A marathon of music this week

Hey there,

I gave myself a bit of a break from this last week, unplanned, sorry - life got in the way! Strangely enough not in the way of listening to music though, hmh funny that, though I'm a bit vague on some details. (Was I really at the Crane Lane on Sunday? Several witnesses insist...) The Irish Chamber Orchestra on Saturday night were pure pleasure (nice to finally meet you there Vinny!) in the last concert of this season - I can't understand why they don't always sell out - if we can't fill a 400-odd seat theatre every time those guys come to town, well, maybe we don't deserve em.

Sorry I think the sudden cloud and drizzle has me a little down this week. Hang on while I ratchet up the enthusiasm for the tips bit.


Wednesday 28th

7.30pm Cyprus Avenue Peter von Poehl's pretty electro pop will reward drifting into if you're around, just a fiver... http://www.myspace.com/petervonpoehl

9pm Counihans' (next to the Crane Lane) Arundo are a band combining Andean and Irish music who seem to have been playing here a while. Gas idea I'm not convinced but maybe because all I could track down on the net was a phone video with desperate sound - it's a free gig so see what you think yourself.

Thursday 29th

6.15 Glucksman Gallery Singer and violinist Lucia Comnes will surely draw a huge crowd out to see her, especially fans of the wonderful Polskadots, a band she was a founding member of before she returned to her native US. She's now touring with bassist Sean Stillinger and percussionist Aharon Wheels Bolsta. Definitely free gig of the week!

8pm St. Anne's church (the bells one) Shandon The Mount's Bay Singers might be rather good, they describe themselves as "An accomplished and enthusiastic choir" who do a range of stuff - when you consider they say they include 8-part a cappella pieces, well that would suggest they're pretty capable.
Incidentally if YOU or someone you know is interested in joining a choir the Cork Chamber Choir is looking for 1 soprano, 2 tenors and 1 bass. You can contact us through our myspace or drop me a mail and I'll put you in touch with Ann Marie http://www.myspace.com/corkchamberchoir

9pm Roundy Room Brazilian trumpeter Tonynho dos Santos and his new band the Fireangels will have the place feeling very summery.

10pm Nancy Spains Pianinst Emiliano Petronilli (of Swing Street) and drummer Davide Sotgiu are hosting a weekly blues jam session - people are welcome to join in, sounds nice.

Friday 30th

7pm Sirius Arts Centre
right through to Monday

Put a trip to Cobh into you plans this weekend and enjoy some of the Cobh Maritime Song Festival in surely the most perfect venue in the country for such a thing. Check out the whole programme at www.cobhmaritimesongfestival.com and look look amn't I good to you........This is the Cork-Cobh timetable http://www.irishrail.ie/your_journey/printed_timetable_pdfs/2008/Mallow%20Cobh%2008.pdf

Saturday 31st

1.15pm, Cork School of Music A lovely opportunity to hear some great trad from fiddle-player Edel Sullivan and guitarist Eileen Healy AND support a Kenyan orphanage with your €10 entrance - talk about fair trade.

Sunday 1st

10pm Charlie's Eoin (Reggie) O'Regan's band is a very safe bet.


Monday 2nd

9am-3pm Cork City I've had a great time lhelping to line up musicians who will be busking along the length of the Cork City Marathon circuit courtesy of Cork City Council. Trad players, jazzers, rockers, gypsy musicians, old-time and world music groups will be out to try and lift the runners spirits and keep onlookers entertained please come and enjot the atmosphere. My map of the action is here if you want to try and catch something specific - http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=109036976011531848577.00044de7144fe1d8907c9&t=k&z=13 - how about the brilliant Lazik outside Hardwood Café? maybe the Critters at Bishop Lucey Park? Trad on Horgan's Quay or by the Lough? Or jazz at County Hall? We've 20 groups in all...

9pm The Whisky Saxophonist/clarinettist Clinio Cocuzza is hosting a regular session on Mondays now. http://www.myspace.com/cliniococuzza

Thursday 5th

9pm The Roundy The Polskadots have old friend Lucia Comnes as guest, a very special occasion and definitely one for the diary lads

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

Have a great one...

x N

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

Blues, folk, techno, dub, opera, bach - where WOULD you be goin'?

Forgive me if I'm a brief this week I seem to be stretched a little thin. Reports of the Moore, Bennink and Holshouser trio at Triskel last night were glowing, seems I missed a big one. I'd a fantastic time at the Spailpin Fanach on Friday night when Sheelanagig played a typically rowdy set, there wasn't a whole lot of space for dancing but it didn't stop us and I have hazy memories of walking home barefoot (thanks to Bertand for ensuring I got back safely!).

There's a heap of stuff to keep us all happy this week I reckon...

Wednesday 2nd

8.30 Crane Lane There's raunchy fun to be had at Boutique Burlesque cabaret and it's likely to fill quickly if the last one's anything to go by - swing jazz, circus and a forest of false eyelashes; I'll be dusting off my high heels and getting the push-up out along with a few hundred gorgeous beors - definitely something for the single lads to enjoy! You can get tickets in advance from Plug'd (8 euro) or else get there eaarrly...

Thursday 3rd

8.30 Crane Lane There'll be ructions when Los Langeros come back on the scene with a new set - I still haven't seen them and gather this is Not Cool so will try and set things straight. Fuel-injected punk-folk, I'll be back in the flat shoes.... http://www.myspace.com/loslangeros

9pm The Roundy For those looking for something a touch more refined but still full of energy the fabulous Polskdots are on the menu and sporting a brand-new accordionist. This group have managed to put together a gorgeous repertoire of gypsy music from across the world keeping integrity though some very fine musicianship indeed. http://www.myspace.com/thepolskadots

9pm The Woodford Funky blues from some of the city's finest bluesmen playing the real thing... Eoin 'Reggie' O'Regan on guitar, Jerome Rimson leading on bass & vocals, Andrea Bonino on harmonica makin the ladies howl and one of the tightest drummers in town Tomas Gall lightin that dynamite.

9.30 Ziggy's (opposite the Oval) Steaming Italian blues from the new Alex O'Reilly band with Alex on bass and vocals, Clino Cocuzza playin that dirty woody sax of his, Arcangelo Spina on bass and an Irish drummer (sorry details still hazy at my end, but apart from Clinio these guys are new to me...).

Friday 4th

8pm Cork School of Music Great to have the Irish Chamber Orchestra back with a lovely programme of music spanning four centuries, Bach, Sibelius and Mendelssohn with a brand new work written for them by Gerald Barry - definitely one for the diary (and I'd say I'll be glad of a sit-down gig by then!).


10pm The Liquid Lounge Electric Underground are hosting electro-composer/producer Chymera if you're looking for some sexy techno to start the weekend with - he started out in Cork, but after a spell in Costa Rica has settled in Barcelona. With top DJs such as Laurent Garnier and Sasha playing his stuff he must be pretty good at what he does, give him a good welcome home! http://www.myspace.com/chymeramusic


Saturday 5th

8pm Cork School of Music Directed by the wonderful Mary Hegarty (who, I think will be making a guest performance too) the chorus and ensemble of the CSM Opera Studio are performing a nice crowd-pleasing platter of opera favourites under the slightly quese-inducing title 'Love and Champage'.

11pm Utopianation Heavy Dub heads can get off the sofa for the night without having to deal the stress of city centre Saturday-night mess by heading down Utopianation on Barrack Street where Toby out of Wiggle plays as Prof. Ruff Chuff with video-jockey VJ Present er, present, to take up any remaining head space. http://www.myspace.com/profruffchuff


Monday 7th

9pm The Whisky Roy and Jason O'Driscoll - I ain't heard these fellas yet but anyone making an effort to keep the 'real rural acoustic blues' of Blind Willie Johnson (who's all over my itunes), Son House and the like deserves to be checked out. I'll do my best and get back to ya.


Listen - have a good one.