Heading Out This Weekend? Here’s Five Gigs You’re Gonna Want To Keep In Mind

evanmusgrave

Gather up the last of your summer wine and maybe have an Autumn bottle in reserve because Dublin boasts some deadly gigs going this weekend. There’s a whole heap to choose from and narrowing it down to five is a tricky task, but here’s our list of the best live music on the cards over the next few days.

On the agenda we’ve got a Texan singer on a mission to bring back back classic soul, an EP launch by a talented local artist, a showcase boasting a heady line up of homegrown acts, a big techno one and a cosmic-disco day time groove-a-thon.

Friday

Leon Bridges @ The Olympia

Coming out with a classic 60s soul sound, Bridges’ intensity and charisma makes what could be an overly-nostalgic project a refreshing and important presence on the pop charts in 2015. This exciting and much-discussed artist, who lands in town as part of his first big European tour, is perfectly suited to the old school decor of the Olympia and is sure to be a hit with his engrossing tunes.

Rachael Lavelle (EP Launch) @ Whelans

A fresh face on the scene, having emerged in the past year or so to rack up a series of well-received gigs, this Dublin-born and bred singer seeks to galvanise that momentum with her debut EP release, Superman, this Friday.

“A delightful cross between London Grammar and Kate Bush”, Lavelle’s works are highly-polished, yet refreshingly experimental; her lyrical approach displaying a maturity beyond her years.

Performing on the main stage in Whelans is no doubt something Rachael is relishing, and with the accompaniment of a full band to elevate her sound, this looks to be a brilliant gig for anyone interested in experiencing a powerful musical display by a budding talent.

Saturday

FRIENDS FOREVER – Ensemble’s First Birthday @ The Freemason’s Hall

This has all the makings of a very special concert; showcasing the talents of Ensemble, an up and coming artist management and concert promotion, as they celebrate their first birthday and raise funds for their development into a record label in their own right.

With a line up featuring the hotly-tipped melodic soul singer, Loah; exquisite pianist, Conor Walsh; experimental electronic artist Simon Bird, as well as surprise guests, this jam-packed event, housed in the elegant Freemason’s Hall is an extremely solid bet for a high-quality, homegrown live music experience.

Boddika @ The Button Factory

The genre-bending electronic maestro and frequent Joy O collaborator flies into town this weekend for a big one in Button.

Deriving influence in from a range of scenes not limited to old school hip-hop/electro, Chicago House, Detroit Techno, as well as 80s and 90s electronica, Boddika‘s sound is dark and edgy, imaginative and futuristic, yet simultaneously reveling in a type of retro raunchiness, his sets are unpredictable but never short immense. A must see for electronic heads.

Pyg Sundays presents Moon Boots @ Pygmalion

One of the finest purveyors of sumptuous disco floor fillers to have emerged in recent years either side of the Atlantic, Moon Boots provides just the right type of bright, bop-able tunes to perfect your Sunday Funday, and you’d be well advised to pop into Pyg to get down if that’s the metaphorical jam for your toast.

Muchos groove to be had here.