Weekender: |wiːkˈɛndə|– noun – what to do with your weekend.
Adebisi RIP
Thursday 25 & Friday 26 September | Whelans | €19, 8pm
Say goodbye to one of the nations most beloved math-rock monsters, Adebisi Shank, who play their last Irish gigs this Thursday and Friday with support from Adultrock (Thursday) and Cian Nugent (Friday) – and a wholehearted endorsement from the lads at U2 on the wonderful artwork for their last poster. Watch Barry, Vin and Lar put their instruments and time signatures through their paces one last time, for old time’s sake.
Hamlet
Thursday 25 – Saturday 27 September | Bord Gáis Energy Theatre | €15-40, 7.30pm
Those unsated by the array of board-treading entertainment on offer at the Fringe festival last week haven’t long to wait for a second helping of thespian goodness as the Dublin Theatre Festival rolls into town over the weekend. There is absolutely no shortage of theatrical gems on show over the course of the festival but one of the certain highlights looks to be the famed Berlin company Schaubühne’s production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Director, Thomas Ostermeier’s taut and visceral production breathes new life into material that will no doubt be familiar to many. On a stage caked in earth, blood and sodden with water, six German actors at the pinnacle of their powers will inhabit the roles of 20 members of the corrupt, decaying Danish court and lead us all to experience afresh one of the truly great tales of betrayal, politics, passion and murder. Check out our interview with director Thomas Ostermeier here.
Patrick Kelleher and E+S=B
Friday 26 September | The Joinery | €10, 7.30pm
With the sad news that Arbour Hill arts space The Joinery will be closing it’s doors at the end of the year still stinging there is little time for lamentation as there is a slew of exciting performances penciled in before we have to bid Farwell to one of the city’s most exciting venues, not least of all this weekends festival of weirdness lead by Mr. P Kelleher. Kelleher has been one of the leading lights in the Irish experimental scene for what feels like time immemorial, moving away from the frenzied, kinetic style he nigh on perfected with backing band His Cold Dead Hands, Kelleher’s most recent solo work embraces a stark, eerie minimalism leaning on his own unique, lethargic vocals and the cold, mechanical beats from his keyboard to create a truly unique atmosphere and gig-going experience.
The evening will also see European Sensoria Band or (E+B=S) taking to the stage. Multi-faceted sonic explorers that they are, Fergus Cullen and twin brothers Anthony and David Carroll have straddled numerous genres from guitar noise to synth driven bleeps and bloops. Of late the three-piece have drawn inspiration from the American free jazz scene of the 1960s, with bass guitar, drums and bass clarinet as their current weapons of choice. Tickets are €10, so why not get down and not only treat yourself to an evening of mind-bending experimentalism but also throw in to the good folks at The Joinery’s retirement kitty. Full details here.
Lust for Youth
Thursday 25 September| Bello Bar| €10, 7.30pm
Synthy Scandinavian trio, Lust for Youth, are bringing the new technicolor sounds of their latest record International to Portobello’s snug Bello Bar on Thursday. Bandleader Hans Norrvide’s previous work under the Lust for Youth moniker ploughed a furrow of abrasive, atonal lower than lo-fi intensity but since expanding the project with the introduction of longtime live collaborator Loke Rahbek and new band member Malthe Fischer formally into the fold the Lust for Youth sound has evolved to the point of being near unrecognizable. Channeling Synth-pop greats like Depeche Mode and The Petshop Boys, International delivers on the endless promise latent in their previous, darker work. Tickets are Ten Euro and support on the night comes from local, ramshackle indie collective I Heart The Monster Hero and moody Corconians Elll. Full details here.
Nialler 9-Minimum Maximum
Friday 26 September | Block T, Smithfield | €15, 8.30pm
Following the success of his previous gig a couple of months back Nialler 9 is once again taking over the cavernous surrounds of Smithfield’s Block T and just like last time he’s keeping schtum about who the specifics of who will be performing on the evening, aside from the tantalising titbit that they are “three of the best Irish acts in the country right now”. There’s no presale for this event and tickets available for €15 on the door and a BYOB policy in place, so you can bring any tipple of your choosing. There are only 100 tickets available on a first come first served basis and considering the caliber of Nialler’s previous surprise line up (Fight Like Apes, White Collar Boy, Bantum) it’s probably wise to get down early. Doors are at 8.30, the show runs until midnight and if you ask us it sounds like it’s gonna be the bee’s pajamas. Full details here.
March for Choice
Saturday 27 September | The Garden of Remembrance | 2pm
This Saturday, to mark International Decriminalization of Abortion Day, The 3rd Annual March for choice will be setting off from the Garden of Remembrance in the city centre. In light of recent tragedies and the increasing levels of political awareness and involvement from the young people of Ireland, cries for free, safe and legal abortion on the island are clearer than they’ve ever been. The march departs from the Garden at 2pm and those that have elected to speak with the feet are encouraged to bring wheelie suitcases along with them to bring “the effort and sound of travel” into sharper focus for the lawmakers that are undoubtedly keeping a keen eye on proceedings. Following the march there will also be a series of free talks, workshops and performances dealing with the issue of choice taking place in Curved Street’s Film Base. Full details here.
Ensemble Music Launch Night
Saturday 27 September | Block B, Smithfield | €10, 3pm – BYOB
Ensemble Music is a new idea about what a label could – and should – be. It works on the premise of combining all the different strands of business that emerging musicians have to interact with to get their music to a local and remote audiences (from dealing with venues to stage management to PR, etc) into one organisational powerhouse, in turn leaving the musos to do what they do best. “If the music industry were to start from scratch right now, it would look nothing like it currently does, especially given the seismic changes the internet as brought to how people discover and consume music and other art,” they explain themselves. The first Ensemble Music production takes place on 27th September with a two-stage extravaganza in Block B in Smithfield featuring Ensemble Ériu, Overhead The Albatross, Alarmist and many, many more. Not only that, but there’s cheap, delicious eats from Gruell Guerilla and afterparty in the Generator Hostel with a DJ set from those Dip rascals. For more see www.ensemble.ie or the Facebook event page.
Girl Band
Saturday 27 September | The Button Factory | €13, 7.30pm
Pretty boy noise merchants Girl Band are set for their largest domestic headline show yet this Saturday. Riding the wave of hype following gushing Irish Times and NME and Stereogum coverage (we started it) the Girlies (Girlos?) are set to move hips and rattle out fillings in their intense no-wave. Support on the night comes from the invariably phenomenal live proposition that is the meandering, country-fried psych-rock of Cian Nugent and the Cosmos. Tickets are €13, a small price to pay for what promises to be a pair of very special performances from two of the most exciting rising stars of the Irish music scene. Full details here.
Maeve Label Showcase – Mano le Tough, The Drifter, Baikal
Saturday 27 September | The Opium Rooms | €15, 10.30pm
Local boy come good, Mano Le Tough, has a very special homecoming for der Vaterland lined up for this weekend, a celebratory showcase of new imprint Maeve records, brainchild of Mano and close friends, Baikal and The Drifter (all of whom will be performing on the night). Maeve’s futuristic take on house and techno has got no shortage of chins and wagging and it is undoubtedly one of the most talked about new labels in international dance music circles. Mano’s success surely brings a tear to the heavily dilated pupils of the nations rug cutters and shape makers who find immense pride in having see one of their own ascend to such dizzying heights from the subterranean beginnings of the Twisted Pepper basement. With acts performing over two rooms in the newly refurbished Opium Rooms, this homecoming celebration is set to be one of the highlights of the clubbing calendar.
