28 gigs and clubs to see in Cork this weekend
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21ST
UCC Battle of the Bands – FINAL @ Cyprus Avenue (8pm, €4)
It’s the finals of UCC’s hard-fought band contest. This year’s finalists: blues lads Crojayn, prog-metal four-piece Aponym, and indie lads Centralhall.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22ND
David O’Doherty @ The Everyman (8pm, €22)
The biggest man with the flashest keyboard does a big, long show in the grande dame of Corkonian theatre.
Transient Water Bottle @ Fred Zeppelin’s (8pm, €2)
Corkonian producer returns to Fredz for a slightly less midweek night of beats and culchie references. Support from Outsider MT Heart among others.
No Covers @ The Friary (8pm, free)
The Friary’s regular folk gig returns with tunes from New Hampshire, USA singer/songwriter James Gilmore, plus Abigail Joffe and Angelique Everitt.
Cork Improvised Music Club @ The Roundy (9pm, €5)
This month’s CIMC lineup includes Logorrhea, a jam between Cork veterans Marcus Gordon (Great Balloon Race, sax), Brendan Riordan (guitar), Roslyn Steer (Crevice/KantCope, bass/voice/keyboards/loops), and Wayne Dunlea (drums). Support from Declan Synnott (Horse/Sioraí Geimhreadh) on analogue synths.
Join Me in the Pines @ The White Horse (9pm, €15)
Bell X1 multi-instrumentalist and songwriter David Geraghty takes his solo project on the road, in support of new material and a beatsier new direction. Night one of two in Cork.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23RD
Sweet Tooth – A Vietnamese Farewell @ The Poor Relation (8pm, €5)
Dave from techno collective Sweet Tooth is heading away to Vietnam. To mark the occasion, the lads have an all-night procession of residents out at the Poor Relation.
Join Me in the Pines @ Connolly’s of Leap (9pm, €15)
Geraghty journeys westward beyond the Leap for the second leg of his Leeside excursion, playing at the McNicholl family venue.
Inni-K @ The Roundy (8.30pm, €12)
Having launched the Myles O’Reilly-directed video for new single ‘Edges’ via this parish earlier this week, Dubland singer-songwriter Inni-K hits the Roundy, with support from psych-folker Elaine Malone.
Prospekt #2 – Meadhbh O’Connor @ An Spailpín Fánach (8.30pm, €10)
Limerick DJ, 909 club impresaria and D.I.E./Scrobarnach resident Meadhbh O’Connor headlines upstairs at the Spailpín for round 2 of Prospekt’s now-regular proceedings.
In the Attic @ The Friary (8.30pm, €5)
Damsel, Leah Sohotra and the Fifth Floor comprise the final line-up (for now) of Richie Pierce’s regular weird-music night at the Friary before he heads away to Argentina.
The Vestas @ The Village Hall (8.30pm, €10)
Cork folk/jazz/blues trio launch their debut E.P. at the quayside BYOB hall. Support from Eve Clague.
Stevie G’s Old School Party @ Church (10pm, €8)
The don of Cork hip-hop busts out the ’90s hip-hop/R&B classics for a special night at the Hanover Street venue, with the Hot Sauce dance crew in tow.
Nathan Fake @ Cyprus Avenue (11pm, €15)
UK electronica’s quintessential ‘young veteran’ stops into Cyprus Avenue for his first Cork date in years, promoting recent Ninja Tune release ‘Steam Days’.
BIN NIGHT @ Secret Location (11.30pm, €10)
Secret-show vibes for some dirty hip-hop and electronica, with NONSLEEP (Paddy Altered Hours and Eoghan Underling), Shiv (Skirmish/Cuttin’ Heads) and the return of Cáca Militia. BYOB, limited capacity, tickets available from Langford Row Coffee.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24TH
UrbanAssault Metal Festival @ An Spailpín Fánach (1pm, €15 full-day, €5 under-18s ’til 9pm)
The second annual UrbanAssault metal marathon brings blood and thunder to the Spailpín. That lineup of Irish and international riffage in full: Dead Label, Corr Mhóna, Overoth, Conjuring Fate, Partholón, Strangle Wire, Audible Joes, Words That Burn, God Alone, Indominus, Following The Signs.
The Lost Brothers @ Live at St. Lukes (8pm, €20)
Irish songwriters/musicians Oisin Leech and Mark McCausland head to St. Lukes’ Cathedral on the city’s northside, off the back of latest album ‘Halfway Towards A Healing’.
Inni-K @ Levis’ of Ballydehob (8pm, pass-the-hat)
The second leg of Inni-K’s Cork excursion takes her to the home of Over the Counter gigs, where the Dubland folker holds court behind the bar. Entry at the back door.
DJ Woody @ The Poor Relation (9pm, €10)
Two-time world-champion skratchologist DJ Woody does the Poor Relation for a clinic, with a strictly-45 set. Support from Symatic, C Double-You and the Headcutters’ crack team of residents.
Out of Space @ The Roundy (9pm, €tba)
More dancey, jazzy vibes upstairs in The Roundy from another emergent presence in Cork clubbing. Hugh Desmond spins records with members of County Vinyl, and Darren Kelly opens proceedings.
Sober Disco @ The Village Hall (9pm, €7)
DJ Will Softly returns, bringing his selection of dancefloor conquerors, alongside a completely alcohol-free selection of drinks and snacks, a chill room, and more.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25TH
Wyvern Lingo @ Golden Discs’ Vinyl Lounge (2pm, free)
Ahead of the release of their debut album, Bray three-piece Wyvern Lingo head upstairs in Golden Discs’ national flagship shop for a special all-ages gig.
Alannah Murray & Laura Duff @ The Kino (2pm, free)
The Kino’s Sunday all-ages sessions continue, with live music from singer-songwriters Alannah Murray and Laura Duff.
Cuttin’ Heads Collective BeatLab Social @ The Roundy (4pm, free)
The Headcutters’ monthly workshop continues. Four hours to get in, hang out, take some samples provided by a guest, and get beat-making, with a listening party at 8pm for the fruits of yer labour.
Tower Street Music Launch Party @ The Kino (7.30pm, free)
Cork-based digital music platform launches with a private gig at the Kino. Sinéad Murphy, Just Charlie and the Davies Brothers performing, email for inclusion on guestlist.
Wyvern Lingo @ Connolly’s of Leap (8pm, €15)
The album-launch trail continues for Wyvern Lingo, with an evening trip beyond the Leap and under the hammers.
Showcase & Open Mic @ The Friary (8pm, free)
Singer-songwriter Ekke, fresh off last year’s ‘Good Words in a Convincing Order’ EP, heads off the biggest little bar in Cork’s Sunday showcase. Free in, with more musicians TBA.
Sunday Times! @ The Bowery (9pm, free)
The residents of Sunday Times! are back at the Bowery rooftop this month, joined by Not How, When! man Sonny Emerald. BYO exclamation points.
