Friday
Deep Focus: Women in Film
Triskel Arts Centre, Cork triskelartscentre.ie. Also Sat/Sun
A new fixture for the Triskel, this three-day festival is dedicated to female directors in a remarkable programme of shorts and features, including the first-ever Irish screening on Sunday of Wings (1966), by Soviet film-maker Larisa Shepitko, which tells the story of a former female second World War fighter pilot (Maya Bulgakova) struggling with her disappointing, uneventful life as a school principal.
Baltimore Fiddle Fair
Various venues, Baltimore, Co Cork fiddlefair.com. Also Sat/Sun/Mon
Declan McCarthy, the ever-inventive creative behind this most bespoke of traditional/ folk gatherings, has lined up another fine mix of musicians. Scandinavian duo Fru Skagerrak share billing with Noel Hill, Frankie Gavin and Arty McGlynn tonight. Watch out for many more adventurous visitors, including China's Ling Peng and Dmitri Fedotov.
Kevin Brady/Bill Carrothers/ Norma Winstone
JJ Smyths Upstairs, Dublin 9pm €15 jjsmyths.com
Norma Wintsone is quite simply one of the greatest jazz singers of the contemporary era, a fearless musician who uses her voice like an instrument, but can also invest lyrics – her own and others' – with depth and truth. To see her with acclaimed US pianist Bill Carrothers, bassist David Redmond and drummer Kevin Brady, in intimate surroundings, you will probably have to arrive early or join the back of a long queue, or both. Don't say you weren't warned.
Sample Answer
Grand Social, Dublin 8pm €10 thegrandsocial.ie. Also Sat, Cork
Dublin-born, London-based Maurice O'Connor has long since shifted gears through his early Jamie T/Ed Sheeran proclivities to a rather more refreshing hip-hop-pop style of songwriting. Hear the progression as he embarks on a brief tour of Ireland to promote his new EP, Collision.
The Building Society
The Hangar, Dublin 10.30pm €15/€12/€10 twitter.com/HangarDubin
There's still some time to go before this venue becomes the site of a hotel and Hangar finds a new abode. Tonight they welcome Drumcode and Cocoon rep Mark Reeve to the gaff. Reeve is a producer whose techno and tech-house comes with booming bassline and swinging grooves, as seen on tracks such as Drumatics. Support from Luke Xander and Dylan Moran.
Techno Friday
AMP, Cork 11pm €5 facebook.com/technofriday
It has been quite a year for Techno Friday. They kicked off with a monthly night at The Pav before that venue closed and necessitated a move to AMP for the club, its residents and such international guests as Neil Landstrumm and John Heckle. Tonight the focus is on the residents; Jamie Behan (Bastardo Electrico) and Jon Barry lead the way.
Alexander Hawkins Trio
Sonic Arts Research Centre, Queen's University, Belfast 1pm. Adm free movingonmusic.com
Thoughtfully daring UK pianist Alexander Hawkins has a PhD in law and an original approach to the keyboard. It's not clear if these two facts are related. As well as a performance with his trio, featuring bassist Neil Charles and Belfast drummer Stephen Davis, Hawkins will take part in a Q&A hosted by Queen's University's Translating Improvisation Research Group. The gig is free and not to be missed. The Q&A is similarly priced, and not to be taken lightly.
Saturday
Hidden Agenda & Sense
Button Factory, Dublin 11pm €12/€10 tomtrago.com
Two Dutch star turns for the price of one tonight. Tom Trago’s releases, such as Iris (for Rush Hour) and Voyage Direct have established his muscle and moxie for creating strong, vibrant tracks. Trago was also a good man for the collaborations, working with the likes of Om’mas Keith, Romanthony, Tyree Cooper and Olivier Daysoul. He is joined tonight by fellow Dutch electronic thriller William Kouam Djoko (left), who helms the hugely successful Late Night Society club night at Amsterdam’s Trouw.
The Frank & Walters
Whelan's, Dublin 8pm €20 whelanslive.com
Lovers of smartly constructed indie pop know that it's no exaggeration to say this Cork band is up there with the best. That they have managed to survive this long (they formed in 1990) indicates a level of durability most bands can only dream about. New album Songs for the Walking Wounded will be rifled and older material willingly delivered.
Juan Zolbaran
Dive Bar, Dublin 9pm €5 before midnight/€10 soundcloud.com/ juanzolbaran
Hailing from Buenos Aires, Juan Zolbaran has built a top- notch reputation for himself with a prolific run of releases and club appearances.
The producer's deep tech-house grooves and atmospheric big-room tracks are what have caught the ear and brought him to the attention of labels and venues worldwide from Bad Barbe to Pacha. Support tonight from Emma Farrell, Arte Artur, MASsI_S and AnDreA DenTamaRo.
Sunday
Le Vent du Nord
Fiddle Fair Marquee, Baltimore, Co Cork 9pm €30/€25 fiddlefair.com Also Mon, Mayo; Tues, Donegal; Wed, Dublin; Thurs, Leitrim
Québecois band Le Vent du Nord have a reputation for humdinger live performances, and tonight they kick off a Music Network tour with a visit to Baltimore Fiddle Fair: a great chance to catch them at their best – in festival mode.
