Tonight Thurs 16^th:

Big Reunion Arena Tour ft. 5ive, Atomic Kitten, Bwitched, Liberty X, 911, Honeyz and Blue – The O2 – 7.30pm

ASIWYFA – Whelans - €14.50 – 8pm

Suuns – Grand Social - €16 – 8pm

Fri 17^th:

Meat Loaf – The O2 - €58 – 79 – 6.30pm

Bressie – The Academy - €25 – 7.30pm

Gav Elsted, Super Extra Bonus Party, We Are Losers – The Workmans Club – 11pm – Free

Lucy Spraggan – The Academy - €13 – 7.30pm

Sat 18^th:

Steve Hackett – Vicar St - €44 – 8.30pm

Rebekka Karijord – Workmans Club - €16 – 8pm

Purling Hiss – Whelans, Upstairs - €12.50 – 8pm

Gavin James – The Academy - €13 – 7.30pm

Sweet Jane – EP Launch – Grand Social - €8 – 8pm

Sun 19^th:

The Kennedys – Whelans upstairs - €15 – 8pm

Mon 20^th:

Zucchero – Olympia Theatre - €37 – 44 – 8pm

Pierce the veil – the academy - €16.50 – 5pm

Weds 22^nd:

Alicia Keys – The O2 - €54 – 86 – 8pm

Thurs 16^th:

Leading Armies – Monroes Tavern – 8pm – Free

Enemies - €10/free – roisin Dubh – 9pm

Fri 19^th:

The Kennedys – Roisin Dubh - €15 – 9pm (upstairs)

David Kitt - €14(12) – Roisin Dubh – 9pm

Daft Funk – Kellys Bar - €8-10 – 11pm

Tumbling Bones – Nancys Point - €10 – 6.30pm

Ultan Conlon – The Crane Bar - €10 – 8pm

Sun 19^th:

Face Value – Monroes - €5 – 11pm

The Whileaways – Roisin Dubh - €10 – 9pm

Thurs 23^rd:

Todd Terje and Daithi – Roisin Dubh - €16-18 – 9pm

Tonight Thurs 16^th:

The Midnight Ramblings Jamming Session – Oliver Plunkett – Free – 11pm

Mark Buckeridge – The Pavilion – 9pm

Rattlesnake county – The Roundy - €5 – 9pm

The Riptide Movement – Cyprus Ave - €10 – 9pm

Fri 17^th:

The Riptide Movement – De Barras - €12.50 – 9.30pm

Sander Van Doorn – Savoy - €15 – 8pm

Ann Marie O’Riordain – Briery Gap Arts Centre - €15 – 8.30pm

Sat 18^th:

Enemies – The Pavilion - €5 – 9pm

Gemma Hayes – Cyprus Ave - €15 – 8pm

Sun 19^th:

Tommy McNulty (RTE The Voice 2012) – The Oliver Plunkett – 9pm

Mon 20^th:

Felix Sonnyboy & The White Owls – Crane Lane Theatre – 12am

We are back on the air this evening from 7pm!

We will be chatting with Neasa Ní Chianáin about the Guth Gafa International Documentary Film Festival which kicks off today in Malin, Co. Donegal.

We will also be covering the Dublin Dance Festival which has a jam packed programme running until May 26th. 

On top of that we’ve our usual mix of theatre exhibition and gig listings and a few tunes along the way as well. 

The festival is known for its chilled out vibe and friendly atmosphere as well as the diversity of its music. The line up at Vantastival 2013 includes Damien Dempsey, And So I Watch You From Afar, Jerry Fish, Altan and RSAG, as well as a huge number of up-and-coming unsigned acts. A major part of the Vantastival ethos is to provide a platform for new Irish music.
The unique eco-architecture of Vantastival’s stages is inspired by the ancient ‘Tippings Wood’, which forms part of the exceptional landscape of Bellurgan Park. The custom designed DoneDeal Stage in ‘Van Halla’ was built from materials sourced on site. Walking into ‘Van Halla’ is like stepping into an ancient Viking world, which will host a diverse range of musical acts and double up as a venue for late night shenanigans all weekend. Meanwhile, Musicmaker Dublin will present a chilled out line up in The Grotto Stage, another timber structure built into a natural amphitheatre in the landscape of the festival arena. The Grotto will also host an open mic session each day for punters who fancy taking to the stage themselves.
Vantastival is a campervan-themed festival but tent campers are also welcome and there is plenty on offer for those with or without vans. The Applegreen Kids’ Camp will hold a full schedule of childrens’ activities, from puppet shows and carnival parades to using a vintage VW van as a canvas for artistic activity all weekend. The festival will kick off on Friday night with a Father Ted themed welcome ball, so keep an eye on the roads for a convoy of colourful VW campervans from the Type 2 Ireland club travelling to Louth from the south of the country, drivers in full costume.
Tickets are on sale now at €89 for three nights camping with no charge for bringing a campervan. Day tickets are also available at €40. Children under 14 go free and 14-17 year olds accompanied by an adult cost €40 for the whole weekend. There will be a bar on site and but Vantastival is also a BYOB event.

For more information and to buy your ticket - visit http://www.vantastival.com/

We’ll be chatting to the Festival Director - Louise Tagney on this evening’s show - so make sure you tune into The Digital entertainment Diary on RTE 2XM from 7pm

Are you a foodie or a book worm? or both?

Check out The Ballymaloe Literary Festival takeing place in East Cork on May bank Holiday Weekend the 3rd - 6th of May.

Our mouths are watering looking at the programme of cookery demos, food tastings, markets peppered with literary and book discussions.

For more information don’t forget to tune into the show later on this evening. We’ll be chatting with Rory O’Connell - Founder of the Ballymaloe Cookery School and Co-Director of the Ballymaloe Lit Festival, along with his sister Darina Allen.

Tune into RTE 2XM from 7pm

The Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine will bring some of the world’s best known chefs, critics, commentators, kitchen gardeners, foragers and wine experts to East Cork. The festival will be held at Ballymaloe House and Ballymaloe Cookery School. In addition to the usual festival activities (readings, talks, panel discussions) we are planning to hold demonstrations, tastings, producer visits, foraging expeditions, lunches and dinners. The objective of the Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine is to bring together a wide, varied and international group of cookery writers, journalists, bloggers and critics whilst also offering a varied programme for professional and non-professional food enthusiasts from Ireland and abroad.

See the website: http://litfest.ie/ for the full programme and information on tickets.

WED 1ST MAY
Kiernan McMullan - Whelan’s - €7 - 8.00pm
Plus guests TKO (acoustic) and SENEKAH (acoustic).

Echotape & The Plea - Upstairs at Whelan’s - €10 - 8.30pm
A 5 piece band, formed in 2011 in a small town in the south of England.

Candice Gordon - The Workman’s Club
Celebrating the launch of her debut EP - Before The Sunset Ends (released 6th May).

Peter Doran - Bewley’s Cafe Theatre - €8 
Mullingar folk-pop songwriter Peter Doran warms up for a tour of Belgium and Holland with an intimate show at Bewley’s Cafe Theatre.

THUR 2ND MAY
Dexys - Olympia Theatre €33.90 
Legendary UK soul group.

Angel Olsen + guests - Whelan’s - €10 - 7.30pm

Chuck Prophet - The Workman’s Club - €17 
Californian alt rock hero on extended European tour.

Guitar Festival Of Ireland Opening Concert - Marlay House - €24 - 8.00pm
With Roland Dyens. As part of the Guitar Festival of Ireland 2013.

FRI 3RD MAY
Alt-J - Olympia Theatre - €22.90 - 8.00pm

Enter Shikari - The Academy - €25 - 7.00pm
Post-hardcore heros. All ages show. Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent of guardian.

MON 6TH MAY
Bad Manners - The Village - €20 - 8.00pm
Legendary English Ska band, Bad Manners will play The Village on Monday 6th May as part of a shourt tour. More details to follow…

TUE 7TH MAY
Gregory Porter - The Sugar Club - €30 - 7.30pm

Zoe Conway, Mairtín O’Connor & Donal Lunny - Whelan’s - €10 - €15 - 8.00pm
Traditional Music Tour.

How are you sorted for the weekend?

We’ve our fingers and toes crossed that the sun will be paying us a well deserved visit. We can’t control the weather, but we can help you get out and about, and let you know what festivals tickle our fancies for the long weekend.

There’s loads going on all around the country. Here’s three we liked.

PHIZZFEST - 3rd - 6th May, Phibsborough, Dublin

Phizzfest will take over the streets and venues of Phibsboro and the Royal Canal, in Dublin on May bank Holiday weekend the 3rd - the 6th of May.
The event celebrates and showcases the artistic life and local talent around Phibsborough, and to highlight the rich diversity of culture within the community.
This year the festival is taking place in may instead of the usual time of september, but will be still full of family friendly events, including storytelling, workshops, tours of the  local fire station, a fun day complete with a duck race and the Dublin Boat Rally which will be passing through the canal over the weekend.
For a full programme of events - see phizzfest.ie

—

THE GATHERING AT UISNEACH - FESTIVAL OF FIRES, 4th & 5th May, Uisneach Inn, Killare, Co Westmeath

This year for the Gathering, the Festival of Fires will celebrate a Gathering at the Hill of Uisneach.
The two day event on the 4th and 5th of may will feature ancient ceremonies, heritage talks, genealogy stands, the famous ‘Uisneach Warriors’ on horseback, fireworks, local food & drink and much more.
Music acts include Riptide movement, Ryan Sherridan and The rubber bandits.
For more information visit festivalofthefires.com

—

RIVERFEST 2013, 3rd - 6th May, Limerick City

—

River Fest 2013 celebrates the City of Limerick from the 3rd - 6th of may.
The Bank Holiday weekend will play host to local events including a the Great Limerick Run, a vintage car rally, theatre, music, fireworks, markets, puppet shows and a BBQ.
For the latest festival updates search for River Fest Limerick on Facebook and see their website riverfest.ie

—

ALT J - SOMETHING GOOD

Playing the Olympia Theatre, Dublin on friday 3rd may, unfortunately I think the event is sold out. Lucky you if you got your hands on a ticket.

Are you a foodie or a book worm? or both?

Check out The Ballymaloe Literary Festival takeing place in East Cork on May bank Holiday Weekend the 3rd - 6th of May.

Our mouths are watering looking at the programme of cookery demos, food tastings, markets peppered with literary and book discussions.

For more information don’t forget to tune into the show later on this evening. We’ll be chatting with Rory O’Connell - Founder of the Ballymaloe Cookery School and Co-Director of the Ballymaloe Lit Festival, along with his sister Darina Allen.

Tune into RTE 2XM from 7pm

The Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine will bring some of the world’s best known chefs, critics, commentators, kitchen gardeners, foragers and wine experts to East Cork. The festival will be held at Ballymaloe House and Ballymaloe Cookery School. In addition to the usual festival activities (readings, talks, panel discussions) we are planning to hold demonstrations, tastings, producer visits, foraging expeditions, lunches and dinners. The objective of the Ballymaloe Literary Festival of Food and Wine is to bring together a wide, varied and international group of cookery writers, journalists, bloggers and critics whilst also offering a varied programme for professional and non-professional food enthusiasts from Ireland and abroad.

See the website: http://litfest.ie/ for the full programme and information on tickets.

So much happening on this week’s show.

Festival season is here!

We’re chatting with Ruairi O’Donovan about the very interesting HOME festival in Cork this weekend, we’re also chatting to Louise Tagney of Vantastival, about the music festival happening in Louth for the May Bank Holiday and we’ll also be hearing from Rory O’Connell of the Ballymaloe Cookery School all about the Literary festival of Food and Wine happening there during the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Check out the rest of the blog for specific information about each event.

We also have details of gigs, festivals and various events happening around the country, and not forgetting lots of great music to get you in the weekend mood.

Tune in this evening from 7pm CLICK HERE TO LISTEN ONLINE

The festival is known for its chilled out vibe and friendly atmosphere as well as the diversity of its music. The line up at Vantastival 2013 includes Damien Dempsey, And So I Watch You From Afar, Jerry Fish, Altan and RSAG, as well as a huge number of up-and-coming unsigned acts. A major part of the Vantastival ethos is to provide a platform for new Irish music.
The unique eco-architecture of Vantastival’s stages is inspired by the ancient ‘Tippings Wood’, which forms part of the exceptional landscape of Bellurgan Park. The custom designed DoneDeal Stage in ‘Van Halla’ was built from materials sourced on site. Walking into ‘Van Halla’ is like stepping into an ancient Viking world, which will host a diverse range of musical acts and double up as a venue for late night shenanigans all weekend. Meanwhile, Musicmaker Dublin will present a chilled out line up in The Grotto Stage, another timber structure built into a natural amphitheatre in the landscape of the festival arena. The Grotto will also host an open mic session each day for punters who fancy taking to the stage themselves.
Vantastival is a campervan-themed festival but tent campers are also welcome and there is plenty on offer for those with or without vans.  The Applegreen Kids’ Camp will hold a full schedule of childrens’ activities, from puppet shows and carnival parades to using a vintage VW van as a canvas for artistic activity all weekend. The festival will kick off on Friday night with a Father Ted themed welcome ball, so keep an eye on the roads for a convoy of colourful VW campervans from the Type 2 Ireland club travelling to Louth from the south of the country, drivers in full costume.
Tickets are on sale now at €89 for three nights camping with no charge for bringing a campervan. Day tickets are also available at €40. Children under 14 go free and 14-17 year olds accompanied by an adult cost €40 for the whole weekend.  There will be a bar on site and but Vantastival is also a BYOB event.

For more information and to buy your ticket - visit http://www.vantastival.com/

We’ll be chatting to the Festival Director - Louise Tagney on this evening’s show - so make sure you tune in to the Digital Entertainment Diary on RTE 2XM from 7pm

THUR 25TH APR
KXP and Twinkranes - Whelan’s - €12.50 - 8.00pm

dREA - Upstairs at Whelan’s - €8 - 8.00pm
Plus guests.

FRI 26TH APR
Passenger - In-store session - Tower Records - 1.00pm

Paddy Casey - Bracken Court Hotel - €15 - 8.30pm

The Egyptian Lover - The Sugar Club - €12 - 7.30pm

Kreator - The Academy - €27.50 - 6.00pm
With support from Evile.

Legion of Two / Dublin Laptop Orchestra / Lurch - The Joinery - €8 - 8.00pm

SAT 27TH APR
Kila - The Button Factory - €17.35 - 7.30pm
Plus special guests.

TrócaireLive - The Grand Social - €10 - 5.00pm
with Donal Dineen’s Parish, RSAG, the Dublin Afro-Beat Ensemble and Special..
 
King Charles + guests - Whelan’s - €13 - 8.00pm

Oddsocks Revival - Upstairs at Whelan’s - €8 
There’s Sometthing Going On Ep Launch. With special guests Sal Vitro.

Alias Empire - The Twisted Pepper - 7.00pm
Celebrating the launch of their new album ‘Safety In Numbers’ (released April 12th).

SUN 28TH APR
Kinky Friedman - Whelan’s - €28 - 7.30pm
Bi-polar World Tour. Plus special guests.

MON 29TH APR
OneRepublic - Olympia Theatre - €25.40 - 7.30pm

Passenger - Vicar Street - €12 - 8.30pm - also playing there Wed 1st May
Performing songs from his critically acclaimed album ‘All The Little Lights’.

Michael Rother - The Village - €23.50 - 8.00pm

WED 1ST MAY
Kiernan McMullan - Whelan’s - €7 - 8.00pm
Plus guests TKO (acoustic) and SENEKAH (acoustic).

Echotape & The Plea - Upstairs at Whelan’s - €10 - 8.30pm
A 5 piece band, formed in 2011 in a small town in the south of England.

Candice Gordon - The Workman’s Club
Celebrating the launch of her debut EP - Before The Sunset Ends (released 6th May).

Peter Doran - Bewley’s Cafe Theatre - €8 
Mullingar folk-pop songwriter Peter Doran warms up for a tour of Belgium and Holland with an intimate show at Bewley’s Cafe Theatre.

“Welcome to an extraordinary week of theatre, live art, dance, music, chat and cups of tea! Join us as we steal away into bedrooms, hold the hands of strangers on Pana and talk about staying (or going!) over dinner tables in newly found friends cosy kitchens. HOME throws the front door open and welcomes you in, to see a side of Cork City that you might not be so familiar with.

Artist’s from across the city welcome you into their own homes over these exciting five days to share with you what HOME means to them. Can the private really become the public? Is HOME, the four walls that surround us, what happens behind closed doors, can it be located in the body, or is it really where the heart is and something that can be shared between you and I?

We are also opening our doors to our neighbors, presenting the work of artists from around the country and a little further afield, gaining a new perspective on our city by the sea. Visiting artists are kindly hosted by you, the people of Cork, building links, a new sense of community and making use of those spare rooms!

This is a micro festival for my home by the Lee, come in out of that cold, the kettle is on and the party is just about t get started!” - Ruairí Donovan, Curator, HOME Festival.

HOME Festival Cork is part of an international network of Home Theatre Festival’s from San Francisco to Buenos Aires and back again.

For more information on the festival listen into the Digital Entertainment Dairy on RTE Digital 2XM - from 7pm tonight.

We’ll be chatting to Ruairi O’Donoval - the Curator and Producer of the Cork City HOME Festival

You can also get further details on the programme and tickets on entertainment.ie and on the Home Festival Website http://homefestivalcork.wordpress.com/

FLORRIE - LIVE A LITTLE

new song from the beautiful Florrie

WATCH: Florrie - Live a little - new video @FlorrieMusic