PERFECT 10
HERE’S OUR TOP TEN THINGS TO DO IN CORK THIS WEEK
OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD AT THE OPERA HOUSE
Following on from sold out production of the musical ‘Annie’ last summer, this years seasonal offering ‘ The Wizard of Oz’ is currently packing them in at the venue.
Internationally acclaimed director Wayne Jordan (ProdiJIG 2016/2017), is leading audiences along the Yellow Brick Road on a magical adventure as the team create a new version of this enchanting tale of magic and fantasy, good and evil, and above all friendship.
Packed with classic characters including Dorothy, Scarecrow, The Tin Man and The Lion and a score of instantly recognisable songs, the production promises to be an all singing, all dancing treat for all ages.
Tickets for the show, which will run until the end of August, from www.corkoperahouse.ie.
CORK BAND ROWAN TO LAUNCH EXCITING NEW EP
CORK four-piece Rowan will be back on home turf next Thursday night when they launch their new EP ‘Asleep In The Rain’ at Coughlan’s Live.
The band, led by multi-instrumentalist Dylan Howe, have just started touring the EP having played a number of events including the Doolin Folk Festival and Sea Sessions. The summer tour will also include a slot at Electric Picnic and dates in the UK and New York.
Drawing from the influences of its members, the Rowan have crated a sound that encompasses rootsy jazz, folk and gutsy indie riffs in one eclectic mix that has marked them out as ‘one to watch’ for the future.
Tickets for the EP launch from www.coughlanslive.ie priced at a pocket friendly €7.
HANK AND RAY LIVE AND FREE AT CHARLIE’S BAR
VETERAN Cork singer/songwriter Hank Wedel will return to Charlie’s Bar on Cork’s Union Quay for the next instalment of his popular free Monday night sessions with his long time musical partner Ray Barron.
The very epitome of a modern day troubadour, Hank gigs all across Cork often playing as many as three venues in a single a night. A consummate performer who has been at the top of his game for many years, he has shared the stage with the likes of Bono, Declan Sinnott and Shane McGowan.
With Hank on vocals and guitar and Ray on mandolin, the pair play everything from Bob Dylan to Finnish waltzes putting together a great show that will set toes tapping and hand clapping.
‘THE LONESOME WEST’ AT THE EVERYMAN PALACE
THE Everyman Palace Theatre is hosting performances of Oscar-winning playwright Martin McDonagh’s black comedy ‘ The Lonesome West’ throughout the month of August.
The third play in his smash-hit ‘Leenane Trilogy’, it tells the story of two feuding bachelor brothers and attempts to civilise them by the despairing local parish priest and his devoted sidekick Girleen.
Filled with explosive moments and dark humour, the bitter-sweet masterpiece will captivate audiences holding them on the edge of their seats and make them laugh when they know they really shouldn’t.
The production will run until August 25, with a special Irish language interpreted performance on August 17.
Tickets available from the Everyman Palace box office on 021 450 1673 priced at €29 (€24 opening week).
GAZING AT THE STARS WITH LEGENDARY BAND
PERENNIAL Cork favourites Stargazers will be back on the road overt h coming week for two rare live performances at Levis in Ballydehob on Sunday evening and De Barra’s in Clonakilty next Thursday.
Widely regarded as one of Cork’s most venerable musical institutions, The Stargazers have performed their first gig as a group on RTÉ back in 1983.
Their recording and live show celebrate the song-writing genius of greats including Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, Irving Berlin and George Gerschwin. In turn, their instrumental style is heavily inspired by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli among others.
Throw some modern greats by the likes of Randy Newman into the mix and add some of The Stargazers own material and you get a pretty good idea of what they are about.
For ticket information about the concerts visit www.stargazers.ie.
CONAN GALLEN ‘SUCKIN’ DIESEL’ AT THE INEC
THE man dubbed Ireland’s ‘Ambassador of Comedy’, the inimitable Conal Gallen, will bring his hilarious ‘Suckin’ Diesel’ stand-up show to the stage of the INEC Acoustic Club in Killarney on Friday night.
Having successfully toured his comedy play ‘A Bit On The Side’, Gallen returns to stand up with a more than two-hour show packed with jokes, stories and songs that promise to leave the audience in stitches.
After 25-years of entertaining audiences around the world, Gallen has perfected the art of comedy with songs his unique bran d of humour and songs including ‘ The 50 Shades’, ‘ Horse It Into Ya Cynthia’ and ‘ Anna from Buncrana’.
Tickets for the gig, priced at €27.90 from the INEC box office on 064 667 1555.
CLANG SAYNE LIVE AT THE SIRIUS ARTS CENTRE
THE Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh will continue its supper series on Friday week (August 10) with and evening in the company of experimental folk quartet Clang Sayne.
The supper series combines an evening of food followed by new music from the very best of Ireland’s emerging artists
Using voice, guitar, bass, clarinet, cello and drums the band explore the boundary between song and sound, with The Wire magazine describing the music as “exhilarating in its refusal to conform” and Boomkat saying it “showed an uncategorisable approach to song craft.”
With two albums already under their belt, Clang Sayne are rapidly emerging as one of the country’s most exciting live acts.
Tickets for the evening from www.siriusartscentre.ie priced at €20.
For more about the band visit www.clangsayne.com.
THOUGHT-PROVOKING PLAY AT ARTS THEATRE
THE Cork Arts Theatre is currently hosting Derek O’Gorman’s play ‘And On The Third Day’, a moving story of the trauma suffered by friends and family of Hayza who tragically falls into the River Lee.
As his partner Lisa and friend Shane scour the riverbank waiting anxiously for news they encounter the world-weary boatman Seanie Dennehy who attempts to impart his hard-earned local knowledge to the teenage couple.
As the hours pass, their anguish is compounded by the pain of realizing that they are now waiting for the word on the recovery of a body. An unlikely alliance develops between the three as the search leads them to face up to the consequences of all their pasts and make some far-reaching decisions about their futures.
Tickets and performance times from www. corkartstheatre.com.
LÚNASA AND NATALIE LIVE AT ST LUKE’S
DESCRIBED by the New York Times as “the hottest Irish acoustic group on the planet” Lúnasa have been making music and thrilling audiences across the globe for the past two decades.
As part of their 20th anniversary Irish tour the quintet will play Live at St Luke’s in Cork City on Saturday evening, with a special appearence by celebrated vocalist Natalie Merchant.
The concert will feature a magical evening of traditional and original Celtic music, including tracks from Lúnasa’s latest and tenth studio album ‘Cas’, which incorporates contributions from Merchant, Tim O’Brien, Daori Farrell and Mary Chapin Carpenter.
Having Merchant perform on the night will add extra special gloss to what promised to be a wonderful night of music and chat.
Tickets €26 (plus booking fee) from www. uticket.ie.
PURE HEAVY METAL HEAVEN AT CYPRUS AVE
FANS of heavy metal are in for a treat this coming bank-holiday Saturday with the Monolith Festival set to run at Cork’s Cyprus Avenue for the day.
The all-day festival will provide the setting for some of Ireland’s most formidable heavy metals bands to showcase their music in one of Cork’s best venues.
The line-up will feature the very best contemporary home-grown acts from the genre including God Alone, Apostate Viaticum, Molarbear and Sectile, performing high-octane sets across the day.
This promises to be an ear-shattering day of pure metal heaven for music fans and one that no fans of the genre will want to miss out on.
A limited number of tickets for the event are still available at www.eventbrite.ie.