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

Some nice tips for you

No chattering at all today want to go home to the garden.

But don't miss:

Weds 15th

8pm Triskel Arts Centre - David Torn and his new project Prezens are a big new thing in the electro/jazz world... I'm in Paris this weekend where tickets to see him set one back €24 yet Triskel will let you be one of the chosen few for just €18 ( un petit peu de perspectif, non?) ... and a chance to jump right to the cutting edge right here in cork myspace.com/prezens

8.30pm Crane Lane The last Boutique Burlesque for a while so make a special effort and it will be rewarded in spades http://www.myspace.com/boutiqueburlesque



Thurs 18th

9pm The Roundy Catch Tonynho and Raj's new project Bangsambra for some seriously good vibes - very positive, playful music check out http://www.myspace.com/bangsambra (including my review here ) and it's free free free


Fri 19th

9pm Club ISObar at the Mardyke (which I assume is the old Isobar which became the new Tikki Lounge before presumably being sucked back into the Mardyke complaex and getting it's old name back?) Putting the FUN back in fundraiser, this Gig for Gaza will feature the brilliant Don for Chickens (confirmed after my finally seeing a gig), punkabilly darlings Los Langeros and a heap of talent I don't know namely Dirty Fix and Circus Cat while Dr Fiasco will give ye a phew tunes to dance to and all. Just a tenner and all of it will go to Caoimhe Butterly's humanitarian aid out there. Will be lots of fun and full of good heads.

Sat 20th

7.30pm Crane Lane - Shock horror - nice music on a Saturday that has nothing to do with dancing so far as I know - weird! Probably because I'm away, she probably knew. But cellist Vyvienne Long can expect a decent crowd to see her new project I think I think because she's been getting loads of press and is supposed to be great live. http://www.myspace.com/vyvlong

Sun 21st

8pm The Quad Casiotone for the Painfully Lonely is a solo act, electro with heartI guess, feted by Observer and Mojo but is for some reason playing the Quad in a free gig! Ah, yes here comes summer when we get weird and wonderful drop-ins on European tour, yippee... www.myspace.com/cftpa

"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

Great ticket competition and some good tips too

Oh dear I hope I'm not too late for feedburner to drop this into your inboxes and tell ye about Dog Tail Soup tonight (Friday 12th) in de Crane Lane. Our Cork-by-association cellist friend Bertrand will be in the line-up, probably Marja too, so there'll be every reason to get there early and enjoy the kind of atmosphere that only happens with rare and treasured gigs. Fergus O'Farrell's (whose band Interference's CD Gold is one I sorely regret leaving in the lobby of the Town Hall theatre in Galway) project will also feature a new bass player from up North who they're excited about by the name of Gareth Hughes.

Ger Wolfe (who might be kind enough to put some more tracks on his myspace? I know, I know, buy the album...) is on in the Pavillion on Sunday 14th round 9 with the Skylarks in a Christmas special that really will be.

The Skatalites are on in the Pavillion on Wednesday 17th the tickets are in Plug'd records.

WHICH REMINDS ME! I think it's time I gave our exciting new project at work a well-deserved plug. It's Culture Vouchers man. (You, ahem, might have seen them mentioned in the Irish Times or the Evening Echo?). A gift voucher good for all the shows and gigs and everything else we do at Civic Trust House and with each voucher comes a beautiful calendar-diary jobbie designed by the rather brilliant Robin Foley of Sponge Design. They're available from me or Plugd records or the Crawford Gallery Cafe or the 12 Days of Christmas fair in the Bodega which opens on Saturday for guess-how-long, looks to be chocka and very good fun. I'll be in there selling from time to time...

and I have 2 tickets to give away for I concert I'm looking forward to on Sunday 21st, my last day in Cork before I head off to family christmas zone! The National Chamber Choir, I think our only true professional choir in the country, (though I may be wrong, I hope I am) they're singing Britten's Ceremony of carols, his music is often really beautiful but interesting too and folk-carol settings too. It'll be a nice seasonal treat I can assure. Mail me at nickiffrench@gmail.com if you want to go in a draw - it's not until Sunday 21st at 1pm in the Schol of Music so there's plenty of time, but I'll make the draw probably Monay afternoon so you have time to make arrangements.

Cork on the cutting edge

Ok, so I'm sure pedants will snigger at my claim this week that Stockhausen and Herbie Hancock are cutting edge but come on lads - this is a pretty major week for music in the city with a bewildering array of good sheet. I won't burble at all for a change but will get right into the listings.

Monday 10th November

9pm The Roundy - STeT Lab's first birthday - damn it's probably a bit late to be telling you this cause there seems to be a time delay between my posting and emails coming into the boxes but this will be a particularly good night for this regular improv event, featuring Belfast-based saxophonist-improviser-theorist Franziska Schroeder. Anyway I'll be sticking an ear in meself.


Tuesday 11th November

8pm The Savoy - Herbie Hancock with a sextet that includes an extraordinarily good harmonica player Gregoire Maret. It was a relatively late booking and at the time of writing there were still a good few tickets left so if you don't have plans or they aren't essential I say part with €44 squid or so (at Plug'd or Ticketmaster.ie) and get down this is likely to be one of the gigs of the year. Several first-hand reports from people who have seen other shows on this tour have been raving about it. And it's a 2 1/2 hour show so serious value for money (I'll have to miss the first hour but sure feck it, it'll still be worth it for an hour and a half 'm sure!)

8pm Triskel - Jonathan Sage showcasing new works for clarinet and electronics... this young British clarinettist will be playing a huge variety of contemporary clarinet (and basset clarinet) music from composers across the world including Ireland. €16/18

8.30pm The Crane Lane - Edel O'Sullivan has put together a really impressive line-up of some of the best folk/tradsters around so if you like a little less blip and bash on your Tuesday than either of the other gigs I've listed this will be well worth a trip, sweet as a nut. €10/8 http://www.edelsullivan.com




Thursday 13th November

8pm School of Music - Stockhausen's MANTRA This is the last big gig of the year that I'm involved with and it's a pretty major deal, the first performance in Ireland of this extraordinary piece that calls for 2 grand pianos, electronics and percussion and 2 exceptional pianists to pull in off. Enter Xenia Pestova RU/NZ) and Pascal Meyer (Lux) - Pascal played brilliantly here a couple of years ago and we stayed in contact since. When he went off to Banff in Canada to work on this epic piece (there is a fantasically wacky desciption of it here probably par for the course it must be said) I swore we'd get it for Cork and now the big day is nearly here. While it's definitely not our usual Cork Orchestral Society fare I'm quietly confident there'll be a good turnout because there seems to be some people travelling to Cork for it and enquiries from people who don't know the venue. Anyway, not one for your Granny most likely but will be a fairly unforgettable sonic experience. €25/20 (€15-8 with membership).

9.30 Charlie's Bar - Don for Chickens - Everyone says he's hilarious, I've never seen him but worth a look if you want some free fun.


Friday 14th

1pm Aula Max, UCC - Geoff Deibel Another reed and electronics gig, this 'rising star of contemporary music' from Michigan will offer a variety of music for Saxophone and electronics from the past few decades including Steve Reich’s New York Counterpoint and it's free, well worth a jaunt out to the college if you can fit it in. http://www.myspace.com/gdeibel

8pm Cyprus Avenue - Kíla One of Ireland's big International acts and also damn good but sure you know that already. Course if you haven't seen em, well here's another chance.

Incidentally, if you catch Jools Holland this week (Tuesday at 10pm or Friday at 11.40pm) check out the Carolina Chocolate Drops fronted by the gorgeous Rhiannon Giddens. Rhi just happens to be married to an old friend and she is very keen to play Cork. They're a pretty big act so it would be quite a major deal to get them here but when the spirit is willing ...and boy does that lady have some spirit. Anyway if you like em be sure and let me know so I can get canvassing the festivals and venues and see can we get them on their next tour).

That's it, see ya soon I hope...

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

Don't be bringin' music...

Hello friends,

Some great music for my ears during the week - I think my highlight was a fantastic trad session at Charlie's on Sunday - 15 musicians there at least givin it socks.
*(Sorry to those of you who clicked through from my mailing list, I waited 4 hours for the video to load but no joy :-( ...)
Joya and co - will you please try and put Boutique Burlesque later in the week next time?!... it was the ruination of me last week (though it sure was a lot of fun). Not helped by the launch of Ladyfest (http://www.ladyfestcork.org) the following night which I'm really looking forward to.

A word of warning - anyone looking for music in Castlemartyr and thinking of popping into Clifford's be warned - Liam Lyons took out the tin whistle there while out for a pint with Breeda recently and was told sternly Don't be bringing music into this pub . Huh, that's the spirit eh?

So anyway...

Here's my pick of the gigs this week


Wednesday 9th

6pm, Spailpin Fanac Stella Rodriquez is organising a Bulgarian music workshop with composer/musician/teacher Stoimen Dobrev ... open to anyone to listen or if you're into it bring along an instrument...

8pm Fred Zeppelin's A mixed bag brought to you by UCC's Capriccio Society (who I was PRO of in my day but looks to be alot more exciting now) - a metal band called Deferens (http://www.myspace.com/deferens) acoustic duo Tadhg Healy & Merivale (http://www.myspace.com/tadhghealy) and 'post-mass'...[on a Sunday morning, like?]...'rock group' Melodica Fantasy and Other Stories. Sure it's only 3 quid might as well check it out...


Thursday 10th

8pm Cork School of Music Pretty exciting to have the Smith Quartet (the UK version of the Kronos, if you will) in town with sax player Gerard McChrystal for a night of new music that is easy on the ears and probably pretty damn exciting - Michael Nyman, Chick Corea and much more.
(for Irene Buckley who was asking, here's the full programme: Kevin Volans Hunting Gathering, Micheál Ó Suilleabháin Óiche Nollaig [in April?!], Michael McGlynn Suite from Invocation, Debussy Syrinx, Michael Nyman Shaping The Curve
Donnacha Dennehy New Commission by Music Network Ravel Piece en forme de Habanera Ciaran Farrell [he's the fella I was telling you about in the quay co-op, his myspace is http://www.myspace.com/ciaranfarrell The Pilgrim's Return, Chick Corea Children's Songs

9pm The Bodega, White Room Cork Music Collective hosts a double bill with two very different halves - first up STeT Lab's experimental night (http://www.busterandfriends.com/stet) with a lovely line-up - Eoin Callery (dulcimer), Susan Geaney (flute), Neil O'Loghlen (double bass), Marian Murray (violin), Veronica Tadman (voice) and Eoin Winning (guitar). Next Alan O'Rourke who has some new material (stand by for the Nipple Song...)http://www.myspace.com/alanorourke

9pm The Roundy The lovely Ger O'Rourke really needs no introduction www.myspace.com/gerwolfe


9pm Cruiscin Lan, Douglas Street - A benefit gig for the Palestinian cause with Kev Murphy and Friends?




Friday 11th

1pm - School of Music Colin McLean's new ensemble including by fantastically brilliant bass teacher David Whitla make their debut - I think it's South American stuff, bit of Piazolla and whatnot but I'm not sure. the good news is it'll cost nothing to find out!

8.30 Cyprus Avenue Kíla are back in town...




Saturday 12th

1pm Cork School of Music Should be v. good this, all good musicians .... nice alternative to yet another Saturday spent shopping... 'Jazz meets Classical - The Music of Claude Bolling' Classical guitarist Jerry Creedon is joined by flautist John O'Connor, Pianist Nicole Panizza, Deirdre Frost on Bass and Catriona Frost on Percusssion.



Sunday 13th

3pm Triskel A major coup - please plan to make it we don't usually get opportunities like this on a Sunday afternoon! Two exceptional classical musicians Patrycja Piekutowska (Violin) Beata Biliñska (Piano) who were lynchpins of the West Cork Chamber Music Festival in 2006 are back playing in Bantry and are making a stop here. They are stunning ladies, very glamourous, and something beyond what is generally available here. Programme is Bacewicz and Penderecki - it cost about €40 to see them in West Cork in 2006 - by some miracle they're on offer in Triskel on Sunday for €10 !




Monday 14th

8pm Cork School of Music Another case of 'to what do we owe this pleasure?'... Reedplayer Michael Seaver (co-founder of the Crash Ensemble) is doing a seriously cool concert of music for clarinets, saxes and electronics performing music never before performed in Ireland by the men who invented the minimalism - Philip Glass, Steve Reich (I think he's doing New York Counterpoint here's a link to that particular beauty) and Gavin Bryars (of Jesus' Blood fame). Again a steal at €10, think he's launching a CD or something. www.michaelseaver.net




x Nicki


--
"Women of the world take over, cos if you don't the world will come to and end.... and it won't take long" - Jim O'Rourke

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

Another week's music in Cork and a ticket competition!

Hallo everyone,

Great to be back in Cork - last night's concert from Lunfardía at the Triskel was excellent (far more impressive music from South America than I heard on my travels last month I'm afraid). Great to see another sell-out concert too! Speaking of sell-outs there was a queue outside Pro-Musica on Monday morning for superstar guitarist John William's concert on April 24th so you'd want to get moving if you want to hear him play. Word has it that he'll be giving some kind of seminar for guitarists - I'm not sure what the craic is but if you're a guitarist and would like to go let me know and I'll try and put you in touch with the right people.

This week there's a good choice of music - from straight-up classical to experimental improv, blues (the good kind) to singer-songwriter stuff so get the hat and gloves on and get into town...

Nearly forgot the competition! Easter weekend sees a brilliant festival courtesy of West Cork Music, East Meets West - 2 sexy quartets are in town to meet each other and play - the all-male T'ang quartet from Singapore (I saw them a couple of years ago and they really are damn cool) and the all-female Callino quartet from Britain/Ireland and there'll be other performers too. There's six concerts in total over the weekend and I've blagged 2 tickets (worth €40) to the closing concert on Easter Monday at 8pm for one lucky winner at which you can see both quartets play individually before the grand finale of an uplifting octet where the two groups join forces. More info to come next week, and if you're not available on the Monday I can change the tickets for another concert in the festival. To enter leave a comment, any comment and I'll pick the winner out of a hat on Friday week. (yes it is an odd way to hold a competition but I'm hoping it will help the blog go up the Google search thing if I get a few comments on it!).

but for now...



Thursday 13th

1.10pm Crawford Art Gallery Two of Cork's most established and talented classical musicians, violinist Ruxandra Petcu-Colan (who begat the amazing Ioana) and pianist Gabriela Mayer will play violin sonatas by Schubert and Szymanowski. Tickets are €10/7.

8pm Cork School of Music I'll be at the National Symphony Orchestra checking out their performance with young violin soloist Alina Pogostina - a gorgeous programme of Bruch and Beethoven and opening with that popular chestnut, Wagner's overture to Tannhauser.

9.30ish Ziggy's (opposite the Oval) Andrea Bonino who brought you last year's big news Hadasha has an as yet unnamed new blues band with Eoin O'Regan and Jerome Rimson - they've only done 2 gigs but word has it something very special is happening already - won't cost you anything to find out! Can I do the Symphony Orchestra and this in one night? Course I can! Can you?

9pm Roundy Cormac O Caoimh is one of Cork's best singer-songwriters - I still haven't actually heard him but I know it's true, I just know it.



Friday 14th

9pm Bodega (White Room) STeT Lab Cork's most exciting experimental music event plays takes place for the last time in this plush and intimate venue before moving somewhere bigger - it's attracting big crowds of hip musos and is always an adventure for the ears. I'll be lazy and quote Han - "The event will feature Lone Monad (A.K.A. Don Malone) on electronics with Jesse Ronneau on double bass. Emeritus professor of Composition and Electronic Music at Roosevelt University, Chicago, Don Malone is a true pioneer of electronic music and improvisation."

Saturday 15th

10.30 Liquid Lounge Ping Pong needs little plugging from me anymore I gather but it's still a good place to hang with the hip cats - this week it hosts Plug'd Records' 4th birthday and Felix Kubin, a dadaist electro artist from Hamburg who cites Stockhausen, Ligeti & Kraftwerk as influences. There's always the roofgarden if it's too much for ya!

Sunday 16th

3pm Charlie's I don't say it often enough, if you've nothing to do of a Sunday afternoon there really is no better way to spend it than with a rake of Beamishes at the trad session. It's fun, it's messy and the music's usually great.

Monday 17th

9pm Cyprus Ave It'll be hot n sweaty and great craic altogether (and there's feck all else on of note) ....the St Patrick's Day Céilí Mór - gwanyabiya!


Wednesday 19th

8pm UCC Music Dept (O'Riada Hall) Once a year something very special happens - Mel Mercier and the UCC gang let the rest of us in to share in the music of the Javanese Gamelan. The traditional orchestra of metal pots, gongs and xylophones is perfectly normal in Indonesia, but this is the only one in the Republic of Ireland. It plays extraordinary, other worldly music - as they play a melody kind of floats out that is not carried by any one person, it really is magic. Gamelan music had a major effect on Western compaosers and visionaries in the twentieth century. Be warned - get there really early as this always fills...


That's it for now x