Scene + Heard: Music, film and gig news
Room leads the way in the Irish nominations for the Academy Awards, and you can see the Irish-Canadian production from today in cinemas.
Don’t be put off by the apparent heaviness of the film’s subject matter. Emotionally-intense, this tale of a kidnapped young woman and her young son is ultimately more life-affirming than depressing.
Other must-sees this weekend are the latest Rocky instalment, Creed, and The Revenant, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy.
The programme at Triskel in Cork over the next few days includes the star-studded Joy, and Polish-Irish collaboration 11 Minutes, starring Richard Dormer.
Some found it tasteless, but you’d have to think David Bowie himself would have appreciated how the announcement of his death on Celebrity Big Brother produced one of the most hilarious few minutes of TV we’ve ever seen.
It came as his ex-wife Angie Bowie told one of her fellow housemates the news of his passing. We won’t give the punchline away, but if there’s one YouTube clip you watch today, let it be this one.
Not content to just take on the NFL over her one-fingered salute at the Super Bowl, MIA is now battling with Paris Saint-Germain because of a recent video in which she wears one of the club’s t-shirts with the words ‘Fly Pirates’, instead of the ‘Fly Emirates’ advertising slogan it usually bears.
Apparently, she wasn’t having a pop at the airline or the club itself, just addressing the issue of the refugees on the boat trail across the Mediterranean.
Finally, NME reports that Bono is giving somebody the chance to ride a bike with him around Central Park, the scene of his arm-breaking accident in November, 2014.
Anyone who donates to the Aids charity, Red, is in with a chance of being selected. Flights included.
The Maccabees are the choice gig of the weekend in Dublin, with an appearance at the Olympia tomorrow.
Fans of quality MCs should check out Lady Leshurr at the Academy in Dubln on March 12. Hailing from Solihull near Birmingham, her ‘Lukatar’ track had some of the best lines we heard last year, while the ‘Queen’s Speech’ freestyles are also well worth a listen.
In Cork, Little Green Cars have announced a gig for the city’s Opera House on May 14 as part of a tour to follow the release of the Dublin band’s debut album, Ephemera, in March.
And if you’re planning on going to this year’s Electric Picnic (Sept 2-4), be aware that the early bird offer on tickets ends this Sunday.
Sean Lynch’s Adventure: Capital is back from the Biennale in Venice and begins an Irish tour that begins in Limerick City Gallery of Art from Thursday.
In Cork, the exhibition of glass entitled Solas is at Wandesford Quay until Jan 29, showcasing some superb work in the medium.
The good folks behind the Body&Soul festival have announced a funding and bursary programme for artists to produce work for this year’s event.
The Graham Norton Show tonight has Matthew Perry from Friends and the ever-entertaining Miriam Margolyes, while Jonathan Ross tomorrow has the potentially more impressive duo of Michael Caine and Sylvestor Stallone.
Meanwhile, anyone with an interest in the music business should check out The Moguls tonight (BBC Four, 10pm), which looks at those all-powerful people behind the scenes.
Episode one features the managers, from Elvis’s Colonel Tom Parker; to the legendary Peter Grant of Led Zeppelin; and Justin Bieber’s guiding hand, Scooter Braun.
