Scene and heard: The latest entertainment news
With the great Kate Bush racing to the top of the charts for the first time in 30 years, another big seller over the next few days will be The Weeknd’s new album Starboy. You’ve probably already heard the Toronto-born artist’s collaboration with Daft Punk.
Other guests to appear over the 18 tracks include Lana Del Rey and Kendrick Lamar. Max Martin, the man behind ‘Can’t Feel My Face’, has also contributed a track. Cork band the Frank & Walters are also on the release trail, with a new single, ‘Goddess of Athena’, being accompanied by a nifty new video that was largely filmed in Athens. Meanwhile, RTÉ may be giving Bosco his P45, but the national broadcaster hopes to stay down with the young people by becoming
Meanwhile, RTÉ may be giving Bosco his P45, but the national broadcaster hopes to stay down with the young people by becoming title sponsor of the Choice Music Prize. The shortlist for that event’s album of the year in Ireland will be released in January. Finally, our almost weekly death notices from the music industry takes in Colonel Abrams, the man behind the ’80s RnB classic, ‘Trapped’. Last year, a crowdfunding campaign had attempted to raise money for the New Yorker who was homeless, without medical cover, and suffering from diabetes.
Green Day (June 29) will be one of the bands playing Royal Hospital Kilmainham next summer, while Fleet Foxes play Iveagh Gardens on July 14. Beardyman brings his Dream Team to Cyprus Avenue in Cork tonight, while David Kitt is joined by Michele Stodart (Magic Numbers) tonight at Live at St Luke’s.
Newry-born brothers Brendan and Declan Murphy, aka the Four Of Us, are at Triskel next Saturday. Picture This have sold out their first Marquee date already, so the Kildare duo have announced a second gig for the Cork venue on June 9. Tickets on sale tomorrow.
IFTN reports that filming is currently under way in Connemara and Wicklow on Black 47, the Famine-era drama starring Hugo Weaving and Jim Broadbent. Moana is the big release this weekend, with reviewers fairly united in their praise for Disney’s animated tale of a Polynesian teenager’s adventure. Another new film today is Sully, featuring Hollywood super-heavyweights Clint Eastwood (director) and Tom Hanks (star), but reports suggest the true tale of the New York pilot who landed safely on the Hudson river is grand rather than great.
At Triskel in Cork, offerings from Sunday includes Dog Eat Dog, with Nicolas Cage and Willem Dafoe; and I, Olga Hepnarová, the biographical drama of a Czech mass killer. Next Thursday, Cork Cine Club at St John’s College is showing Japanese film Sweet Bean.
It’s a long way off, but it is likely that John Bishop, pictured, will sell out all his gigs on what is quite an extensive Irish tour next autumn. The Liverpool funnyman has included seven venues on a tour that includes Cork Opera House (Sept 19-20); Dolans, Limerick (Sept 22-23); and 3Arena, Dublin (Oct 6-8). Russell Howard is staying in Dublin for his visit in February, but is playing five dates at Vicar Street (22-26). American stand-up Will Franken is at City Limits in Cork tonight and tomorrow.
The Affordable Art Exhibition at Wandesford Quay Gallery in Cork from December 8 to 17 will showcase the work of students and graduates from the Crawford College of Art and Design. Every piece is priced at less than €250. The Abbey in Dublin has announced it is putting on two of Enda Walsh’s plays in the spring: Arlington (Feb 10-25) and Ballyturk (March 3-11). Walsh seems to be one of the busiest men in showbiz at the moment, and is also working on a new play with Corcadorca in Cork, the company where it all began for the Dublin-born playwright.

