22 gigs and clubs to see in Cork over the Bank Holiday weekend
WEDNESDAY MARCH 14TH
Zolala Klub @ Siopa Gan Ainm (7pm, free)
The home of the eclectic by the Lee returns. This month’s sound performance is led by Antakya Remains, a duo comprised of Taf Hassam and Dan Guiney.
CIT Battle of the Bands Heat 2 (8pm, €3)
The second round of CIT Music Soc’s royal rumble happens tonight. Illicit Exhibit, Red Sun Alert and Sly Green Sky fight it out to join the Slut Club in the finals. Your writer will be along to judge/guard the ballot box, and will not be taking early votes from bands’ buddies “running for the bus” after their performance.
THURSDAY MARCH 15TH
Huun-Huur Tu @ Triskel Christchurch (8pm, €20)
Having sold out a Friday show at the same venue, Tuvan throat-singing four piece Huun-Huur Tu bring their layered Eastern European/Central Asian folk music to the Triskel.
Transient Water Bottle @ UCC New Bar (8pm, free)
Wordsmith T.W.B. debuts new single ‘The Foggy Dew’ at the campus’ New Bar, with support from the members of the Outsiders collective – Y.P., Rapha, M.T. Heart and Kestine.
Centralhall @ Fred Zeppelin’s (9pm, €4)
Waterford indie-disco four-piece launch debut single ‘Social Awareness’ after winning UCC’s Battle of the Bands. Support from Ghostking is Dead and Pretty Happy.
The Burma @ An Spailpín Fánach (9pm, €5)
Indie-pop youngfellas make noise at the Spailpín to air new tunes. Support from blues-rock wunderkinder Crojayn.
FRIDAY MARCH 16TH
Mammothfest Best Band Competition @ An Spailpín Fánach (6pm, €7)
Brighton, UK metalfest reaches into the Cork scene to look for new bands to feature, in association with the team behind UrbanAssault. Competing in round 2 of the after-work metal throwdown: The Magnapinna, Crossfire, Marabou, Bisect, God Alone, Coroza and Dirty Casuals. Plus, a guest set from Clonmel sludgers zhOra.
Karl Blau @ Cyprus Avenue (7pm, €15)
Seattle country singer/songwriter tours Europe to promote new album ‘Out Her Space’ and continue introducing audiences in these parts to his hitherto-unreleased catalogue of work.
RíRá @ Connolly’s of Leap (8pm, €TBC)
Connollys’ regular Under the Hammers night presents a special edition with one of the founding fathers of Irish hip-hop, as the voice of Scary Éire marks his thirtieth anniversary as an MC with Lady Grew, BenZo Grant, Sacha and Aaron, David Jackson, Cormac Lally and Kait Husmann.
Pinhole @ The Roundy (8pm, €7)
Kerry/Cork four-piece air new material after a quiet few months, ahead of their upcoming album. Support from guests WeMarch.
Fleece @ Amp Venue (10pm, €8)
Cork house collective raise a glass to the man that ensured our national holiday would be mistakenly named for a hot sandwich by tourists. Visuals by the polymaths at Generic People.
Dave Clarke @ Cyprus Avenue (11pm, €22)
Punk-inspired techno legend heads upstairs on Caroline Street for a pre-Paddy’s Day Bastardo Electrico party, with support from Cork electronic veteran Jamie Behan.
SATURDAY MARCH 17TH – PADDY’S DAY
Céilí Allstars @ Coughlan’s (7pm, free)
Leeside session-trail veterans play Coughlan’s on Paddy’s Day, providing the definitive trad seisiún for Paddy’s Day in Cork, having resided in the likes of the Lobby and DeBarra’s.
The Creeps @ The Roundy (9pm, €5)
A special performance of everyone’s favourite show tunes from the Cork supergroup, as well as avant-garde dance, neo-classical yodelling, sci-fi-inspired/wifi-influenced choral recitals, and everything in between.
Wiggle @ Connolly’s of Leap (9pm, €10)
For those of you out West, all of your dubby, electronic needs will be seen to by Kinsale’s reggae veterans as they journey under the hammers. Collywobbles, Mr. Brown and Professor RuffChuff in support.
Sunday Times! @ Amp Venue (9pm, €15)
The residents of Sunday Times! move over the road for a Paddy’s Day throwdown, joined by Joy Orbison (Hinge Finger/MeandYou).
Alix Perez @ An Spailpín Fánach (9.30pm, €10)
1985 Music head and general hot property heads upstairs in the Spailpín for Paddy’s Day. Support from Ophelia MC, Jet Li and more. First come, first serve at the door.
Klangkarussell @ Cyprus Avenue (10pm, €19)
Austrian house duo come to Cork while riding a wave of success: debut single ‘Sonnentanz’ has amassed over 20 million YouTube views, while English vocal version ‘Sun Don’t Shine’ has singles-charted all over Europe.
SUNDAY MARCH 18TH
Sunday Sessions @ Bar Pigalle (5pm, free)
Cuttin’ Heads Collective man DJ JusMe brings himself and his comprehensive collection to the decks of Pigalle on Barrack Street.
Stephanie Rainey @ Cyprus Avenue (8pm, €15)
Cork-based pop storyteller plays Cyprus Avenue in a rescheduled gig after the events of Storm Emma. Original tickets for March 2nd remain valid, with more tickets available now.
Pine the Pilcrow @ Levis’ of Ballydehob (8pm, pass-the-hat)
Much-fancied Dublin outfit head out to Ballydehob to play an Over the Shop Counter session.
TechWorks Festival Afterparty @ Cyprus Avenue (11pm, €11)
The lads are bussing down from Millstreet after the big session, and headlining the afterparty are Weiss, Wired Deep and Formula K.
While you’re here, check out Red on Red, your writer’s weekly podcast focused on Cork music and the personalities behind it, via Cork’s RedFM. This week’s episode drops tonight at 7pm, and this week, we’re talking to Sam McNicholl from Connolly’s of Leap about the venue’s recent IMRO Venue of the Year win, as well as heading to SXSW this week with Talos. Listen, download and subscribe in your favourite podcast software.
