Cork Gig Guide: 24th-30th May 2016

Marissa Nadler (Cyprus Avenue – Sunday)

This week in Cork: Marissa Nadler, Windings, Mono/Poly, Joey Ryan, The Bookshop Band, Hope Is Noise and more…

Stand-out show down south this week is Marissa Nadler, with the Massachusetts singer in town just a week after the release of new record Strangers. Graceful ghost-folk is how I’d inelegantly describe Ms. Nadler’s output so far. Check her out for yourself in Cyprus Avenue on Sunday evening.

Earlier in the week there’s a legend in the same venue as Hugh Cornwell – original guitarist, singer and main songwriter up front for British rock band The Stranglers – kickstarts an Irish acoustic tour in Cyprus Avenue on Wednesday evening. Emmet Scanlan plays a couple of shows on Thursday evening, starting with a stripped down show in Sin É earlier in the night before a midnight concert in The Crane Lane Theatre that same night. The Limerick born songwriter’s new EP, These are the dreams. This is the life, is out the following day so use this as a chance to get your hands on an early copy. For those itching for their fix of underground Japanese psych, make your way to Connolly’s where Pikacyu*Makoto will leave Leap – and your mind – a changed place.

Drifting into Friday, local rocklords Hope Is Noise go full power in the Print Shop, whilst folkies will be heading towards Douglas Street for The Young Folk in Coughlan’s. Always on the lookout for potential new venues, I’m intrigued by the idea of The Bookshop Band, who conceive all their songs from books, playing an early evening show in local independent book shop Vibes & Scribes on Lavitt’s Quay. This one starts at 6pm and is the perfect excuse to also book up a copy of a Willy Vlautin. Any WV will do.

Following an appearance in Clonakilty on Frida night, Limerick indie-rockers Windings play the early set in The Crane Lane Theatre on Saturday evening with DIY promoters Southern Hospitality Board hosting Mono/Poly, the California producer appearing in Cyprus Avenue. Yip, it’s going to be another busy week in Cork on the music front. A little worse for wear following a hectic week on the music front? Sort that all out by taking a stroll towards FitzGerald Park on Sunday afternoon where Stevie G, Cork Samba Band, Tiz McNamara & more will be keeping spirits high as part of Summer Jam 2016.

Also going down around town this week:

• Bob Spring & The Calling Sirens in The Crane Lane Theatre (Wednesday)
• Cork Improvised Music Club continue their May residency in Gulpd (Thursday)
• Freddie White in Triskel Christchurch (Saturday)
• Senior Infants in Gulpd (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, 24th May
– Jazz Improv (9pm) in The Crane Lane Theatre
– Acoustic Session in De Barra’s (Clonakilty)

Wednesday, 25th May 
– Bob Spring & The Calling Sirens (11.30pm) in The Crane Lane Theatre
– Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers) in Cyprus Avenue
– Jawbone in The Oliver Plunkett
– Blue Note Jazz Sessions in The Roundy
– Sitting Room in De Barra’s (Clonakilty)

Thursday, 26th May 
– Emmet Scanlan (11.55pm) in The Crane Lane Theatre
– Cork Improvised Music Club: Brendan Riordan, Roslyn Steer & Solamh Kelly in Gulpd
– Midnight Rambles Session in The Oliver Plunkett
– Emmet Scanlan (9pm) in Sin É
– Buddy Mondlock & Mike Lindauer in The White Horse (Ballincollig)
– Treelan in De Barra’s (Clonakilty)
– Pikacyu*Makoto (Acid Mothers Temple/Afrirampo) in Connolly’s (Leap)

Friday, 27th May 
– Hope Is Noise and Wasted Space in Cork Community Print Shop
– The Young Folk in Coughlan’s
– Jerry Fish (8.30pm) in The Crane Lane Theatre
– The Bookshop Band (6pm) in Vibes & Scribes
– Quangodelic in The Roundy
– Windings in De Barra’s (Clonakilty)

Saturday, 28th May
– Windings (9pm) in The Crane Lane Theatre
– Southern Hospitality Board: Mono/Poly in Cyprus Avenue
– Freddie White in Triskel Christchurch
– Paula K. O’Brien and Colin Deady in The High Tide Club (Castletownbere)
– Joey Ryan Trio in De Barra’s (Clonakilty)
– Jerry Fish in Connolly’s (Leap)

Sunday, 29th May
– Loudest Whisper (11.30pm) in The Crane Lane Theatre
– Marissa Nadler in Cyprus Avenue
– Summer Jam 2016 Cork Samba Band (12.45pm), Tiz McNamara (5.10pm) & more in FitzGerald Park
– Cork Improvised Music Club: Senior Infants in Gulpd
– Faburu in Pine Lodge (Myrtleville)

Monday, 30th May
– The Americanics in Coughlan’s