Cork Gig Guide: 26th January-1st February 2016

The Altered Hours

Wainwright Sisters

This week in Cork: The Altered Hours, John Grant, The Wainwright Sisters and more.

Mood-molding mind-warpers The Altered Hours give birth to In Heat Not Sorry, the Cork-based fivesome’s much anticipated debut long-player, this Friday night with the old Kino cinema hosting. With momentum building thanks in part to recent focus pieces courtesy of www.clashmusic.com and https://www.thefader.com, this one’s going to be rammed to the rafters so get those tickets early. Long-time pals The Great Balloon Race complete probably the most exciting homegrown bill you’re going to see in 2016.

It may still be drizzly, dreary January but that doesn’t stop the international acts paying a visit to Cork including John Grant who is back in Cork Opera House on Thursday evening. Having been lucky enough to catch the big man live half a dozen times, the stand-out part of his return is the fact that Sóley is on the bill, the Icelandic multi-instrumentalist being a firm favourite of this site.

To think there’s barely room to mention Martha and Lucy Wainwright Roche’s visit to The White Horse (Saturday – it’s completely sold out so I’ll move on swiftly), U.S. guitarist Marc Ribot (Tom Waits/Elvis Costello) drives his junkyard jazz guitar to De Barra’s, Illa J‘s Never Left Tour in memory of his brother J Dilla in Urban Jungle (both Friday), the beginning of August Wells’ Irish tour nor The Lost Brothers latest stint in Coughlan’s. Who says there’s nothing to do in January?

Also going down around town this week:

• Deep Sky Objects in The Crane Lane Theatre (Tuesday)
• Spies, Saint Sister and The Sunshine Factory in Cyprus Avenue (Friday)
• – Plugd/Gulpd Offsite with Dancing Bear, Hames in Sirius Arts Centre (Sunday}

For a day-by-day breakdown of gigs taking place in both Cork city and county over the next three weeks see below.

Tuesday, 26th January
– The Unknowns in Coughlan’s
– Jazz Improv (9pm), Deep Sky Objects (11.30pm) in The Crane Lane Theatre

Wednesday, 27th January 
– Aine Cahill & Spam Turner (11.30pm) in The Crane Lane Theatre
– Blue Note Jazz in The Roundy

Thursday, 28th January 
– John Grant and Sóley in Cork Opera House
– The Calvinists (11.30pm) in The Crane Lane Theatre
– TUDO É SOM: Brazil, Jazz and the genius of Hermeto Pascoal in Triskel Christchurch
– Winter Festival: Hamsandwich in The White Horse (Ballincollig)

Friday, 29th January 
– Skirmish Blog: Ben Pest in AMP/The Library
– Stargazers in Coughlan’s
– Spies, Saint Sister and The Sunshine Factory in Cyprus Avenue
– Winter Weekender – In Heat Not Sorry album launch: The Altered Hours in The Kino
– Illa J in Urban Jungle
– Winter Festival: De Danaan in The White Horse (Ballincollig)
– Marc Ribot in De Barra’s (Clonakilty)

Saturday, 30th January
– Jonas Rathsman in Cyprus Avenue
– Winter Weekender: Wiggle and Harry J (9pm), Wasps Vs Humans (afternoon) in The Kino
– RTE ConTempo Quartet (Free lunchtime) in Triskel Christchurch
– Winter Festival: Lumiere and John Spillane (2.30pm) in The White Horse (Ballincollig)
– August Wells in Levis’ (Ballydehob)
– Winter Festival: Martha and Lucy Wainwright Roche (8.30pm) in The White Horse (Ballincollig) SOLD OUT

Sunday, 31st January
– The Lost Brothers in Coughlan’s
– Winter Weekender: Lau in The Kino CANCELLED
– Winter Festival: Flook in The White Horse (Ballincollig)
– August Wells in De Barra’s (Clonakilty)
– Plugd/Gulpd Offsite: Dancing Bear, Hames and Plugd pop-up shop in Sirius Arts Centre (Cobh)

Monday, 1st February
– The Americanics in Coughlan’s