PERFECT 10
HERE ARE OUR TOP TEN THINGS TO DO IN CORK THIS WEEK
WILLY RUSSELL’S ‘BLOOD BROTHERS’ AT THE INEC
THE final curtain will come down on Willy Russell’s stunning Tour De Force ‘Blood Brothers at the INEC in Killarney on Saturday night.
Hailed as one the greatest musicals of all time, Bill Kenwright’s multi-award winning production surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End, one of only three musicals to have ever achieved that milestone.
Affectionately nicknamed ‘ the standing ovation musical’, it tells the epic tale of twins boys separated at birth and who grew up on both sides of the tracks only to be reunited by a twist of fate and a mothers haunting secret
The memorable score includes classic songs such as ‘ A bright New Day’, ‘Marilyn Monroe’ and the emotionally charged ‘ Tell Me Its Not True’.
Tickets for the final matinee and evening performances today (Thursday), tomorrow and Saturday from the INEC box office on 066 667 1555.
SHANE CASEY’S ‘WET PAINT’ AT THE OPERA HSE
ACTOR and playwright Shane Casey, best known for his role as Billy Murphy in ‘ The Young Offenders’, is currently starring in his own play ‘Wet Paint’ at the Cork opera House.
It’s 2005 and the country is booming. That blind opera singer guy is coming to Cork, Tony has a fresh tan from the Canaries, Pa is wondering how Liverpool will get on in the Champion’s League and Barry’s got a secret.
Inspired by his time as a painter decorator himself, Shane Casey’s very funny play depicts a day-in-the-life of two Cork painters and their boss during the Celtic Tiger era, when anything was possible - at least inside your head.
Tickets for the show, which will close on Saturday, from the Opera House box office on 021 427 0022.
‘STORY OF SWING’ AT THE EVERYMAN PALACE
THE Swing Cats will take to the stage of the Everyman Palace Theatre on Friday night with their ‘Story of Swing’ show, a tribute to the great singers of the genre down through the decades.
Starting in the 1920’s and moving seamlessly through the big band era of the 30’s and 40’s, the 50’s and 60’s with household names like Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Andy Williams to the modern era of Buble and Paulo Nutini, the show features note perfect renditions of timeless classics.
Led by award-winning singer Luke Thomas, The Swing Cats have amassed a huge following throughout Ireland and Europe thanks to their distinctive sound and style which is steeped in the golden age of swing music.
Tickets for the concerts from the venue on 021 450 1673 priced at €29.
LUNCHTIME PIANO RECITAL AT THE TRISKEL
ACCLAIMED Cork-born pianist Dr Fionnuala Moynihan will play the third recital in her fourpart series of lunchtime concerts featuring the works of Italian-born, English composer Muzio Clementi at the Triskel Christchurch Arts Centre on Saturday.
Widely regarded as one of Ireland’s premier pianists, Dr Moynihan performed throughout the world, winning numerous accolades including the John Field Prize and the Rena Manashe Award.
She has a particular affinity with the works of both baroque and classical composers, previously performing the complete cycle of Mozart’s sonatas and the complete piano sonatas of Haydn and Schubert.
She said the works of Clementi were particularly close to her heart and musical soul, pointing out that he was a huge influence on many other great composers including Chopin and Schumann.
Admission to Saturday’s recital, which will commence at 1.10pm, will be €11.50/€9.50.
CHRISTIANA UNDERWOOD AT THE CRANE LANE
SOUL songstress Christiana Underwood will play a free late-night gig with her new band at Cork’s intimate Crane Lane Theatre tonight (Thursday).
The daughter of Karen ‘ The Chicago Diva’ Karen Underwood, Christiana is well-known around Cork music circles in her own right having performed with a number of acts including The Light Runners, She Said and Karen Underwood’s Gospel Trio.
She has also collaborated with other acts including Gary McCarthy (GMC, Kalabanx, Red FM’s Stevie G and producer Ian Ring ( Young Wonder).
Along with her band, comprised of friends from around Cork City, Christiana will perform covers of silky soul jams by neo-soul queens and kings of the 90’s to present day and some of her own compositions.
BEN FRANCIS LEFTWICH AT CYPRUS AVENUE
FOLLOWING the release of his third album ‘Gratitude’, British folk/indie singer-songwriter Benjamin Francis Leftwich will play Cork’s Cyprus Avenue at 7.30pm on Friday night.
The former frontman of indie outfit The Nicoles, his influences range from Arcade Fire to Nina Simone to Elliott Smith and have aided him in moulding his own brand of pensive folk-pop, allowing for comparisons to artists such as Iron & Wine, Damien Rice, José Gozález and Bon Iver.
While ‘Gratitude’ builds on the foundations laid by his previous two albums, Leftwich incorporates more electronic elements into his music creating a darker, intricately layered production that still manages to maintain the raw emotion that has resonated throughout his earlier work.
Tickets to Friday’s gig are available at www. eventbrite.ie priced at €16 (plus booking fee).
RED HOT GUITARS AT COUGHLAN’S LIVE
RENOWNED Cork-based blues band Hot Guitars will play a free late-night gig amid the intimate surroundings of Coughlan’s Live on Douglas Street this coming Saturday night at 10pm.
The five-piece band regularly perform at venues and festivals across the Munster area, playing covers of tracks by a eclectic mix of artist including The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Dylan, Clapton, Chuck Berry and Wilson Pickett.
Fronted by Joe O’Callaghan, who is also an accomplished harmonica, saxophone and keyboard player, the group also includes virtuoso guitarists Tom Stephens and Tony Burke, bassist Peter Brennan who has played with various different Cork band since the early 1970’s and John Quirke on drums.
Their recently released CD ‘Live at the Mills’ captures their sound and reflects the talents of band members who have worked together for 20-years.
NIWEL AND EAMONN LIVE AT VILLAGE ARTS CENTRE
CORK based, Congo-born singer/songwriter and musician Niwel Tsumbu and acclaimed Irish percussionist Éamonn Cagney will bring their explosive ‘World Belongs To You’ tour to the Village Arts Centre in Kilworth on Saturday Night.
The duo has worked together constantly for the past 15-years, earning an enviable reputation for their musical chemistry and exciting live performances.
Since releasing their first joint recording ‘A Long Way/Nzela Molayi a year ago, the duo has travelled the globe, working artists including Liam Ó Maonlaí, Afel Bocoum and Ma Xiaoue on soundtracks, operas and countless other musical forms.
Both intimate and elaborate, their latest tour has enthralled audiences and those going to the Kilworth gig can expect a veritable musical river whose sources range from classical to Central Africa - with pulsating rhythms, wild guitar solos and intricate vocals.
Tickets €12.50 from 087 649 2514.
‘JONI MITCHELL -75’ AT THE GATE CINEMA
THE Gate Cinema in Cork will host a fascinating screening offering an insight into the life and work of singer Joni Mitchell tonight (Thursday) at 7pm.
Filmed over two nights at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles,‘Joni Mitchell 75 – A Birthday Celebration’ brought together a big-name line-up of performers to pay tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter.
Seal, James Taylor, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Kris Kristofferson, Graham Nash and more perform songs from Mitchell’s extensive catalogue of 19 studio albums.
The movie also features backstage interviews of the various participants discussing what Mitchell’s music has meant to them, and footage of the event’s finale, where Mitchell herself hit the stage and was presented with a birthday cake and treated to the performers and the audience singing Happy Birthday to her.
Admission to the screening will be €12.50.
SONG COLLECTORS AT THE OLIVER PLUNKETT BAR
THE popular Song Collector Sessions will make a welcome return to the Oliver Plunkett Bar in Cork City next Wednesday (March 27) with an evening of legendary Irish music and song.
Dreamed up and founded by Cork singer/ songwriter Roy Buckley, it is a series of intimate shows that offer audiences a unique insight into the minds and music of some of the country’s top musicians and song collectors.
The sessions give the artists a platform not just to perform but also speak to audiences about their stories behind their songs, their music, influences and recall stories from the road giving fans a rare insight into their creative processes.
The line up for next Wednesday night will include Liam Reilly (Bagatelle), John Spillane, Mike Hanrahan (Stockton’s Wing) and Roy Buckley himself.
Tickets from www.eventbrite.ie.