Notable Performances of the Week
Olivia Rodrigo will be taking the stage at the 3Arena, Dublin, on Tuesday, April 30th and Wednesday, May 1st, with performances beginning at 6.30pm. Since the launch of her first hit single, Drivers License, three years ago, Rodrigo has been dominating the Gen Z pop scene. Particularly, her debut 2021 album, Sour, firmly solidified her as, in the words of Variety, “the spokesperson of her generation”. Her following album, Guts, explores themes such as dedication, emotional turmoil, societal tensions, female expectations, self-awareness and, as Rodrigo herself put it, “genuine teen turbulence”. Those of you who fear a performer of such a large venue might leave the audience wanting, need not worry, as Rodrigo’s musical range – everything from potent ballads and piano pop to punk-tinged hits – is bound to deeply engage her fans across the two sold-out shows.
Concerts
Kacey Musgraves is preparing to perform at the 3Olympia, Dublin, on Sunday, April 28th, and Monday, April 29th, starting at 7pm. Musgraves has managed an impressive output of five original studio albums in less than twelve years. Her body of work ranges from her debut 2013’s Same Trailer Different Park to her recent release Deeper Well. What sets Musgraves apart from the crowd is not only the range and versatility of her music, swinging from pure country to refined Americana and charming folk, but also her ability to weave relatable narratives and clever lyrics. The iconic American singer-songwriter Madi Diaz, with her latest album Weird Faith, will make a special appearance.
Christy Dignam: A Celebration
On Friday, May 3rd, Christy Dignam will be performing at Vicar Street, Dublin, at 6.30 pm. Despite being a sold-out event, the night promises to be a brilliant celebration.
The Irish music industry had a sorrowful year, mourning the loss of Sinéad O’Connor, Shane MacGowan, and Christy Dignam, with an evening acknowledging Dignam’s contributions. Upon the event’s announcement, the organisers stated its lineup would consist of top-tier Irish musical talent performing Dignam’s songs spanning his career to his final work. The lineup was yet to be disclosed at the time of publication.
Kilkenny Roots Festival will be taking place from May 3rd to 6th at diverse venues. The event, now on its 26th year, is a humble yet fun-filled gathering honouring songwriters, singers, and their music. Stars of Americana and roots music who have graced the festival in the past quarter-century: this year’s roster includes well-known individuals like the Handsome Family, Joachim Cooder, Peter Case, Sid Griffin, Willie Mason, Sam Outlaw, Jeffrey Foucault, and Ireland’s own John Blek & the Rats.
From May 2nd to May 12th, the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival will be occurring at various locations. The festival will feature star-studded appearances such as soul legend PP Arnold, Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music, comedians like Daniel Kitson and Jerry Sadowitz, musician and writer Luke Haines, and also the Irish premiere of the Billy Connolly documentary Big Banana Feet.
Galway Theatre Festival, founded in 2008 to support promising independent artists from the west of the country, is notorious for its daring spirit. Standout performances for this year include Thisispopbaby’s Party Scene, Curious Pigeons (sponsored by Culture Liverpool), the debut play by Martin Beanz Ward, The Dead House, and Gammy, a play about suppressed female anger and lost worth by Kate Finnegan.
The Soundtrack Film Festival is set to commence for the second year, taking place from the 2nd to the 5th of May at the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Fees and schedules can be found on the regionalculturalcentre.com website. The festival is controlled by Derek O’Connor, from RTÉ culture, and Jeremy Fitz Howard, the director of the Regional Cultural Centre. Included in the schedule are screenings of legendary silent films. The Kid by Charlie Chaplin will showcase a live soundtrack from Saint Sister’s Gemma O’Doherty and The Passion of Joan of Arc by Carl Theodor Dreyer with a refreshed live score by Matthew Nolan. Interviews and discussions featuring film-maker Paul Duane, Ian Lynch from Lankum and author Sinéad Gleeson will also take place.
Cork International Choral Festival is another significant event, celebrating its 69th year, kicking off from the 1st to the 5th of May in multiple venues in Cork. Festival information can be fetched from corkchoral.ie website. This esteemed European choral event will host various concerts, performances and gratis public displays across over 90 venues in Cork city and region. Included in the festivities are the well-attended Choral Afternoons at Clayton Hotel occurring on May the 4th and 5th; performances in multiple locations like St Colman’s Cathedral, the Heritage Centre, Sirius Art Centre and the Commodore Hotel as part of the Cobh Fringe Festival. An extraordinary highlight is a performance by the globally esteemed State Choir Latvija at Cork City Hall on May 2nd, featuring pieces from contemporaneous Irish composers Michael Holohan and Rhona Clarke.
Lastly, the Nice Italian Film Festival is ongoing, concluding on May the 5th, with screenings at numerous cinemas. Visit nicefestival.org for times and ticket prices.
The Italian Embassy, the Italian Cultural Institute, and the Italian Irish Chamber of Commerce have come together to curate a festival showcasing some of Italy’s most acclaimed current directors’ work. One of the films to be screened is ‘L’Ultima Notte di Amore (The Last Night of Amore)’, a brilliant offering from Andrea Di Stefano, slated as the festival’s finale at Galway’s Pálás Cinema on 5th May.
Several other exciting events to mark in your calendar include the Galway Folk Festival happening from June 5th to 9th (details at galwayfolkfestival.ie). A riveting performance by Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal is on the cards for June 13th at the NCH in Dublin (details at nch.ie).
Don’t miss out on Ruby Wax’s nation-wide tour scheduled from 17th to 22nd October (tickets available at ticketmaster.ie). Also lined up is the classic Mary Poppins at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin, running from 11th December to 11th January (tickets at ticketmaster.ie).