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

Event of the week

Hozier

Tuesday, June 27th, INEC, Killarney, Co Kerry; 6.30pm; €49.50; Friday, June 30th, Malahide Castle, Co Dublin; 4pm; €49.50; ticketmaster.ie

Notwithstanding his mini residency at Dublin’s compact Academy venue earlier this year (which was, essentially, a batch of live rehearsal shows for fans lucky enough to nab a ticket) these two shows are Hozier’s first in Ireland in four years. With a new album waiting in the wings (Unreal Unearth, scheduled for release on August 11th), you can expect several songs from it to be performed along with the ones we already know very well. The new single, Francesca, is Hozier in crunchy rock mode, so don’t expect too many mellow moments. Special guests are Allison Russell (INEC) and the Teskey Brothers (Malahide).

Gigs

Blur

Saturday, June 24th, Malahide Castle, Co Dublin; 4pm; €79.65 (sold out); ticketmaster.ie

Here come the Blur boys – except they’re not that any more, but men in their mid-to-late 50s continuing to deliver what has been more than 30 years of explorative pop music. Lead singer Damon Albarn has been, perhaps, more of an influence in this regard (an interest that has been especially acted upon with his various side projects, and with Gorillaz), while guitarist Graham Coxon has added his collection of weirder two-pence pieces. A new album (The Ballad of Darren, released on July 21st) is the reason for Blur’s return, but frankly, any excuse will do.

Peter Gabriel

Sunday, June 25th, 3Arena, Dublin; 6.30pm; €121; ticketmaster.ie

Here’s something different: a heritage music act with little or no interest in being a heritage music act. Rather, Gabriel – who first came to prominence as the original lead singer of Genesis – is one of contemporary music’s most innovative and politicised musicians and songwriters. After many years he returns to Dublin with tasters from his forthcoming studio album, i/o (his first album of original material since 2002′s Up), and a live show that focuses very little on his early, hits-driven solo career. Any Genesis songs, I hear you ask? Don’t be silly.

Kraftwerk

Thursday, June 29th, Trinity College Dublin; 6pm; €49.90; ticketmaster.ie

They are the pioneering electronic music group that you wouldn’t recognise the members of if they stand right in front of you, and that’s exactly the way Kraftwerk want it. How the group (now overseen by sole original member Ralf Hütter) have managed to be so incredibly successful while keeping a personal low profile is a lesson in self-management – not that we should bother about that. Rather, allow the likes of Europe Endless, Kometenmelodie 2, Trans-Europe Express, and Autobahn to wash over you. (Part of the Summer Series at TCD.)

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Summer school

Say a Song: The Words and Music of Philip Chevron

Saturday, June 24th, Sean O’Casey Theatre, Dublin; 12.30pm-5.30pm; adm free; Eventbrite.ie

As part of the Sarah Lundberg Summer School 2023, the 10th anniversary of the death of Dublin songwriter and musician Philip Chevron (Ryan) will feature contributions from family members, friends (including Roger Armstrong of Ace/Chiswick Records), former bandmates (Pete Holidai and Steve Averill, from The Radiators from Space), rarely heard demo recordings, a photography exhibition and memorabilia from the family archives. Don’t be too surprised if there’s a song or three, as well – classics all, written by the man described by schoolfriend Gerry Kavanagh as “a mild-mannered seditionist who laughed at authority and did things his own way.”

In conversation

Chris Hadfield

Sunday, June 25th, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin; 2.30pm/7.30pm; €31.50; ticketmaster.ie

In On Earth and Space: Chris Hadfield’s Guide to the Cosmos, the former commander of the International Space Station tells profound tales of and asks equally reflective questions about the nature of human exploration. Factor in multimedia screens presenting images from the James Webb Space Telescope (the largest optical telescope in space), an audience Q&A and Hadfield performing David Bowie’s Space Oddity and you have yourself a star-studded evening’s entertainment.

Musical

The King and I

Tuesday, June 27th-Saturday, July 1st, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin; 7.30pm; €50/€45/31.50; ticketmaster.ie

The fifth musical by the creative team of (Richard) Rodgers and (Oscar) Hammerstein premiered in 1951 and has been revived on numerous occasions ever since. Featuring West End and Broadway stars (Annalene Beechey, Darren Lee), more than 50 performers and a full-scale orchestra, The King and I is regarded as the best of the golden age of musicals – with songs as timeless as Hello, Young Lovers; Getting to Know You, I Whistle a Happy Tune, Something Wonderful, and Shall We Dance, it’s difficult to argue otherwise. Sunshine-friendly singalongs are go!

Exhibition

Echoes of Isolation

Until August 31st, Punishment Block, Spike Island, Co Cork; adm free, booking required; eventbrite.ie/spikeislandcork.ie

In collaboration with Sample-Studios and Spike Island (a former prison once described as Ireland’s Alcatraz, now a historical tourist attraction), Cork-based visual artist Sinead Barrett presents a solo exhibition that deftly focuses not only on historical perspectives of isolation but also on the wider repercussions of confinement in contemporary society. To this end, Barrett visited the island for six months, wandering through the buildings and rooms, sketching and painting. The outcome is a series of spectral paintings resonating with lost voices, physical imprisonment and spiritual decay. Access to Spike Island is from Cobh harbour.

Still running

RiverFest

Until Sunday, June 25th, Luker’s Bar, Shannonbridge, Co Offaly; eventbrite.ie

Let’s hear it for the small independent community music/arts festivals – RiverFest features a broad range of events and activities over the weekend, with music (The Stunning, Roisin O, The Rosecaps, Hermitage Green, Fionn Curran, and Amble), adult/kids yoga, wellness talks, and face painting.

Book it this week

PJ Harvey, 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin; September 22nd/23rd; ticketmaster.ie

Inhaler, 3Arena, Dublin, November 11th; ticketmaster.ie

Ice Cube/Cypress Hill, 3Arena, Dublin, December 9th; ticketmaster.ie

Pixies, 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin; March 8th-10th; ticketmaster.ie