LUNCHTIME PLATTER

THE OUT TO LUNCH FESTIVAL IS BACK WITH A FANTASTIC LINE-UP AT THE BLACK BOX

So we’ve passed the dead spot, the twilight zone, the anni-perineum – that unmagical moment mostly between Christmas and New Year when there is absolutely f*** all to do. This exact day is calculated much in the same way as Easter, something to do with missal cycles and the number of phases of the moon from the Twelfth of July (the summer shituinox). This winter’s dead spot fell on Wednesday past and, of course, it just happened to be the one night

Ultimate had cleared to go out and enjoy some music fun. All of the normal hotspots seemed to be closed, having their annual deep clean ahead of future decadence. Ah well, another night of wine and sofa never did anyone any harm, eh? The one good thing about the dead spot is that it marks a turning point in the musical calendar and it’s pretty much guaranteed that until July 12, 2019, there will be something worth doing – starting this weekend. Today sees the start of the Out To Lunch festival with Lust In Music joined by Terri Hooley on the decks for a celebration of all things 1970s in the Black Box – the perfect way to shake of the post-festive cobwebs and a snip at £8 with lunch included. Later on at the same venue, the London Astrobeat Orchestra performs Talking Heads, with some of the finest West African musicians this side of West Africa playing, well you guessed it, Talking Heads classics. Sounds pretty cool, doors 8pm, tickets £13.

Tomorrow, the Henry Girls take up the afternoon slot at 2pm – with a “goosebumping” inspiring performance of harmony-laden folk, trad, bluegrass and Americana. A tenner well spent and it won’t bankrupt you too much ahead of King Kong Company’s show tomorrow night. They’re a kind-of dub, reggae, breakbeaty band described as “festival legends in the making” and “the best live act in Ireland today”. Doors 8.30, tickets £16. Sunday could be the time to start taking things a bit more easy – so a screening of Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story, and intriguing documentary about the man behind (or rather inside) Frank Sidebottom, the manic indie troubadour with a papier-mâché coupon (2pm, £5 in the Green)… while a little later on (3pm,

£8) there’s a performance of Molly – an adaptation of Joyce’s final soliloquy in Ulysses by Tara Breathnach. Rounding off the weekend is, rather aptly, a a special screening with a meal of The Dead, another Joyce adaptation starring Anjelica Huston and Donal Mccann, 7.30pm, £20. There’s tonnes more on at the festival – it runs until January 27, for heaven’s sake. But that should get you started.

And if that all sounds a bit, well, cultured for Ultimate Ulster fear not – 2019 is but young and the resolutions will soon fall by the wayside. We’ll be cracking open the cava and poppers first thing Monday morning…