A guide to what gigs are on across Cork city this Saint Patrick’s Weekend

ONE of the busiest weekends of music of the year is upon us again and while the parades around Cork are the main attraction of St Patrick’s Day there are also many concerts, gigs and sessions put on for people to enjoy throughout the weekend.

Here is an attempt to give some sort of overview of what is on offer around Cork over the next few days, starting with tonight. 

Thursday, March 14

Irish traditional music is the backbone of the St Patrick’s festivities, and it is fitting to start by highlighting one of the pubs that supports traditional music sessions all year round. The Gables on Douglas Street will have their weekly Thursday open session at 8pm, Julian Halpin and the other regular musicians always play a great eclectic collection of tunes and always have room at their table for other players to fall in. Later on, at 9pm in The Pavilion, The Alkove will be launching their new single 'The Other Side Of The Storm' which won the song of the month competition for March on ‘The Cork Playlist’ Facebook page.

Friday, March 15

Moving on to Friday, I must highlight the Sing Along Social who are promising to “celebrate Paddy’s Day with an iconic Brigid takeover” in The Pavilion from 7pm. The event, which makes the entire crowd the choir, always goes down a storm and will be full of Irish pop songs and their “very own favourite scorned women" playlist. Think The Corrs meets Alanis, B*Witched multiplied by Meredith Brooks, and Westlife combined with Enya.”

Sean Parnell will be playing at 8pm in Coughlans, his tender songwriting and performances always make a personal connection with the audience and his recent releases are showing a development that promises 2024 to be a very promising one for him.

Another charismatic songwriter playing on Friday is Paul Noonan in The Triskel Christchurch. Best known as the frontman of the Irish group Bell X1 but also a frequent collaborator with many artists, this will be him performing solo in one of the most intimate venues in the city.

At 10pm, there are a trio of options that will delight; Gemma And The Jets, one of the most high-octane and flexible cover bands out there, performing everything from classic songs to chart hits with equal aplomb, will be holding court in The Oliver Plunkett; Liam O’Connor will be holding court with his spectacular explosion of music, song and dance, rooted in the Irish music tradition and led by his phenomenal accordion playing, in Dwyers on Washington Street; and one of Cork’s leading Beatles Tribute Bands, The Beatless will be taking over The Hyde Out on Douglas Street.

Saturday, March 16

Moving onto Saturday, there is always a great early session of music to be caught at 6pm in the Cornerhouse on Coburg Street, and An Sibín on Princes Street will also be hosting their Rambling House Trad Session from 7pm. 

Just up the road in Cyprus Avenue, taking to the stage will be Newton Faulkner. The phenomenal success of his Hand Built By Robots album has been the foundation of a very successful career, with his powerful vocals and signature guitar sound sure to make a night for all in attendance. Regular visitors to Cork, The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble return after some excellent performances at the latest Cork Jazz Festival, this time to Live At St Luke’s at 7.30pm. At 8pm in Fred Zeppelins on Parliament Street, there is a huge St Patrick’s Day Bash being put on by Dead Cult Promotions with Words That Burn, MOLARBEAR, Outsound, Following The Signs and DazGak all performing in one huge line-up. The Hightown Crows, a brilliant vital Rock ’n’ Roll band who seemed to play non-stop over the last Jazz Festival, play The Woodford at 9pm, and an hour later we get another take on Rock ’n’ Roll, but this time with a more scuzzy garage feel when The Tan Jackets play in Coughlans from 10pm.

While this article is focusing on live music, I do want to point out a very interesting ‘All Irish Vinyl Set’ that will be happening downstairs in The Pavilion that night at 11pm from Jean-Luc Razza, one of the most dynamic DJs you will find in Cork.

Sunday, March 17

Moving to St Patrick’s Day itself, Sunday has live music options throughout the day. The Parade starts at 1pm on The South Mall, and many gig options start at 2pm such as Two Time Polka — an incredible live act whose music style is best described by the title of their debut album From Pana to Louisiana, so expect Cajun, Zydeco and Rock ’n’ Roll — in The Crane Lane (they also play Cantys at 7.30pm). The Roaring Forties, who play Swing, Jazz, Jump Jive and Rock 'n' Roll, will be playing The Black Dog on North Main Street at 2pm (They also play The Woodford at 8pm). From 2.30pm Charlies will be hosting some of Cork’s most enduring musicians with Hank Wedel & friends starting the day there and then Ricky & Graham Lynch taking over proceedings at 6pm.

Over in The Woodford at 5.30pm, what could be the gig of the weekend will be an appearance by BoolaBoom, Cork’s super-sized brass and percussion big-band playing jazzy techno and drum & bass belters.  Their debut EP was released recently and is already gaining momentum with their Acoustic House Music sound.

For traditional music options — for the day that’s in it — from 1pm there is a session starting in Brú on MacCurtain Street until 8pm. For those who’d perhaps like to dance along, there is a ‘Ceili By The Lee’ in The Pavilion at 2pm, where they teach the steps for people of all levels of experience to be able to take part. An Sibín has a trad session all afternoon starting at 2pm and if the weather is good they will try to make it an open-air session. At 4pm in The Imperial Hotel a brilliant trio of musicians — Eileen Healy, Emily Donoghue and Paudy Harrington — will be playing a great range of roots, traditional and folk music, the harmonies and musicianship that they execute are worthy of a band twice their size. If you are seeking trad music later in the night, The Gables will be holding their weekly sunday session from 9pm.

For those who might like some Reggae or Ska, there are three fine options in the form of Skazz at 4.30pm, and Pontious Pilate & The Naildrivers at 9.30pm in The Crane Lane and The Service in The Pavilion at 4.30pm.

Some of the gigs on offer outside of the city centre include Billy Kennedy and Carlos Paz performing in The Rendezvous on Model Farm Road at 5pm; The Essentials in Quinlans Bar, Blackpool, at 6.30pm; Myles Gaffney in Mayfield GAA Club at 7pm; and Coola Boola in Blackrock GAA Club at 9pm.

For my final tip, I’d like to spotlight a bar that reopened since last year’s Patrick’s Day festivities, the much-loved Preachers on Washington Street. They will be hosting the one-man Rock juggernaut that is Stuart Wilde. His gig alone will justify a Bank Holiday Monday!

• Check each venue’s and band’s social media as all events are subject to change.