Highlight of the Week – Longitude Festival
Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin will be the venue for Longitude, on 29th and 30th June. From 1pm, patrons can enter the grounds; prices vary from €99.90 to €199.50 and can be purchased at ticketmaster.ie.
Fans of hip-hop, electronic music, sun protection, and joviality are in for a treat at Longitude this weekend. A stellar lineup awaits attendees, with star acts such as Doja Cat, 21 Savage, Becky Hill, Central Cee and Sonny Fodora, along with a slew of Irish talents like Jazzy, Belters Only, Blk, Obskür, CamrinWatsin, Shona Brophy and Daire. Kenya Grace, a British singer born in South Africa, is one to look out for; her debut album, The After Taste, has created a stir on the dance scene with its exciting blend of rave and pop elements.
Performances of Note
Stevie Nicks – Wednesday, July 3rd, 3Arena, Dublin, 6pm (tickets are sold out), via ticketmaster.ie
Stevie Nicks fans are set for a treat, although the concert is fully booked. Since 1981, Nicks has released eight albums and those not primarily interested in her solo work will likely attend to hear the renowned Fleetwood Mac tunes that will undoubtedly permeate the performance. Nicks, a pivotal part of the group from 1975 to 2022, confirmed in a recent Mojo magazine interview that she is dedicated to keeping their songs alive for as long as she can.
SZA – Wednesday, July 3rd, Malahide Castle, Co Dublin, 3pm, €84.90, available from ticketmaster.ie
Labeling her music is seen as reductive by SZA as it detracts from its endless potential. Raised on R&B, gospel, funk and jazz by her parents, SZA crafted her unique sound from this rich tapestry. Her breakthrough came prior to unleashing SOS, her second album of 2022, whose six singles took the charts by storm. Attendees should prepare for a concert filled with explosive hits and a taste of her upcoming album, Lana.
Hozier”.
Celebrated Irish musician, Hozier, returns to his homeland for a treat of a homecoming gig at Marlay Park in Dublin at 4pm on Friday, 5th July. With tickets at €49.50 available from ticketmaster.ie, it’s an event not to be missed. Hozier’s Unreal Unearth tour has been acclaimed worldwide, and his band renowned for their polished performances. He has especially wowed audiences from South America to the United States of America and will be continuing his success through upcoming tours across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand until late November. Following his global journey, Hozier may once again grace the 3Arena in Dublin. Special guests set to appear at this home gig are Brittany Howard, Lord Huron, and Ye Vagabonds.
Simultaneously, the Folly Festival will launch on Friday, 5th July, and continue onto Saturday, 6th July, in Cullohill, Co Laois at 4pm. With ticket prices set at €85.60/€53.50, available from thefolly.ie, this festival is set to be Ireland’s inaugural music and comedy weekend with equal gender representation – a commendable initiative which should be further encouraged. The festival site, hosting a line-up of artists including Róisín O, The Scratch, Dea Matrona, Darren Kiely, Oscar Blue, Jessica Doolan, Paddy Keyes, and Saibh Skelly, offers a quaint village locale beneath the historic Cullohill Castle. The proceeds from this community-focused festival will contribute to a local Cullohill development project.
Additionally, the musical adaptation of Pretty Woman is showing from Tuesday, 2nd July through to Saturday, 13th July at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin, with performances starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at €45/€35/€30 and are available from ticketmaster.ie.
The musical adaptation of the 1990 film initially had its production debut at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre in 2018 and has since been on a perpetual tour, reaching locations in Europe and North America. Though its reception from critics has varied – New York Times criticised its inflexible adherence to the film’s original plot, humour and dialogue, whereas The Guardian disapproved of its outdated gender scenarios – it has drawn in large audiences. evidence of its popularity was witnessed last week when all seats were taken at the Cork Opera House. All credit goes to the musical work of Bryan Adams and Jim Valance for providing the songs and scores.
The Transatlantic Residency that will take place in Axis Ballymun, Dublin, on July 3rd and July 4th, since the year’s inception, has seen four Irish authors: CN Smith, Felispeaks, Jade Jordan and Kwaku Fortune, mature their short premieres of 2023 into elaborate full-length pieces. The works have had continuous association with the dramaturgs Gavin Kostick and Nicola Murphy Dubey, and they highlight themes like redemption, racial clash, personal identity and self-approval. The productions are lent support by Fishamble and the Irish Repertory Theatre as part of the Transatlantic Commissions Program.
Come Sunday, June 30th, there’s an event that promises much delight – Judi Dench: I Remember It Well – taking place at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin. Judi Dench, celebrated for her charming anecdotes and humble wit on TV talk shows (Graham Norton’s, to name an example), will indulge attendees with her tales. Gyles Brandreth, famed author and broadcaster and friend of Dench, will helm the conversation. There will be glimpses into Shakespeare’s world, well-placed cues for Dench, and a friendly evening filled with mentions of famous figures from the realms of the stage, television and film.
Lastly, we have the renowned comedian Tommy Tiernan who is set to perform on Saturday, June 29th, at Theatre Royal in Waterford.
Tommy Tiernan is reaching the culmination of his summer tour across Ireland, another performance with restricted ticket accessibility is lined up. He is regularly adjusting his comedy set pieces to gauge audience feedback considering that it’s a gig he is still working on.
Make a reservation this week:
– For the Paddy Power Comedy Festival in the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin. It’s from July 25th-28th. More information can be found at ppcomedyfestival.com.
– The New Ross Piano Festival is taking place from 25th-29th September in New Ross, Co Wexford. Visit newrosspianofestival.com for more details.
– The Ireland Music Week is set to happen from October 1st-4th, across various Dublin venues. For more information and tickets, go to irelandmusicweek.com.
– Get your Culture Club tickets for their performance at the 3Arena, Dublin, on December 3rd, from ticketmaster.ie.