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Dublin

20th Dec 2016

Five Essential Gigs For Your Freakin’ Weekend

evanmusgrave

If you think last week’s long weekend has defeated you then you should probably consider the following expressions: “homegrown talent”, “oustanding range of sounds”, “dancefloor bliss” and “ah g’wan”..

This weekend we’ve got a great range of acts in our select picks of all the concerts going on in the city. The highlight has to be the Maeve Records showcase happening through the day and night on Saturday, displaying the talents of the Wicklow-bred label and their fantastically talented friends. Either side of that we’ve a very intriguing guitar orchestra, even more superb DJs and some quality Irish indie artists.

Friday

Nightmares On Wax @ Pygmalion

Despite the name, there’s nothing but heavenly sensations to be found listening to this maestro spin for a few hours. Approaching thirty years in the business now, there’s hardly a soulful spin on hip-hop or trip-hop that Evelyn George hasn’t already concocted, mixed and made his own by now. This is a seriously tasty Friday night gig for anyone interested in some laid-back, yet extremely danceable and energetic, beats in their life.

€15

Kolsch @ The Button Factory

An absolute legend in minimal techno circles, from his beginnings as one of Copenhagen’s beloved local DJs to worldwide fame with his single Calabria – which became the basis for Pitbull’s Calle Ocho and which we’ve all unfortunately danced to at some stage – Rune Reilly Kolsh has expanded every step of the way. The great Dane hits ours shores this weekend for a massive gig under his current title, Kolsch, which in name and sound represents a much more stripped-down, modern, sleeker aesthetic.

€15

Saturday

Paddy Hanna, MKAI, Anderson @ The Grand Social

A delicious amount of alt-indie to go round here. Having built up an impressive stage act by now, Paddy Hanna takes the headline slot to deliver his signature blend of rousing acoustic pop with a twist. Cork-based MKAI‘s mature, dreamy electronic-indie has earned them plenty of plaudits too; certainly one to keep an eye on.

€5

Maeve Showcase Ireland: John Talabot, New Jackson, Mano Le Tough, Baikal, The Drifter @ District 8

It’s not often one gets a chance to witness a showcase of an Irish label which has attained worldwide-renown in its field. When this is combined with sets by one of the biggest DJs in the game right now, John Talabot, as well as New Jackson, one of Ireland’s rising disco stars, you’d be downright silly to pass the opportunity up. With their home residence now in Berlin and huge worldwide tours underway, this gig looks set to be a defining homecoming gig in Mano and The Drifter’s burgeoning careers. This 2pm-late gig is guaranteed to be absolutely bursting with energy; an essential for your summer!

€30

Sunday

Spook Of The Thirteenth Lock @ The Grand Social

A modern Irish folk performing with an thirteen-piece guitar orchestra – well, that could only be brilliant, surely. Spook Of The Thirteenth Lock are a band already known for their textured sound exploring the intersection of folk-rock-psych-prog, add on to that thirteen seriously talented guitarists (seriously, imagine) and bingo, you’ve got a whopper show. A few further details in case you’re unconvinced: this gig showcases a new project called Lockout (based on the Dublin Lockout of 1913) and it’s FREE!

FREE!

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