a seriously hot night of swing - and for the celebration he's treating us to the 17-piece swing band Tuxedo Junction. A snip at €15 this'll be fun, fun, fun....

G'wan away with yis

"doin it to yuh in da eaya"

Er, happy 40th birthday to me, can't believe I've done this 40 times (blog that is).

Anyway, Joya's off at her Boutique BaROQUE extravaganza at the Crane Lane; niwel, andremud, mel and the gang will be tuning into gamelan in a half hour at UCC; and Christian and who knows how many young singer songwriters are at the KC sessions in the new Gateway bar in Barrack St.

And I never got to tell ye about any of it.

Me I'll miss it all too, I'm home with the bass beside me waiting for one of my very last practise opportunities before the concert this sunday afternoon. We'll rehearse as an orchestra on saturday first, but there's so much I can't reliably play at speed it's a bit nervewracking.

I nearly skipped off to all them lovely gigs instead but funny, when I got home I listened to a new Captain Hotknives tune Safety is Important off the cd he gave us on saturday and had a big belly laugh, then stopped that (don't want to eat the whole box of squidgy black chocolates in one go eh) threw on P Funk's Mothership and got funked up, boppin away in the sitting room and singin me head off. All energised I said I write a blog so ye know what's coming up and then get down to the nitty gritty with Elgar. I'll do what I can, eh.


Saturday 28th

1pm Stack Theatre, Cork School of Music Don't miss seeing my brilliant double bass teacher and mate Dave Whitla play his first solo recital since I've known him. A really interesting choice of music and I'm excited about the Vasks piece cause I was fundamentally changed in a tiny but lovely way by that concerto he did with the Irish Chamber Orchestra I think it was called Distant Light?) and plus Vasks's a bass player itself and I've had some preview snippets during my lessons...


8pm Blackrock Castle Don't be late or you'll miss EARTH HOUR at 8.30 when the lights in the whole area go out and the big-news Italics play a sweet acoustic reggae set by lamplight. We'll be looking at stars through telescopes if HAARP will just blast a hole in the clouds. When the power kicks in again VJ Present will inspire while Green Monitor dub things up. Last up Brian Deady will funk yis all up with some soul action. Cork Food Web are co-presenting, last night's large gathering in the Franciscan Well would suggest there'll be a big turnout. And it's only a fiver in!!

Sunday 29th
3pm City Hall The CSO Symphony Orchestra perform their big concert of the year, my first full length one with them. Brian O'Kane will play a cello concerto type yoke by Taverner, a pretty amazing yoke actually when the orchestra is divided into a massive number of layers, really textural and also Elgar's expansive, romantic and great fun Enigma Variations. Meet you for a pint in Charlie's after you can be sure!!


There's loads more but sorry I just haven't time :-)

happy listening

quick note

Hi lads,

I've been taking break from the music since a fantastic weekend at the Farmleigh Affair, surely the best free music event in the country thanks to the Improvised Music Company's imaginative and positive approach. There's been a few sessions and a project I'm involved with (backing vocals, as much fun as I'd imagined!) is beginning to take shape but nothing wildly out of the ordinary. Anyway, what I'm building up to is that I'll be taking a break from the listing blog as I'm not following things closely enough and am pretty busy. Sure there's hardly anyone going out at the moment anyway it seems - on holidays maybe, or saving for them or just enjoying the outdoors when the sun makes an appearance. Not to say there isn't lots of music to be had mind - but between whazon.com and peoplesrepublic you'll get most of the suss.

For now I'm going to do less manic music scheduling though I'm sure we'll bump into each other at gigs! On rainy nights (and there's been a few!) I am surfing wikipedia, and beating a small path through www.ted.com , and onebigtorrent.org and round about.

Back soon!

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

detritus, anglegrinders and chamber music

It's taking a real effort to get comfortable for my first night in in ages. There's stuff everywhere to be relocated, machines full of the wet and dirty detritus of everyday living, dog hair and wrappings, half-finished food and jobs weighing on my mind. Need to have the place clear before I head west for the WCCM festival.

If you're interested in a little appetite-whetting, you'll find my own review of last year's right here .

How's your Midsummer Festival been going? Braakland and Super Stan were unlikely bedfellows for my Friday night but it somehow flew and could probably only have worked so well in the the company of a Desmond, whose fancy dress put my lack of to shame. Rockin stuff.
Faust were everything promised and more, damn near blew my head off and even when I awoke with my ears ringing the next day, I still knew it was worth it. Wondered on my only trip to Germany where Beethoven and Bach's legacy laid given the drivel served up in bars and beyond there, but I was looking in the wrong places (btw, chain saws and angle grinders music not just publicity stunt). Please bring em back!

Corcadorca's The Hairy Ape was superb last night in the preview, if it hasn't sold out yet (it has a a mercifully long run at least) do yourself a favour. And I really enjoyed You've got to Love Dancing Dancing to Stick with It but that's over, though you can catch it again in Kinsale or Bray next month.

Outside of Midsummer fest I fell for Joan as Policewoman Sunday, she somehow transcended the horrific hired keyboard, playing to a shamefully small but devoted and pin-drop quiet crowd.

No tips this week, I won't be here so I can't be bothered. Going to watch Flight of the Conchords instead.

You have received this week's mailing in a new fashion, direct from my blog. All the cutting and pasting was becoming a drag, I was forever letting the mailing list be copied to everyone and, most important of all, I wanted to give ye the chance to opt out. I'll try not to be offended, I know there's a few people reading it so it won't put me off I'm sure! There'll be some opt-in/opt-out clause thing when you get this.

Give me a shout if you plan to come to Bantry. A simple tip - One of the late night and one of the big Bach Brandenburg coffee concerts would be an interesting alternative to (and only a couple of quid more than) a single main concert. So you could go out after work in the evening, eat in Bantry, stay a night, hear a concert and be back by, well maybe 3 the next day if you had to. Oh jaysus the carbon though...


CRAP! Nearly forgot. Right when I get back I'm putting on a gig - it's Saturday 12th July in Cyprus Avenue and if you can come I'd love to see ya and catch up a bit. Nothing too demanding, nice entertaining music and people, good vibes, some people you haven't heard or met before... read about it here