Greetings from Safe Harbour
This is Cork Midsummer Festival week, the Marquee has a three-show run with Imelda May on Friday and David Gray across the weekend.
Eric Bibb is at Cyprus Avenue mid-week. The Divine Comedy are supporting David Gray on Saturday and Sunday. Pool (No Water) opens in the empty swimming pool under the Metropole Hotel. The Crane Lane has a céilí. Triskel has films, jazz, and a dance show that runs into next week.
This is our pick of what's on this week. As always for a full event list check out the link at the bottom of the email.
Let's dive in 👇
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
David Gray
Saturday 13 June + Sunday 14 June, 19:00 · Live at the Marquee
Gray is touring Dear Life, his thirteenth album, on the back of 68 sold-out shows across the US, Australia, the UK and Ireland last year. He's bringing The Divine Comedy as support for the Cork dates. Two nights at the Marquee, opening and closing the weekend. The Past & Present format pulls from across the full catalogue, which at this point spans more than thirty years — White Ladder included.
Imelda May: Raised on Songs & Stories
Friday 12 June, 20:00 · Live at the Marquee
The Marquee date is the largest Irish show on her current tour. The Raised on Songs & Stories format weaves poetry and storytelling through a wide pull from her discography, stripped back enough that the songs have room to land. A home-crowd show in a big tent, which is not always the right setting for this kind of thing — but Imelda May tends to close that gap.
Pool (No Water)
Previews from Friday 12 June · The swimming pool, Metropole Hotel, St Patrick's Quay
Mark Ravenhill's 2006 play about friendship, jealousy, ambition and art, staged inside the actual empty swimming pool beneath the Metropole Hotel. Des Kennedy directs, with movement by Cork choreographer Luke Murphy. It's part of Cork Midsummer Festival, and the choice of venue does real work here: the acoustics, the tiles, the depth of the empty pool. Suitable for 16+.
Eric Bibb
Wednesday 10 June, 19:00 · Cyprus Avenue
Three-time Grammy nominee returning to the road with One Mississippi, his new album. Bibb has spent five decades building a reputation as one of the most considered voices in roots music and blues. Cyprus Avenue is a good room for this.
Ceili By The Lee
Wednesday 10 June, 19:30 · Crane Lane Theatre
Traditional Irish music and dance on Crane Lane. A Wednesday night option if the week ahead looks too heavy on rock venues and tribute acts.
K-Pop Forever Tribute
Wednesday 10 + Thursday 11 June, 18:00 · Live at the Marquee
Two nights at the Marquee for a K-Pop tribute show. A large room, an audience that will know every word, and two evenings before Imelda May takes the same stage on Friday.
Hang Massive
Friday 12 June, 19:00 · Cyprus Avenue
The handpan duo at Cyprus Avenue on the same night as Imelda May across the city. Their live sets run on layered loops, tribal rhythms and a sound that either pulls you in completely or leaves you cold. Worth knowing the Cork show is on if the Marquee isn't your Friday.
U.M.A.N. + White Horse Gospel Choir
Friday 12 June, 19:00 · Cyprus Avenue
Local act pairing with the White Horse Gospel Choir in what looks like a double bill worth making a detour for. Small venue, good room.
Hermitage Green
Friday 12 June, 19:00 · St Catherine's, Kinsale
The Limerick folk-rock group playing a church venue in Kinsale. About 25 minutes south of the city, and St Catherine's is a room that suits the sound. Worth the trip if you're based in that direction or already have reasons to be in Kinsale.
Taylor Fever
Friday 12 June, 19:00 · Cork Opera House
Taylor Swift tribute show at the Opera House. Friday night, a proper stage, a crowd that will be ready for it.
Laoise Leahy Lunchtime Jazz
Saturday 13 June, 13:00 · Triskel Arts Centre
Part of the Triskel Lunchtime Jazz series. A Saturday afternoon option between the Marquee nights.
The Song Cycle
Thursday 11 June, 18:00 · Triskel Cinema
Irish film described as a small, original piece worth the time. Triskel's programming doesn't miss often.
Cronos
Thursday 11 June, 20:30 · Triskel Arts Centre
Guillermo del Toro's debut feature, a Mexican gothic vampire film from 1993. Triskel screening it as part of their summer programme.
Boogie Nights
Opening Sunday 14 June · Triskel Arts Centre
Dance show opening at Triskel this weekend and running into the following week. Details on the Triskel site.
Drink Rum with Ex-pats
Friday 12 + Saturday 13 June, 20:30 · The Pavilion
Cork Midsummer Festival event: a rum tasting with the Cork expat community. Two nights at The Pavilion. The kind of thing that sounds better after 9pm on a Friday than it does on paper on a Monday.
In The Night Garden
Tuesday 9 June, 10:00 · Cork Opera House
Live stage show of the BBC children's series. Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy and the Ninky Nonk on the Opera House stage. If you have small children with strong opinions about this programme, you already know.
For a full overview of all events on this week in Cork check out our event listings page
UNTIL NEXT WEEK
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