This upcoming week is filled with many exciting events, among which the Bram Stoker Festival stands out. Commencing from Friday, the 25th of October until the following Monday, the festival will be in full swing in Dublin, honouring the noted Dublin author of Dracula. Multiple venues across the city are set to host a plethora of activities, celebrating the iconic tale of Dracula and the world of the supernatural.
Major events include a program illustrating the bleak aspects of life, illness, and death at Collins Barracks (from Friday, October 25th, till Sunday, the 27th, free admission with ticket) alongside an art representation by Maser reflecting Stoker’s intricate descriptions (from Friday, the 25th of October, till Monday, 28th at Charlemont Square, free entry with ticket).
Other notable events comprise Stokerland, a free Victorian fair adjacent to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and a detailed exploration of the women significant to Bram Stoker’s life during a live podcast presented by Donal Fallon at Trinity College. The festival culminates with a showcasing of the popular vampire film, Nosferatu, accompanied by a live score and a specific segment, Dracula’s Disco, curated by Donal Dineen for kids aged five and above.
The upcoming week also features a concert by the renowned English artist, Joe Jackson, on Monday, the 21st of October at 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin. The musician is renowned for his artistic novelty, and his 21st studio album, What a Racket!, is no exception. A creation of his imagination, the album is seemingly a collection of songs by the long-lost British performer Max Champion. The performance is designed to delight both the regular and casual fans, as it is divided into two segments: songs from What a Racket! and a solo assortment of some of Jackson’s most celebrated pieces.
Rounding up the week’s events is the much-anticipated Cork Jazz Festival.
From 24th October, Thursday, to 28th October, Monday, a myriad of shows, intriguingly priced and hosted at different venues can be experienced at guinnescorkjazz.com. The latest edition of this time-honoured event assures an impressive spread of performances, despite the unfortunate absence of US musician Kamasi Washington due to a serious injury. Notable performers to look forward to include Gregory Porter, Buena Vista All Stars, Todd Terje, Les Amazones d’Afrique and Mary Coughlan, among others. The five-day festival will also be graced by several non-headline Irish acts such as Bricknasty, Kean Kavanagh, The X Collective, Qbanaa, The Academic, Toshín, Shiv, Curtisy, Cooks But We’re Chefs, and Rachel Mae Hannon.
The Sligo Live Festival commences on the same day, the 24th October, stretching until 3rd November. This renowned festival, with diverse show timings and tickets, boasts a comprehensive music programme. True to its reputation, this year’s Sligo Live offers an enticing experience to music lovers. The main attraction comprises U.S. folk and Americana artist, John Paul White, performing at Hawk’s Well Theatre on 25th October, Friday. Other unmissable highlights include performances by Dermot Kennedy at the Knocknarea Arena on 26th and 27th of October; Susan O’Neill on 31st October at the Hawk’s Well Theatre; in addition to the artists Villagers and Luka Bloom. For those keeping an eye on expenses, free gigs are also part of the lineup.
Amble, a rising folk-trad band composed of Oisín McCaffrey, Ross McNerney and Robbie Cunningham, have transitioned from ordinary jobs in teaching and data science to being signed by US label Warner Music. They have been performing at sold-out concerts on the US east coast and are in the process of finalising their first EP, The Commons. The trio are set to tour extensively until Saturday, November 2nd, with additional sold-out concerts scheduled for 3Olympia Theatre in Dublin on various dates.
The Westival, an annual arts festival in Westport, Co Mayo, runs between Wednesday, October 23rd and Monday, October 28th. Established almost half a century ago as the Westport Arts & Music Festival by a group of art enthusiasts, it aims to inspire societal change through diverse and thoughtful programming. The festival features a variety of events including film screenings, theatre performances, traditional music and poetry readings. Many of these events are open to the public free of charge.
In other news, the Galway Comedy Festival is taking place from Tuesday, October 22nd through Monday, October 28th. Adding to Ireland’s crowded comedy festival scene, this particular event features a robust lineup of Irish comedians, complimented by a handful of notable international performers. Comedy enthusiasts will recognize names such as Deirdre O’Kane, Des Bishop, and Dylan Moran alongside foreign acts like Ruby Wax, Rich Hall and Michelle Wolf. Additionally, a special event with Phil Jupitus, presented by Colin Murphy, is one of the festival’s highlights.
In the world of cinema, the IFI Horrorthon is capturing attention. This year’s festival promises a spectacular selection of the newest and best in horror films.
The Irish Film Institute in Dublin will be hosting the country’s biggest genre film festival from Thursday, October 24th through to Monday, October 28th. The varied programme includes a compelling mix of horror classics, new entrants and complementary events such as public discussions and a highly anticipated horror-related pub quiz. Unmissable highlights include a documentary about Christopher Lee on Friday the 25th, and An Taibhse, the first Irish-language horror film on Saturday the 26th. The eagerly awaited Surprise Film will be revealed on Sunday the 27th before the festival comes to an end with Demon Hunter: Time 2 Kill on Monday, October 28th.
Currently on tour is the renowned drummer Marilyn Mazur, known for her association with jazz legend Miles Davis. Her short Irish tour is organised by Music Network with performances on Tuesday, October 22nd in Dún Laoghaire, Wednesday, October 23rd at the Sugar Club in Dublin and Thursday, October 24th in Letterkenny.
This week, secure your tickets for
– Love Actually in Concert at the Convention Centre in Dublin happening on November 30th
– The Weather Station’s concert at the Button Factory, Dublin, on March 8th
– Dara Ó Briain’s stand-up show running from March 12th-15th and 19th-21st in Vicar Street, Dublin
– Lumineers’ concert at St Anne’s Park, Dublin on May 31st.
Bookings for the listed events can be made via ticketmaster.ie.