Scene and heard: This week's entertainment news
The big show for Irish viewers this weekend is Taken Down, the new series from the same people who made Love/Hate. Centred around the killing of a Nigerian refugee in Dublin, it begins on RTÉ One on Sunday at 9.30pm.
If you haven’t seen Birdman, it’s over on RTE2 at the same time, but be warned that the quirky Oscar winner starring Michael Keaton and Edward Norton was not to everyone’s taste. Drum fans will appreciate the magnificent soundtrack from Antonio Sánchez.
Graham Norton’s show tonight has Claire Foy, Kurt Russell, and Lee Evans, with music provided by Mumford & Sons.
Some people scoffed when Picture This announced a run of five dates at the 3Arena in March, but it has turned out to be a wise move by the Dublin band and their promoters, with all of the nights already sold out. That means 60,000 tickets sold — Slane or Croke Park territory — a feat that’s unlikely to be matched by any Irish band in 2019.
The same venue will host Massive Attack on Feb 24, as part of their Mezzanine XX1 tour, complete with an aural and visual remix of the band’s classic album from 1998, with the Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser providing some vocals.
The Specials have announced a return to the Olympia on April 11.
In Cork, punters should be aware that tonight’s Arrested Development gig originally scheduled for The Venue (now closed) has been moved to the Crane Lane, with a kick-off time of 6.30pm. It’s been a difficult week for the 1990s hip-hop heroes (‘People Everyday’, ‘Mr Wendal’, etc), as the Atlanta group’s spiritual elder Baba Oje passed away at the age of 86. Presumably tonight’s show and the upcoming gigs in Galway, Dublin and Limerick will feature tributes.
Sirius in Cobh hosts a gig by Peter Broderick on Saturday, Nov 17 — be aware that there’s a train back to Cork at 11pm.
For those who know what they’re doing next August bank holiday weekend, or who might be looking for a pressie for a youngish music fan, early bird tickets for Indiependence in Mitchelstown go on sale tomorrow, with a three-day camping ticket for €109.
Among the films on release today is Peterloo, Mike Leigh’s take on the massacre in Manchester in 1819 when the military attacked a pro-democracy rally, killing 15 and injuring hundreds.
If you need to get the kids out of the house, options include Keira Knightley in The Nutcracker and The Four Realms, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, and Smallfoot. Triskel in Cork also has a child-friendly film in Japanese animation, Mirai, with a dubbed version showing in the afternoons, and the original movie with subtitles in the evening.
Lords of Strut are surely the most talented duo on the Irish scene, and present their latest mix of acrobatics and silliness at an afternoon show at Cork Opera House on Sunday.
City Limits in Cork has South African funnyman Marl Palmer tomorrow, and Tyrone-born stand-up Owen O’Neill next Friday and Saturday.
Perhaps Blindboy isn’t quite comedy but there are usually a few lighthearted moments in the Rubberbandits man’s podcast shows, two of which will be held at Vicar Street in Dublin on Thursday and Friday.
The Festival of Percussion at Cork School of Music over the weekend will appeal to anyone with an interest in hitting things to make music. It will comprise three masterclasses and a concert headlined by Millennial Percussion (from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire).
The Crawford in Cork has also announced a new programme of concerts at noon on the first Sunday of each month. It begins this weekend with the Lyra Quintet.
