Scene + Heard: Entertainment news round-up
The annual Forbes list of DJs’ earnings is always worth a squiz, and part of the fun is winding up ‘real’ musicians with the tales of gazillions made by the guys (no women in the top 10) who just spin a few records. Actually, since the advent of the memory stick, they don’t even have to do that.
So, top of the pile again is Calvin Harris, with estimated earnings from just Djing in 2015 reckoned to be $63m (€55.8m). Don’t forget, the 32-year-old Scot has probably also earned a few bob from his various other ventures. Tiesto is in second place at $38m, while David Guetta reportedly earned $28m, much of it on the back of a lucrative residency in Las Vegas. Recent Irish visitor Steve Aoki is in fifth with $23.5m.
Poor old Leonard Cohen, who had to return to touring in old age due to financial issues, must squirm at such figures, but the 82-year-old will probably be pushed further into the black after the release of a new album next month. You Want It Darker is comprised of all new songs, and will be the Canadian’s 14th studio offering. It has been produced by his son Adam Cohen, 43.
Other interesting albums on the way are Van Morrison’s Keep Me Singing, preceded by a new single, ‘Too Late’; and Jack White’s Acoustic Recordings 1998-2016.
The countdown to Electric Picnic (Sep 2-4) is very much on, and it looks as if your togs might be the third thing into your bag after those Hunter wellies and baby wipes. Earlier this week, organisers revealed a nifty new swimming area.
Some of the earlier sessions at Stradbally Lake are reserved for families (kids are also entitled to clear their hangovers!), and supervision is also promised to keep the grown-ups safe.
Metropolis (Nov 3-5) is a bit further away, but tickets for the event at the RDS went on sale this morning. DJ Shadow and Grace Jones are among the headliners. Declan O’Rourke returns to the White Horse in Ballincollig on Sunday, August 21, while punk originals The Damned are at Cyprus Avenue in Cork next Thursday.
Tickets are already on sale for Robert Glasper at the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival (Oct 29), while jazzers will also be excited by the announcement of the Charles Lloyd Quartet at Vicar Street in Dublin for Nov 16.
The music scene in Cork has suffered by the closure of several leading venues in recent times, so the establishment of a new night, The Sudden Club, at Amp on Hanover Street. American singer Sassyblack — ‘electronic psychedelic soul’ — guests at the opening night on September 10, and there will also be a performance from Irish R&B act Lakerama.
Graham Norton has become the latest viewer to rave about Cork-based film The Young Offenders. “It captures everything that makes Ireland so special — it’s very funny, outrageous, and full of heart. Sell all your cocaine and buy a ticket to see this film,” he said of the comedy that gets its premiere at Mahon Omniplex next Wednesday, before a national release on Sep 16.
Viva is the big release on the Irish scene today, with David Brent: Life on the Road also offering decent viewing. For the smallies, Pete’s Dragon has been getting thumbs-up all round. Bobby Sands: 66 Days continues its run, with the Gate and Omniplex cinemas in Cork among those showing the documentary on the IRA hunger striker.
Triskel in Cork has a screening of a remastered version of Highlander tomorrow, with French films Cosmosand Summertimeon the venue’s roster from Sunday.
