45 gigs & clubs to see in Cork over the holidays
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 20TH
Connolly’s Songbook @ Connolly’s of Leap (8pm, donations)
The third in the ongoing series of rearrangements by local artists of music icons’ best work, this time taking in Leonard Cohen via Saint Caoilian and guests.
DJ Wool @ ADVENT (10pm, €TBC)
Berlin/Brooklyn DJ & producer DJ Wool breaks out originals and remixes from throughout a storied career of collaborations.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 21ST
Cork Improvised Music Club’s Kosmiche Kristmas @ The Roundy (9pm, €5)
The return in earnest of the Dan Walsh-led CIMC is upon us, right in time for the fourth instalment of Kosmiche Kristmas. Walsh and collaborators will make it up as they go along for a festive showcase.
Eoin O’Neill @ DeBarra’s of Clonakilty (9pm, free)
West Cork acoustic-pop youngfella acquires a loop pedal. For more on this breaking story, head out to Clonakilty for a free gig.
Stevie G @ ADVENT (10pm, €TBC)
Corkonian hip-hop legend and REDfm regular spins a handpicked set for Generic People’s pop-up club on Hanover Street to kick off their holiday proceedings in earnest.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 22ND
Kristmas with the Krauts @ The Roundy (9pm, €10)
Yet more Kraut-invoking music action upstairs in the home of PLUGD: Dublin feminists SISSY, Corkonian post-punks Any Joy and mountain-dweller Laurie Shaw on the billing for Alliance Promotions’ Xmas bash.
Rebel County Drunk Punx: Bollocks to Christmas @ Fred Zeppelin’s (9.30pm, €10)
Punk triple-bill featuring Irish ska standouts The Hacklers, RCDP trueborns The Jollars and pop-rock four-piece Audible Joes.
Humans of the Sesh @ Amp Venue (10pm, €12)
The “online custodians of generational decay” (VICE) finally get a hometown gig in after years of social-media debauchery, sold-out UK shows and closing the Afterdark stage of Electric Picnic. Cans and rollies not allowed inside the venue.
Hypnic Jerk & Rhinestone Cowboy @ ADVENT (10pm, €TBC)
Disco, acid and deep-house apparently aplenty from two seldom-seen names on Cork club billings, happening on Hanover St., behind Rachel Allen’s restaurant.
Distortion Project Special @ Cyprus Avenue (10pm, €10)
A special end-of-exams party for the local house/techno collective (not to be confused with the Belfast metal promoters of the same name).
SATURDAY DECEMBER 23RD
The Hardy Bucks @ Connolly’s of Leap (8pm, €20)
While not exactly musical in nature, Eddie Durkan threatened to use your writer as his new punchbag unless Castletown’s finest were put on Nialler9 ahead of their trip under the hammers, so here we are. DJ ’til close, though.
Cuttin’ Heads Collective @ The Poor Relation (9pm, free)
The annual Xmas shindig for the Cork hip-hop co-op happens this year at Parnell Place’s gig venue, their home for much of this year.
Hope is Noise @ Fred Zeppelin’s (9pm, free)
Cork post-hardcore/alt-rock cornerstones celebrate the end of the year with a screening of an extended version of career documentary film ‘Head in the Clouds’, and support from post-metallers Ealadha and seldom-seen punx Stanton’s Grave.
PLUGD Records Christmas Party @ The Roundy (9pm, €5)
An all-star cast of left-field electronica including ELLL, Toby Kaar, WIFE and NonSleep partakes in a PLUGD Records fundraiser for Sleep Out Organisation, working with the homeless in Cork city.
Atmosphere Strut @ ADVENT (10pm, €TBC)
More danceable business from the Atmosphere Strut crowd following last week’s appearance at the venue.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 26TH
Tír na nÓg @ Connolly’s of Leap (7pm, €10)
From Bantry to Leap, The Hanley Brothers and Kieran O’Sullivan bring techno and house under the famous hammers for a second helping of Connollys’ new dance night. Buses going locally from Bantry, we’re told.
Undercurrent @ The Poor Relation (8pm, €8 after 10.30)
The year’s last installment of the Poor Relation’s beats and bass night, featuring Drokkr, Rise Up, Really Bad Mothers and OutOut DJs.
M-NUS @ The Roundy (9pm, €5)
Eddie Kay’s nightclub-turned-pop-up throws a Stephens’ night shindig upstairs in the record shop. Brian Ring comes home to headline, with Aoife O’Neill, Gilbert Steele and the man himself also on selection duties.
Fish Go Deep x Sunday Times Xmas Party @ Amp Venue (9pm, €13)
“A residents’ party where it’s all the residents’ parties” is the tagline, and it’s not untrue, as Fish Go Deep’s Greg and Shane meet the Sunday Times’ residents for a Stephens’ night dance.
Bastardo Electrico @ Cyprus Avenue (10pm, €8)
A Stephens’ Day special for the longstanding house/techno collective, with residents at the decks.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27TH
KÍLA @ Cyprus Avenue (7.30pm, €18.50)
Progressive trad veterans continue trekking the world over twenty-five years into their body of work, hitting the Caroline Street venue along the way for the holidays.
The Frank and Walters @ Connolly’s of Leap (8pm, €20)
Right before their big show at the Opera House to mark album ‘Grand Parade’, the lads return to where they first road-tested the album’s tunes before heading to London to record. Great chance to see the pop titans in an intimate setting.
Elly O’Keeffe @ Coughlan’s (9pm, €8)
Rootsy folksiness with the much-fancied Co. Cork singer-songwriter, recommended highly by the likes of the late Fergus O’Farrell.
The Shed @ Crane Lane Theatre (9pm, free)
Cork indie-pop veterans bust out tunes from their discography so far and air new material in a special, mid-holiday-bender gig at the Crane.
Robbie G. @ Cyprus Avenue (11pm, €10)
Dublin house wunderkind takes to the stage upstairs in Cyprus Avenue.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 28TH
Hothouse Flowers @ Live at St. Luke’s (7.30pm, €27.50)
Liam O’Maonlai and collaborators bring over thirty years’ worth of music and touring experience to the Northside’s newest music venue.
Drift & Land Crabs @ Fred Zeppelin’s (9pm, free)
Cork-based alt-rock trio take to the red room on Parliament Street, dragging beach-dwelling crustaceans Land Crabs along for support.
KÍLA @ DeBarra’s of Clonakilty (9pm, €20)
The lads continue sauntering on through Cork, tonight heading out West for a night at folk institution DeBarra’s.
Gadget and the Cloud @ ADVENT (10pm, €TBC)
Kelly Doherty is next up at the decks at Generic People’s pop-up club. A far cry from her encyclopaedic knowledge of post-hardcore or her sadgirl creative endeavours, expect wall-to-wall pop bangers, and then some.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 29TH
Jerry Fish @ Live at St. Luke’s (7.30pm, €22)
Former An Emotional Fish man augments his croon-filled songbook with new songs and old stories for an intimate show in a big hall.
Talos @ Connolly’s of Leap (8.30pm, €15)
Eoin French and collaborators top off a year of phenomenal achievement with a gig at their spiritual home, and their literal one at this stage.
HAGS @ The Roundy (9pm, €5)
The return after several years on the shelf of Corkonian/Clonmellian fuzz-pop wonders Hags, upstairs in the Roundy. For one night only!
Bantum @ ADVENT (10pm, €TBC)
Following an incredibly busy year that took in touring for second album ‘Move’, Ruairí Lynch comes home and helps Generic People launch their remix of his, Rusangano Family and Senita’s collaborative effort ‘Feel Your Rhythm’ as a standalone single.
Crow Black Chicken @ DeBarra’s of Clonakilty (10.30pm, free)
Another serving of power-trio blues-rock from the Cork/Tipp blues-rockers.
Camelphat @ CHURCH (10.30pm, €17.50)
After trotting the globe and playing the gamut of clubs and festivals throughout 2016, ‘Cola’ tech-house hitmakers Camelphat head to Hanover St.
Stephen Murphy @ Cyprus Avenue (11pm, €10)
Phenomenally-popular remix specialist gets his last gig of the year in at a venue he’s sold out several times this year already.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 30TH
And So I Watch You From Afar @ Cyprus Avenue (7.30pm, €17.50)
The North Coast’s hardest-working math-rock band are back on the road almost as soon as the holliers are over. Touring new album ‘The Endless Shimmering’, out now thru Sargent House.
Fish Go Deep @ Connolly’s of Leap (8pm, €15)
Cork house legends take another journey out to Leap for their last gig of the year. Early attendance advised.
Out of Space @ The Roundy (9pm, €5)
Launch night for a brand-new, community-focused electronic music excursion. Residents Phil Scott, Aoife O’Neill and Gary Fitz on duty.
HUXLEY @ Cyprus Avenue (11pm, €20)
UK garage/rave-influenced house producer stops at Cyprus Avenue for a pre-NYE special.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 31ST
The Frank and Walters @ Cork Opera House (8pm, €25)
The toast of nineties Leeside indie return to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of 1997 LP ‘Grand Parade’. Playing the LP in its entirety, plus a selection of guitar-pop missives from across their discography.
Cuttin’ Heads Collective vs. Small Town Disco @ The Roundy (8.30pm, €6)
Cork’s first and only hip-hop co-op pits its residents (plus Ophelia MCing live) against local indie label/collective thing Small Town Disco, represented by Saint Caoilian with cornerman Toby Kaar, in a musical battle to the finish.
Soothsayer & God Alone @ Fred Zeppelins’ (9pm, €5)
A double-dose of doom-metal with which to welcome in the New Year if so inclined. Soothsayer lead the mass with their last slab of sonic heft before working on their next record, with post-metal altar boys God Alone tending dutifully. All proceeds to ARC Cancer Support.
Amit @ An Spailpín Fánach (9pm, €TBC)
Ninja Tune/Metalheadz man drops into Cork for the Evolution drum ‘n’ bass crowd’s year-ending party upstairs in the South Main St. superpub.
FLEECE @ ADVENT (10pm, €TBC)
Cork house collective celebrates two years together with an NYE blowout on the last night of Generic People’s pop-up nightclub on Hanover Street.
Wired Deep @ Cyprus Avenue (10pm, €12.50)
Wired Deep residents help Cyprus Avenue’s regular house/techno crowd count into the New Year.
