Highlight of the Week: A Concert by Max Richter
Scheduled for Wednesday, October 30 and Thursday, October 31 at the National Concert Hall in Dublin from 8pm, a couple of concerts by Max Richter are already sold out and can be found on nch.ie. The celebrated composer hailing from Bedford just north of London reveals that the passion he has for his work stems from the unconventional influence of his milkman who had a knack for music and used to deliver not just the daily milk but also music albums featuring the work of Philip Glass, John Cage and Steve Reich. Thanks to this experience, Richter has become a globally renowned contemporary composer having sold in excess of a million albums and having garnered over a billion streams. His music portfolio includes Memoryhouse, the extensive eight-hour Sleep, and a reinterpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in Recomposed. His music compositions are ubiquitous, featuring in films, TV series, theatres and ballets.
The much-anticipated, completely booked concerts promise performances from Richter’s ensemble: Eloisa Fleur Thom, Max Baillie, Connie Pharoah, Max Ruisi and Zara Hudson-Kozdoj, featuring pieces from Richter’s latest album, In a Landscape as well as tracks from his album The Blue Notebooks.
Bambie Thug Concert
Set for Sunday, October 27 and Thursday, October 31, at 8pm in the Academy, Dublin and costing €24.50 per ticket (available from ticketmaster.ie), Bambie Ray Robinson, the standout Irish representative at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest where she finished in the commendable 6th place – the highest position an Irish entry has achieved in nearly a quarter of a century. Her much-loved song, Doomsday Blue, is a representative of Bambie Thug’s signature musical blend, mashing up industrial metal with hip-hop, indie rock and alt-pop. Since it’s her first home performance post-Eurovision, the audience could expect a few surprises. She is also scheduled to perform on November 2 in Róisín Dubh, Galway and on November 7 in City Hall, Cork.
Kneecap concert
Scheduled from Monday, October 28 through Friday, November 1 at Vicar Street, Dublin from 7pm, but the tickets are sold out (details on ticketmaster.ie).
The year 2024 has certainly been an exceptional one for Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara, and DJ Provaí, otherwise known as Kneecap. Releasing their highly praised album, Fine Art, alongside their eponymous biopic, which has been selected as Ireland’s nomination for the forthcoming Best International Feature Oscar. It wasn’t that long ago when their rapid, eloquent, and relevant bilingual hip-hop performances could have been dismissed as a gimmick, but how things have changed. The persuasive personalities and clever songwriting of Kneecap’s members have conjured a realm where their sovereignty is acknowledged, and we’re simply bystanders.
American band Mercury Rev, since their establishment in 1989, have left a deep imprint on the American music scene, expertly crafting music that fuses roots, country, psychedelia, drone/noise, and experimental rock. Led by Jonathan Donahue and Sean “Grasshopper” Mackowiak, their show promises a focus on their new album, Born Horses, while also guaranteeing renditions from their trio of hit albums – Deserter’s Songs, All Is Dream and The Secret Migration.
As for dance lovers, don’t miss Floating on a Dead Sea. The show will tour Ireland with schedule performances at Siamsa Tíre in Tralee, Town Hall Theatre in Galway, Glór Theatre in Ennis, and Pavilion Theatre in Dún Laoghaire. Take note of the individual ticket prices and book early to avoid disappointment.
Drawing from her experiences during her 2019 visit to Palestine alongside the cinematographer Luca Truffarelli, Catherine Young, a dance director, developed an immersive, multidisciplinary performance – a fusion of documentary and a dance set to music which beautifully expresses the pervasive anxiety and sense of injustice that mark life in the region. The event will premiere with a viewing of the documentary. Further information can be found at catherineyoungdance.com.
Festival
The Púca Festival
From Thursday the 31st of October to Sunday the 3rd of November, at a variety of times, prices and locations in Athboy and Trim, Co Meath. Visit pucafestival.com for more details.
The festival is a bridge between the past – with its rich Celtic tradition of Samhain and the present – expressed in contemporary acts such as a performance by Gavin James. Situated in two towns in Co Meath with historical ties to Halloween customs and beliefs, expect a lively mix of processions, storytelling, circus acts, heritage tours and workshops. Other attractions include trail walks, comedians (Deirdre O’Kane, Panti Bliss, Neil Delamere), and musicians (Gavin James, Leftfield, Bell X1, High Kings, Mary Coughlan).
Comedy
Ben Elton
Thursday, October 31st, Ulster Hall, Belfast, starts at 7pm, tickets cost £38. Friday, November 1st, 3Olympia, Dublin, begins at 7.30pm, tickets are €48.70. Saturday, November 2nd, UCH, Limerick, starting at 7pm, tickets are €48.70. Purchase tickets at ticketmaster.ie
Esteemed British author and comedian, Ben Elton, acclaimed for his work on The Young Ones, Blackadder and Upstart Crow, was once the vocal power behind alternative comedy, unapologetically tackling serious issues such as sexism, racism and misogyny. Today, although based in Australia and seldom touring on this side of the world, the 65-year-old’s insightful humour and measured observations on the global political landscape and how technology has dumbfounded us still resonate. His highly anticipated tour, Authentic Stupidity, promises non-exploitative laughs. Book your tickets if this appeals to you.
Visual Art
Ciara Roche: Honeymoon:
Until the 1st of December, you can visit the Butler Gallery, Kilkenny to admire Ciara Roche’s artwork. Her paintings, though featuring resplendent dining halls, opulent bars, cafes and hotels, carry an uncanny air due to the intentional emptiness of human presence. These scenes without faces seem to communicate economic risk and uncertainty which the artist openly addresses through her paintings. Roche believes this allows her to confront her fears and contemplate alternate realities of her own life.
Beards:
For something completely different, don’t miss out on the unique Middle Ages-centric musical comedy, Beards, which explores themes of LGBTQ+ families, sense of belonging, and a peculiarly distinct return of Jesus Christ. This artistic performance, by the multi-skilled artist HK Ní Shioradáin, boasts of resilience and portrays miraculous births. See Domhnall Herdman, Shane McCormick, Tierra Porter and Orla Scally’s performances under the direction of Ultan Pringle, at the New Theatre, Dublin from October 29th to November 2nd.
Make your booking this week:
If you’re planning ahead, you might want to check out Tony Cantwell at Vicar Street, Dublin on December 12th. Or perhaps, purchase tickets for the Countdown Concert at Dublin Castle on December 31st. For those who love a good musical, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance is scheduled at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin from January 15th-18th. If jazz is your style, you shouldn’t miss out Wynton Marsalis’s performance at NCH, Dublin on March 11th.