The Guide: The events to see, the shows to book and the ones to catch before they end

Event of the week

The Holy Hour: A Requiem for Brendan Behan

From Friday, March 10th, Museum of Literature Ireland, Dublin; 10.30am-6pm; €12/€9.50; moli.ie

Reframing caricatures and/or stereotypes can be problematic, but Irish author Patrick McCabe has done just that with this centenary celebration of the birth of Brendan Behan: an audiovisual trip that is equal parts semi-psychedelic, insightful, considered, and funny. By filtering archive footage (including some of Behan’s cut-and-thrust television interviews), music, writings, and elements of Roman Catholic ritual, the result, says Simon O’Connor, director of the Museum of Literature Ireland, is a singular exploration of the life of “an artist and sensitive thinker, beyond the media depictions and showmanship of his success”.

Gigs

George Ezra

Wednesday, March 8th, 3Arena, Dublin; 6.30pm; €49.50 (sold out); ticketmaster.ie

Friday, March 10th, and Saturday, March 11th, INEC Arena, Killarney, Co Kerry; 6.30pm; €49.50 (sold out); ticketmaster.ie

Almost 10 years after he released his debut album, Wanted on Voyage, and less than a year after his third album, Gold Rush Kid, gave him his third consecutive number one in the UK charts, Hertfordshire singer and songwriter George Ezra and his tepid blend of folk, rock, soul and blues remains a big attraction. Don’t be too concerned by the “sold-out” status of these shows, however – Ezra is back here in the summer for open-air shows.

Choice Music Prize Album of 2022

Thursday, March 9th, Vicar Street, Dublin; 6.30pm; €33; ticketmaster.ie

Is it that time of the year again? This event comes around faster than a rollercoaster which is, perhaps, an apt word to use with regards to not just the wheel-’em-on/wheel-’em-off nature of the music acts performing on the night but also the tumult that can occasionally take place in the room where the judging panel eventually decide upon the winning album. Whatever the outcome, we can safely predict that the night itself will effortlessly celebrate Irish music with performances from five (Anna Mieke, Thumper, Aoife Nessa Frances, Just Mustard, Pillow Queens) of the shortlisted 10 acts which, if memory serves, is the smallest turnout in the event’s history. The remaining nominated acts, we are informed, can’t attend due to recording/touring commitments. Whatever. May the best album win, etc.

Country2Country

Friday, March 10th, until Sunday, March 12th, 3Arena, Dublin; 5pm; €62.45; ticketmaster.ie

If there is a middle ground to be found in country music (that is, the areas that separate Lucinda Williams from, say, Reba McEntire, and Steve Earle from, say, Eric Church) then it is to be found in an event like Country2Country. Headliners performing across the weekend are US A-list contemporary country acts such as Lady A, Thomas Rhett and the Zac Brown Band. Emerging acts such as Texas-based Midland (“equal parts heart-throbs and fashion risk-takers”, according to Vogue), Jordan Davis, Lainey Wilson, Mitchell Tenpenny, and Lindsay Ell will mix it up with relative old-timers, the Americana string band, Old Crow Medicine Show. Thankfully, there are no signs of “country and Irish” acts.

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Exhibition

Brian Maguire: The Clock Winds Down

Until Saturday, April 8th, Kerlin Gallery, Dublin; free admission; kerlingallery.com

It isn’t often that an artist so (relatively) immediately creates new work from a life-changing experience, but Brian Maguire’s visit in April 2022 to Brazil to see first-hand the ongoing destruction of the Amazon rainforest has resulted in what you can safely describe as a quick turnaround. This exhibition of large-scale paintings highlights in vivid detail natural splendour, man-made damage and the socio-economic fallout of land clearance as well as continuing the artist’s firm belief of solidarity and the fight against injustice.

Film

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse will play at the Stella

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Wednesday, March 8th, Stella Cinema, Dublin; stellacinemas.ie

In January of 1923, the Stella Cinema in Rathmines opened its doors. Back then, it was an almost 1,300-seater “picture house” that quickly became a crucial community focus for the suburb and for Dublin itself. Following years in the wilderness (it was boarded up in 2004), the Stella was completely refurbished and reopened in 2017, and has since been listed (by Time Out, in 2021) as one of the world’s most beautiful cinemas. The first of many 100th birthday celebrations is a showing of the feature-length silent-era war film, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, directed by Rathmines-born Rex Ingram. The film will be accompanied by a live score composed by Dublin-based musician, academic and curator Matthew Nolan, and performed by Nolan, Adrian Crowley, Seán Mac Erlaine and Kevin Murphy. Advice? Get the popcorn, chew quietly, and relax.

Cork French Film Festival

Thursday, March 9th, until Sunday, March 12th, various times; Gate Cinema, Cork City; gatecinemas.com and corkfrenchfilmfestival.com

Investigating how cinema is not only a means to see different parts of the world as well as an art form that inspires travel itself is the theme of this year’s Cork French Film Festival, which is presented by Alliance Française de Cork. Several Irish premieres will be shown, including the opening film, the multiple César-nominated dark comedy L’Innocent (directed by Louis Garrel, who also co-stars and on whose life the film is based), and the biopic Eiffel (directed by Martin Bourboulon).

Still running

Finding a Voice

Until Sunday, March 12th, Clonmel, Co Tipperary; findingavoice.ie

In celebration of International Women’s Day (March 8th), the sixth iteration of this classical music festival champions the too-frequently marginalised artistic work of women composers. Includes performances by ConTempo Quartet, Antonio Oyarzabal, Yonit Kosovske and the festival’s artist in residence Eleanor Kelly.

Book it this week

Bob Odenkirk, April 13th, NCH, Dublin; nch.ie
The Always Sunny Podcast LIVE!, April 17th/April 19th, 3Arena, Dublin; ticketmaster.ie
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, May 16th-20th, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin; ticketmaster.ie
S Club 7 Reunited, October 16th, 3Arena, Dublin; ticketmaster.ie