Tony Clayton-Lea

Tony Clayton-Lea

Contributor

Tony Clayton-Lea is a contributor to The Irish Times specialising in popular culture

The Music Quiz: What book by Zadie Smith inspired title of Arlo Parks’ 2021 debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams?

Plus: Only one New Order album cover features an image of a band member - which one?

‘I’m allergic to online shopping - before, during and since the pandemic’

Me& My Money: Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, chief executive, Irish Tourism Industry Confederation

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

The best movies, music, art and more coming your way September 23rd-29th

Vinny Peculiar: How I Learned to Love the Freaks – Cracking pop/rock songs with shrewd lyrics

Indeed, the decidedly astute Mister Peculiar has only gone and done it again

Shania Twain in Dublin review: Convincing country-pop performance without the diva presence

Is it a tad cheesy? It is, indeed, but this is high quality Camembert that never undermines Twain’s legacy

The Music Quiz: Which US country singer was born Christina Claire Ciminella?

Plus: Stevland Hardaway Judkins is better known as…

The National have just released a surprise album. Here’s how we rate Laugh Track

Album will be thrill for fans whose tastes veer towards fervid dynamics of old

‘There’s a toxic attitude out there that hardship makes for better art’

Me and My Money: screenwriter Susan E Connolly

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

The best movies, music, art and more coming your way September 16th-22nd

Ash: Race the Night – perfectly shaped pop-punk songs few others can match

The band know their way around a perfectly shaped pop/punk song like very few others

The Music Quiz: In Moulin Rouge, which Elton John song was covered by Ewan McGregor?

Plus: Who was the first Irish act to officially get an Irish number one single?

Oran O’Kelly: ‘I try to convince my girlfriend that every bike is an investment’

Me & My Money: Motorcyclist Oran O’Kelly talks spending habits, big purchases and haggling over prices

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

The best movies, music, art and more coming your way between September 9th and 15th, 2023

Olivia Rodrigo: Guts – One of the best and most observant pop songwriters out there

If you thought Sour was a royal flush, then this album is the winning goal in a penalty shoot-out

Elvis Costello with Steve Nieve in Dublin review: Moments of unadulterated pleasure you simply didn’t expect

Review: Costello approaches his 70th year but this gig shows there’s no stopping him