Scene and Heard

MUSIC NEWS: With appearances on the Graham Norton Show and beyond, you’ve probably been seeing quite a bit of Imelda May lately. The Dublin rocker’s publicity drive is all part of the campaign for the release of her new album Tribal, out today.

If you don’t buy an Imelda today, perhaps you’d be interested in a Damon Albarn. The Blur man lets fly with his solo album Everyday Robots. Last week, we reported on the health issues of AC/DC guitarist Malcolm Young. The band have refused to divulge details of the founder member’s illness, but rumour is the 61-year-old suffered a stroke. At the other end of the Antipodean music age scale, Lorde (inset) has proven that just because she’s a star, doesn’t mean she can ignore her mother. Apparently, the 17-year-old’s Australian gigs have been cancelled after she was ordered off the road by her parents. She’s been sent for immediate rest and recuperation while she recovers from a chest infection.

GIG WISE: In terms of sound and popularity, there aren’t many bigger bands around than Kasabian, and the foursome will surely sell out their show at Cork Opera House on Wednesday, May 14. The Leicester group are headlining Glastonbury a few weeks later, and then embarking on a series of big summer shows on the back of a new album. Other interesting gigs at the same venue include Malian father and son duo, Toumani and Sidiki Diabaté (June 8), and Tinariwen on June 28. In the meantime, Neil Finn from Crowded House is there next Thursday. Elsewhere in Cork, the Southern Gothic event next weekend at the Crane Lane includes Japanese female group ZZZ’s, Mark Mulcahy and a DJ set from Kid Loco. The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble will play the Savoy on May 9. Peter Gabriel has announced he’ll be playing his 1986 album, So, in its entirety on December 10 in the O2, Dublin. Veteran rockers Slayer are at the Academy on July 1, while rapper Big Daddy Kane is at the Sugar Club next Saturday. Wild Beasts and Thundercat are the latest additions to Forbidden Fruit at Kilmainham (May 31-June 1).