WEDNESDAY JANUARY 24TH
Rosborough @ The Old Oak (7pm, free)
Derry singer-songwriter plays a free evening gig downstairs in the Caroline Street complex that also houses Cyprus Avenue. Currently touring debut single ‘Burn Blue’.
UCC Battle of the Bands 2018 @ Cyprus Avenue (8pm, free for students/€2)
It’s that time of year again, where the varsity gigs kick off. Opening 2018 for UCC are Transient Water Bottle, Crojayn and Happy Alone. Ground rules for new attendees from a long-serving former judge: no voting allowed until all the bands have played; yelling your friend’s name specifically will result in that band getting docked marks (per each occurrence); and no, “running for the last bus” isn’t a valid excuse to sneak a vote in immediately after your friend’s band.
THURSDAY JANUARY 25TH
Ireland & Not Earth @ The Roundy (9pm, €10)
The return of Dan Walsh’s Cork Improvised Music Club comes with a heavier edge than usual: free jazz/metal outfit Ireland headline alongside Not Earth, now referring to themselves incredibly accurately as ‘free hardcore’.
Wallis Bird @ The White Horse, Ballincollig (9pm, €25)
Enniscorthy singer-songwriter comes home to headline Ballincollig’s Winter Music Festival, with Canadian folk wunderkind Kaia Kater in support.
FRIDAY JANUARY 26TH
Bloodshot Dawn & Reprisal @ An Spailpín Fánach (6pm, €15)
A double-dose of precision thrash metal from the UK headlines Pethrophile Promotions’ pregame gig for next month’s Urban Assault all-dayer and upcoming Mammothfest regionals. Also on the billing, albeit from an adventurously early start time: Legion of Wolves, Arjuna’s Eye, Ketos and Zhi Ren.
Afterwork @ EDISON (7.30pm, free)
Resident disc-jock Gwada Mike is joined at the decks by French import Kidjack. The vibe is carnival-based, apparently.
Spekulativ Fiktion @ The Poor Relation (8.30pm, €7)
After a busy 2017 that saw Seán Murphy fully reassume the mantle of Spekulativ Fiktion, one of the voices of Leeside hip-hop launches ‘Effigies’, a new E.P. co-produced by Clareman Mankyy. Support from: Jonen Dekay, Aswell, Switch X. Open mic follows Spek’s set.
Landless @ The Roundy (8.30pm, €7)
The first Islander (run by Jonathan Pearson, fka North Side Drive) gig is an intimate one, featuring unaccompanied vocal folk group Landless, with support from local singer-songwriter Leah Sohotra.
Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams @ The White Horse, Ballincollig (8.30, €20)
Former Levon Helm live collaborators bring their onstage spark to the Winter Music Festival.
James Or @ Coughlan’s (9pm, €8)
After a sell out show in March 2017, and a number of high-profile supports/festival slots, James OR returns to Coughlans for a full band show.
SATURDAY JANUARY 27TH
Culture Vultures @ The White Horse, Ballincollig (2.30pm, €10)
Veteran music scribe Tony Clayton-Lea chats onstage with Cónal Creedon and Doireann ní Ghríofa, and trad fusion instrumentalists Notify provide live tunes, as part of Winter Music Festival.
Pear @ The Roundy (8.30pm, €5/free before 10pm)
Dublin electronic/DJ collective turned record label, radio hosts, etc. make their Cork debut at the Roundy. Aoife O’Neill on support.
Sober Disco @ The Village Hall (9pm, €7)
Will Softly of Funktion One oversees matters at the city’s only entirely dry discotheque, made specifically for those who fancy getting sweaty and dancey without having alcohol in the equation. Chill out room with tea/coffee and treats onsite, also.
Script @ An Spailpín Fánach (9pm, €tbc)
Drum-and-bass ongoings with Metalheadz mainstay headlining alongside JMC, De Butcher, Tone and more.
Fish Go Deep @ AMP (10pm, €12)
The Hanover Street venue continues to pick up business with its monthly Fish Go Deep residency, following the duo’s annual Xmas shindig.
Xero @ Cyprus Avenue (11pm, €8)
Deep house/tech house via Co. Kerry, headlining after scoring supports for the likes of Mr. Belt & Wezol, Route 94, and Waze & Odyssey.
SUNDAY JANUARY 28TH
Míde Houlihan @ The Kino (2pm, free)
West Cork singer-songwriter continues the newly-reopened Washington Street venue’s run of daytime, all-ages gigs.
Alec Finn, Frankie Gavin & Derek Hickey @ The White Horse (3.30pm, €20)
A reunion for former members of De Danann, joined by collaborator Derek Hickey and supported by Italian fiddle virtuosa Lavinia Mancusi.
Moon Duo @ The Crane Lane (4.30pm, €13)
A daytime headline show at the Crane for the psych/kraut/drone project of Erik ‘Ripley’ Johnson (Wooden Shjips) and Sanae Yamada, currently touring their ‘Occult Architecture’ albums from last year.
Sunday Times! @ The Bowery (9pm, free)
No funny business or jiggery-pokery this month: the lads start 2018 on the rooftop of the Tuckey Street complex with a residents’ party.
Niall McCabe @ The White Horse (9pm, €12)
The Transatlantic Soul train rolls into Ballincollig for Winter Music Festival, as the band launches its second album to wind down proceeding for the ninth annual event.
