Capital Capers and Elsewhere Escapades May 23rd-May 29th

The Bad Plus

Genius jazz outcasts (apparently) The Bad Plus are in the National Concert Hall on Saturday as part of an arts-funded tour that will see the terrific trio perform Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. For those passionate about live music, any chance to catch Ethan, Reid and David perform – be it the work of long dead 20th century composers or the theme tune to Bosco – is one not to be spurned.

The Button Factory has quite a loud bill in store later tonight with Californian doom demigods Sleep accompanied by Wizards Of Firetop Mountain and A Storm of Light for a ferocious feast of eardrum-deadening metal.

Original raconteur Brendan Benson takes to the stage in the same venue the following night (Thursday) as Giant Sand visionary Howe Gelb delights all in attendance in Whelan’s with tunes taken from his vast back catalogue.

Other highlights include a night of electro fun in The Sugar Club with David Kitt (and lots more) on Friday, Ozric Tentacles on Saturday (Whelan’s) and David Pajo (Papa M/Aerial M) in The Workman’s Club (Sunday). It certainly does not stop there though as you can see by the bulging listings belly on display below!

Wednesday, May 23rd
– Rockumentary presents LoudQuietLoud Odessa Club (Film)
– Mark Black & The Trips in Whelan’s (Upstairs)
– Sleep, Wizards Of Firetop Mountain and A Storm of Light in the Button Factory

Thursday, May 24th
– Alt-J in The Academy 2
– Brendan Benson in the Button Factory

– Peter Doran in The Grand Social
– C. O’Neill & Co in Tower Records (6pm)
– Sleep Thieves, Tongue Bundle and more in Twisted Pepper (8pm)
– Dionne Warwick in Vicar Street
– The Velourias in Whelan’s (Upstairs)
– Drunken Boat and You Kiss By The Book in The Workman’s Club
– Howe Gelb (Giant Sand/OP8) in Whelan’s

Friday, May 25th
– Elevator in Tower Records (6pm)
– The Damned in The Academy

– White Collar Boy in the Button Factory
– Heritage Centre, Bouts and more in The Grand Social
– Mersk Collective and European Sensoria Band in The Joinery
– I Am The Cosmos, Ships and David Kitt in The Sugar Club
– Raglans in Whelan’s
– Cry Monster Cry in Whelan’s (Upstairs)
– The Bambir in Whelan’s (Midnight)
– C. O’Neill & Co in The Academy
– Phantom Live: DZ Deathrays in The Academy 2

Saturday, May 26th
– Ozric Tentacles in Whelan’s

– Chewing on Tinfoil in Whelan’s (Upstairs)
– The Cold 100 in Whelan’s (Midnight)
– Gary Numan in Button Factory
– HotelFOX in Twisted Pepper (8pm)
– Tr One, David Kitt & more in Twisted Pepper (10pm)
– The Bad Plus perform Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in National Concert Hall (Kevin Barry room)

Sunday, May 27th
– John Sinclair & Howard Marks in the Button Factory
– Sabre Series, Darugaries and Owensie and more in Twisted Pepper
– Newton Faulkner in Whelan’s
– Papa M in The Workman’s Club

Tuesday, May 29th
– Ruby Sessions in Doyle’s
– Spector in Whelan’s
– Tristan Carroll, Knots and Powderhorse in Whelan’s (Upstairs)
– Hawkwind in the Button Factory

Many roads point towards Belvedere House in Mullingar this weekend as Life returns to Westmeath. The Bad Plus are knocking about Sligo (Sunday) and Kildare (Tuesday) and the newest name on the Popical Island roster – Dott – are boogieing (a word?) their indie pop stuff in Bourke’s down Limerick way on Thursday.

Last but not least are the sultans of string The Mandolas who make their Wexford bow on Tuesday night with a Candlelight Session in The Sky & The Ground.

Wednesday, May 23rd
– The Followers Of Otis, Agogic Logic and Lewis Carroll in Róisín Dubh (Galway)

Thursday, May 24th
– Lord Bishop Rocks in Róisín Dubh (Galway)
– Bronagh Gallagher in Dolan’s (Limerick)
– Dott in Bourke’s Bar (Limerick)

Friday, May 25th
– Nanu Nanu, Hipneck Blues Collective and Cogar in Róisín Dubh (Galway)
– R.S.A.G. in The Dock (Leitrim)
– The Riptide Movement in Dolan’s (Limerick) (Upstairs)
– Life festival featuring Ben Klock, Jamie Jones and more in Belvedere House, Mullingar (Westmeath)

Saturday, May 26th
– The Original Rudeboys in Róisín Dubh (Galway)
– Ana Gog in Róisín Dubh (Galway) (Upstairs)
– John Blek & The Rats in McCarthy’s Bar, Dingle (Kerry)
– Donal Lunny in The Thatch, Rahan (Offaly)
– Life festival featuring Ben Klock, Jamie Jones and more in Belvedere House, Mullingar (Westmeath)
– Albert Lee & Hogan’s Heroes in Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray (Wicklow)

Sunday, May 27th
– The Gandhis in Róisín Dubh (Galway)
– The Bad Plus perform Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in Hawkswell Theatre (Sligo)
– Life festival featuring Ben Klock, Jamie Jones and more in Belvedere House, Mullingar (Westmeath)
– The Man Whom in Arts Centre (Wexford)

Monday, May 28th
– Voodoo Fire in Róisín Dubh (Galway)
– Yawning Chasm and Darugaries in The Cellar (Galway)

Tuesday, May 29th
– The Bad Plus perform Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in Riverbank Arts Theatre (Kildare)
– Darugaries and Peter Delaney in Bourke’s Bar (Limerick)
– Candlelight Sessions featuring The Mandolas in The Sky & The Ground (Wexford)

*Yep you’ve guessed it, I forget lots! Feel free to leave a comment below to add gigs to the guide.

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