Pick of the Week: First Fortnight
Established in 2009, First Fortnight is a charity-based organisation that aims to confront mental-health intolerance throughout the arts community and beyond.
The body has grown limbs since its inception – in 2012, it staged its inaugural Dublin-based two-week festival, while a year later it became a mental-health service provider with the founding of the First Fortnight Centre of Creative Therapies.
In the interim years, its associated arts festival has developed into a durable entity – not bad going when you take into consideration that it’s run by a core group of volunteers.
The first week starts 2016 off with Hello Myself (Smock Alley, today, January 1st, noon/2pm/4pm), a bespoke workshop for children aged 6-12 that delves into topics covered in the Pixar movie, Inside Out. The workshop, devised by artist/storyteller Paul Timoney, will support children in how better to express their thoughts verbally or through creative areas.
Other highlights this week include spoken word (Flying South, Filmbase, today, 7pm), discussion (Proclamation, Christchurch Cathedral, today, 7pm; speakers include Tony Bates, CEO Headstrong, Eoghan McDermott, TV/Radio presenter and First Fortnight ambassador); Art Psychotherapy (Reframed, St Laurence’s Chapel, Wednesday January 6, 6pm – guest speakers include Dr Peter Cockersell, University of Surrey); and theatre (Overshadowed, Project Arts Centre, Wed Jan 6th-Sat Jan 9th, an emotive play by the award- winning company Sunday’s Child; at the same venue for the same duration, but at different customer-friendly times, is Big Bobby, Little Bobby, by Brazen Tales Productions).
The second week of the arts festival kicks off with Therapy Sessions (Workman’s Club, Friday January 8, 8pm), a music event curated by We Cut Corners duo Conall O Breachain and John Duignan. Guests include Jennifer Evans and Saint Sister (above).
For further details on the First Fortnight line-up and schedules, visit firstfortnight.ie
Friday
Jófríður Ákadóttir
[ Connelly’s Of LeapOpens in new window ]
Already a star in Reykjavík’s music scene, Ákadóttir is perhaps best-known as the lead singer in Pascal Pinon (in which she plays alongside her twin sister Ásthildur) and as part of acclaimed electro three-piece Samaris Akadottir returns to Irish shores to try out new solo material, as well as perform tracks from her excellent 2015 album Twosomeness.
Saturday
Micheál Ó Suilleabháin with Owen and Moley Ó Suilleabháin
Ballymaloe Grainstore, Midleton, Co Cork 8pm €25
Now that he’s retired from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, Micheál Ó Suilleabháin (below) can devote his energies wholly to his music: composition and performance. Tonight he’s joined by his sons, Owen and Moley, whose sibling harmonies offer a perfect counterpoint to their father’s sweeping piano. Special guest is Mel Mercier, percussionist, Gamelan specialist and newly appointed chair of performing arts at the University of Limerick.
Warehouse
Wiley Fox, Dublin 10pm €10/€8 phever.ie
Following their pre-Christmas bash with Darren Emerson, the Phever.ie gang return to Dublin’s north quays for another broadcast. DJs on call for the first show of 2016 include Wayne King, Jonathan Nolan, Chrisy Emerson, Benny Mc, Dylan Walsh, Craig Manning, Danny Farrell, Paddy Hughes and many more. They will be back in February to take over the venue on the first Saturday of each month during the coming year.
Circus
The Academy, Dublin 10.30pm €10/€8
Marque club night at the Middle Abbey Street venue is a three- room hop that aims to cover all bases. There’s house, pop and “curveballs” in the main room, hip-hop and 1990s hits in the Green Room, and rock, indie and metal plus the occasional live act in the basement (aka the much maligned Academy 2). Besides the sounds, you’ve also all the sideshows and eye- candy a club of this sort needs, including trapeze acts, freak shows, carnival games, confetti cannons and balloon drops. The days of curry and chips stopping the music are well and truly over.
Sunday
Danny O'Reilly
DeBarras, Clonakilty, Co Cork 8pm €25
The Coronas are one of the country’s most popular bands – indeed, on New Year’s Eve they headlined Dublin’s 3Arena. Clearly not one to take too much of a breather, this solo show (in such a small venue) from the band’s lead singer Danny O’Reilly (right) is manna from heaven for those fans who managed to get a ticket. Form an orderly queue now, please!
Turner: The Vaughan Bequest
Beit Wing, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin Until Jan 31
It’s an annual ritual: the month- long display of the gallery’s collection of JMW Turner watercolours, most of them bequeathed by Henry Vaughan in 1900, to be shown in winter light to better preserve paper and pigments. That you can’t see them any old time means you’re more likely to see them when you can. This year they are in the Beit Wing rather than the Print Gallery.
