Weekly Cork Gig Guide: 23rd-29th September

Coughlan’s Music Festival. The sequel…

Nearly a year to the day since the inaugural Coughlan’s Music Festival back in September 2012, the still relatively fresh-faced music venue on Douglas Street returns with another full weekend of music involving some of Cork and Ireland’s finest musicians. For the full low-down on this weekend’s festival, including running times, order etc. CLICK HERE.

Thursday evening also sees the return of the highly divisive, corporate marketing extravaganza that is Arthur’s Day. With destination venues a confidential matter until 5.59pm on the big day itself, fans of Janelle Monae, Bobby Womack, Manic Street Preachers and the other capitalised big hitters face an agonizing squirm through the next three and a bit days, rifling through the rampant rumour mill, hoping to catch a sniff of where their favourite performers are due to play. It does seem Diageo and co. have made a more conscious effort – albeit in response to a backlash of scorn following last year’s events – to increase the number of independent Irish bands involved with the likes of Bouts, Girl Band and Le Galaxie all featured on this year’s headline page.

Hauling ass all the way back to the beginning of the week, local punk-popsters When Good Pets Go Bad depart for the main stage in the sky as they bid farewell – at least to their current form – with a Castle Street appearance as support for Killarney fivesome Handsome Men’s Club in The Roundy. This one’s on Monday and may require ear-plugs.

Also going down around town this week:

• Swiss psych-punk foursome Roy & The Devil’s Motorcycle in The Crane Lane Theatre (Monday)
• God Is An Astronaut in Cyprus Avenue (Tuesday)
• Annette Buckley in an intimate Fireside Session at Bradley’s of Barrack Street (Wednesday)
• Brace-bursting metal in Bradley’s courtesy of Shardborne (Friday)
• Local legend, poet and songwriter Ger Wolfe launches new record I Have Been Loved with a double date fittingly in the place formerly known as The Lobby i.e. L’Attitude 51 (Saturday/Sunday)

Monday, 23rd September 
– Roy & The Devil’s Motorcycle in The Crane Lane Theatre
– Handsome Men’s Club, When Good Pets Go Bad (last ever show) and more in The Roundy

Tuesday, 24th September 
– Track Dogs in The Crane Lane Theatre (11.30pm)

Wednesday, 25th September 
– Rackhouse Pilfer in The Crane Lane Theatre (11.30pm)
– Fireside Sessions: Annette Buckley in Bradley’s of Barrack Street
– Therapy? in Cyprus Avenue
– Sundown Sessions in The Raven
– Blue Note Jazz Sessions in The Roundy
– Sitting Room Session: in De Barra’s (Clonakilty)

Thursday, 26th September 
– Arthur’s Day: events across various venues
– Arthur’s Day: Secret Act, Like A Fire and Elly O’Keefe in The Crane Lane Theatre (5pm)
– Coughlan’s Festival: The Hard Ground & John Blek & The Rats in Coughlan’s
– Arthur’s Day: in Cyprus Avenue
– Arthur’s Day: Janelle Monae in TBC
– Arthur’s Day: John Smith and Ruairi Joseph in De Barra’s (Clonakilty)

Friday, 27th September 
– King Bong, Shardbourne, Astralnaut and Five Will Die in Bradley’s of Barrack Street
– Coughlan’s Festival: Wallis Bird, The Man Whom and O Emperor in Coughlan’s
– Later With The Grunts in The Roundy
– Freddie White in Triskel Christchurch
– John Smith and Ruairri Joseph in The White Horse (Ballincollig)

Saturday, 28th September
– Ger Wolfe (album launch) in L’Attitude 51
– Coughlan’s Festival: Lisa Hannigan, Cathy Davey, Fred, Anna Mitchell and Elly O’Keefe in Coughlan’s
– KENmode, Mutilation Rites and Them Martyrs ( in The Crane Lane Theatre (8pm)
– Walking On Cars in Cyprus Avenue
– ELEvATR followed by Crucial Party 2nd Birthday in The Pavilion
– Dublin Guitar Quartet in Triskel Arts Centre

Sunday, 29th September 
– Ger Wolfe (album launch) in L’Attitude 51
– Coughlan’s Festival: Iarla Ó’Lionáird & Steve Cooney (4pm) in Coughlan’s
– Coughlan’s Festival: Mick Flannery and Cat Dowling (8pm) in Coughlan’s

– For more gigs and dates see the overall gig guide here