Weekender: |wiːkˈɛndə|– noun – what to do with your weekend.
BERNARD SHAW & LECOOL XMAS EXHIBITION
THURSDAY 4 DECEMBER | THE BERNARD SHAW | 6PM, FREE
Another fine crimbo tradition is back this Thursday, as Bodytonic and LeCool rekindle their yuletide collaboration for this year’s festive charity Exhibition. The work of 35 of the country’s premier illustrators, designers, photographers and artists will be taking pride of place on the walls of The Bernard Shaw as part of this celebration of Dublin’s thriving artistic landscape. Over 50 unique pieces will be up for sale and pricing is of the pocket-friendly variety so as to raise as much funds as possible for the fantastic cause that is Inner City Helping Homeless. Not only is this a chance to pick up a very special, one of a kind gift but also a means to do your bit helping the city’s less fortunate at the time when they most need it. The opening kicks of at 7pm and there is even a few complimentary tipples being laid on by peroni to help lubricate your art appreciation receptors.
DUBLIN INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS’ POP-UP CHRISTMAS BOOKSTORE LAUNCH PARTY
THURSDAY 4 DECEMBER | 27 SOUTH WILLIAM ST, D2 | 6.30PM, B.Y.O.B.
As you may have noted over on our Christmas Pop-up Guide, Liberties Press, along with New Island Press, Salvage Press, Stinging Fly, Swan River Press and a bunch of others have banded together to literally set up shop on South William Street. Thursday night sees them throwing a little party to celebrate including book deals, chocolatey treats and, most importantly, mulled wine. Stall the ball.
SISSY w/ FIERCE MILD
FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER | UPSTAIRS AT WHELANS | MIDNIGHT, FREE IN WITH RSVP
Sissy are Ireland’s best new band. Having only formed this year, they’ve already spread their refreshing take on classic riot grrl sound to rabidly receptive audiences around venues throughout Ireland and further afield. Like a rejuvenated Heavens to Betsy with a distinct edge of Hibernian humour colouring each headbanging chunk of rock n’ roll fun, these lassies and lad are really onto something here. Judging by the reaction they’ve been getting over their busy last few months gigging, things are poised to get pretty wild at this midnight headline slot so pop on their phenomenal debut EP there and get on the level. Support on the night is coming from all female, Raincoats-esque, excellently named post-punkers Fierce Mild. Tickets are a tenner on the door or free in if you RSVP on the Facebook event page (we didn’t tell you that though)
THE LAST WASH: DONAL DINEEN / I AM THE COSMOS / SOMADRONE
FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER | THE JOINERY | €10/8, 8PM
Of late it seems we can’t publish a Weekender without some small part of it being given over to solemn lamentation of the Joinery’s imminent demise, the true effect of which one suspects we won’t be able to appreciate until the doors close for good. This week is of course no different as Donal Dineen hosts the final edition of his Neighbourhood Wash events, showcasing some of the Island’s most forward thinking musical acts. Unsurprisingly, providing the soundscapes for the Wash’s final outing will be two big names in the books of any synth fetishist, I Am The Cosmos and Somadrone. Winners of Nialler 9’s best Irish album 2013 for their debut Monochrome, I Am The Cosmos are a two-man electronic renaissance equally adept and moving hearts and hips with their quiver of shimmering synth gems. Having honed their live show in an array of the city’s more unusual performance spaces, I Am The Cosmos never fail to impress in the flesh. Somadrone has been a cult concern for as long as we can remember, having been plying their unique, soothing, spacious brand of electronic music for what feels like time immemorial. For his final performance in the Joinery, Somadrone will be playing some cuts from his much beloved 2012 ambient electronic opus, Atlantic.
HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE MATINEE SHOW
SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER | THE SUGAR CLUB | €12 / €9 (KIDS), 2PM
A special afternoon all-ages treat for the family, from one of the funkiest families around. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble are founded around seven brass-playing brothers are renowned for their good-time shows as regular visitors to these shores and particularly to the Sugar Club. The Saturday matinee show will have a Q&A Live Performance Workshop suited for bringing along the chislers, but they’re also playing a series of night-time Christmas shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm each night in the Sugar Club. Choice Cuts also have family deals available at €40 for a family of four. Check here for tickets.
CIAN NUGENT & THE COSMOS
SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER | THE JOINERY | €10/8, 8PM, B.Y.O.B.
The last year has seen a renewed international attention shone on the Irish musical landscape and one of the jewels in the scene’s crown is unquestionably Mr. Nugent and his assembled rabble of Cosmo-nauts. A phenomenally talented musician, Nugent’s chops are without question but the unfurling, revelatory nature of his work means his material means it is as deeply felt as it is technically dazzling. Drawing on tropes of kraut, classic rock and our own rich folk traditions, The Cosmos end up sounding something like a southern fried Neu! by way of Marquee Moon. Cian is just one of the abundance of success stories born out of Arbour Hill’s sadly soon to be defunct Joinery, having played his first gig in the beloved art space some six years ago. This, being the Nuge’s final performance before the Joinery shuts it’s doors for good at the end of the year, promises to be one to remember. Support on the night comes from acapella folk troupe Landless and The Joinery also kindly invite you to bring yer own booze.
HUNT & GATHER / TELEPHONES ROLLER DISCO PARTY
SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER | “DUBLIN 12” | €16, 9PM
After the success of their previous forays into four-wheeled fun and frolics the good folks behind Hunt & Gather and Telephones are taking to the rink once again. This special Christmas edition of what is shaping up to be a grand tradition indeed is sticking to it’s strictly 1970s and 1980s boogie tune selection policy but with a few new faces behind the decks. Cait and Enda of Totally Dublin favourites Dip will be making their roller rink debut, playing alongside Discotekken’s Eoin Cody and The R’n’B Club’s Louis Scully. Not only will all skates be provided on the night but a collection of professional make-up artists will be there to provide complimentary roller-ready makeovers. As if all that wasn’t enough, this is also a BYOB event, so it’s kind on fast depleting festive purses and all. Music and skating kick off at nine bells with the afterparty running from midnight until the wee hours. So, If you’re sick of hearing about how great the last one that you missed was, act sharpish as tickets are going fast.
