Scene and Heard

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COMEDY CAPERS: Louis CK is one of the biggest names in US comedy at the moment, and he brings his latest stand-up show to the 3Arena, Dublin, on August 15 for his first Irish appearance.

We see much more of his fellow American, Reginald D Hunter, and the laidback Georgian returns to Ireland in June for a tour that includes Cork Opera House, June 3; Cat Laughs Comedy festival in Kilkenny, June 4-6; and Vicar Street, Dublin, June 9 and 11.

Joanne McNally is at City Limits in Cork tonight and tomorrow as part of a bill that also includes Davey Reilly and Ross Browne. English music comedy act Abandoman is at Cyprus Avenue tomorrow. And for those who can plan far into the future — not least as this gig will sell out — Al Murray will bring his Pub Landlord character to the Everyman on May 5 next year.

MUSIC NEWS: The music world celebrated a big anniversary day on Monday, as it marked exactly 50 years since the release of two seminal albums. The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and Bob Dylan’s Blonde On Blonde both came out on May 16, 1966, and both still feature in discussions about the greatest albums of all time.

The Divine Comedy might not hit the same heights, but the announcement of Neil Hannon and co’s 11th album has caused a stir in certain circles. Foreverland will be available in October.

Finally, Drake’s latest album, Views, has been getting some poor reviews, but it has helped push him into pole position as the most played artist ever on Spotify, with 3.212bn streams, according to the Kworb website. He pushes Justin Bieber into second place, with Ed Sheeran third.

GIG WISE: The Irish Museum of Modern Art has had no shortage of curators over the years, but Cork actor Cillian Murphy takes on the role in a slightly different form as he selects the acts for the Summer Party at the venue on July 16. German pianist Hauschka, Gloaming fiddler Caoimhin O’Raghalliagh and Irish band Meltybrains are on the bill.

Unfortunately, he overlooked his hometown’s heroes John Spillane and Jimmy Crowley, but those legendary Leeside music figures are joining forces for a concert of Cork songs at Live At St Luke’s tonight.

Also in Cork, former Strangler singer Hugh Cornwall is at Cyprus Ave next Wednesday; while Mike Badger of The La’s and his West Cork-based chum Tim Peacock will read from their music scene book, The Rhythm & The Tide, and perform a few tunes at Gulpd Café at Triskel on June 8. As good causes go, they don’t come much better than the Peter McVerry Trust and newly formed light classical group, the Northern Lights Ensemble, will be performing a concert in aid of the homeless charity at the NCH on June 2.

FILM TIPS: The big release this week was X-Men: Apocalypse, the final instalment in the prequel trilogy of the franchise. It got an unusual opening of after midnight on Tuesday, and perhaps all but the most hardcore fans have been happy to wait until the weekend to see it. As ever, Jennifer Lawrence and our own Michael Fassbender lead an impressive cast.

Meanwhile, John Carpenter is probably best known as the director of such films as Halloween and Escape from New York, but he’s also a composer who soundtracked many of his own movies.

He’ll be playing some of those familiar tunes at a gig at Vicar Street in Dublin on October 25. On Sunday, director Whit Stillman will be at the IFI for a preview screening of his Jane Austen adaptation, Love & Friendship. Triskel in Cork has Holocaust tale Son of Saul from Sunday.