Arts Noticeboard: Online entertainment options

Mick Flannery has been hosting online 'mini-gigs' on his website

Ellie O’Byrne rounds up some of the virtual gigs, films and other events to keep you entertained during self-isolation.

Drop by Mick’s Virtual Gaff

Cork singer-songwriter Mick Flannery is hosting a series of “mini-gigs” by some of his favourite Irish and international fellow musicians and collaborators every second evening at 7pm.

Three Tunes at Mick’s Virtual Gaff is livestreamed on Flannery’s Facebook and Instagram. Nova Scotian powerhouse Mo Kenney will feature on April 1, and Galway folkster Niamh Regan follows on the 3rd of April. mick.flannery.musician/ or @mickflannerymusic

Binge-watch Jazz greats

Amidst uncertainty over the dates for this year’s festival due to Covid-19 restrictions, Switzerland’s famed Montreux Jazz Festival has released a free archive of over 50 full concert films from many of the greats that have performed on the shores of Lake Geneva in the festival’s 53-year history.

Full sets from acts including Wu-Tang Clan, James Brown, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, and The Raconteurs are now available for free; it requires making an account with music film streaming service Stingray Qello and entering the free code provided by the festival: www.montreuxjazzfestival.com

Pretend you’re in Triskel Christchurch at the movies

Arthouse movie distributors 606 Distribution are supporting the cinemas they work with by donating 10% of their profits for watching festival favourite System Crasher on their platform to shut cinemas that were due to screen the movie.

The searing drama has received five star reviews all round, not least for Helena Zengel’s astounding performance in the central role as , traumatised nine-year-old Benni.

Follow the instructions on 606 Distribution’s website and select Triskel from the drop-down menu. 606distribution.co.uk/support-your-local-independent-cinema/

Dance, dance, dance

Catherine Mahon Buckley of CADA

CADA Performing Arts, headed up by Catherine Mahon Buckley, have been trying to keep their students buoyed up during the Covid-19 lockdown with a series of challenges, exercise routines, online dance classes and theatre workshops.

They’ve just announced a children’s dance competition for the coming week, with details on their Facebook page, while two of their instructors have launched livestream Zumba classes for the over-18s over on the CADA Instagram. www.facebook.com/CADA-Performing-Arts-138839016144761/

Talking Pictures at the Crawford

The Crawford Art gallery have launched a “Homelife” page on their website: Sunday workshops with artist Julie Forrester, with regular updates and creative prompts across the gallery’s social media platforms on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Short videos begin by showing how to make your own sketchbook for the Homelife series; the last one was an exploration of pencil rubbings, using leaves.

Follow the gallery’s social media or check out the Homelife tab on their website: crawfordartgallery.ie/homelife/

Creative Writing

UCC’s Creative Writing department will be showcasing a miscellany of fiction, poetry and non-fiction starting on Wednesday, April 1, under the title Creative Corona.

Donated by students on the MA in Creative Writing programme as well as staff, alumni and established writers with connections to UCC, a new piece of creative writing will be made available online for free each day. creativewritingucc.com

ISPCC live streams

Picture This Perform for the ISPCC online this Wednesday April 1

The Instagram live streams in aid of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) kicked off amidst much fanfare by Hozier last Friday.

On Wednesday, April 1, it’s the turn of Picture This to perform from their self-isolation, with Gavin James due to play the following night.

Childline say their calls have tripled since the beginning of the Covid-19 restrictions. 

All streams go out at 7pm on the @ispcc_childline account.

Visit your local e-library

While library staff have been redeployed during the Covid-19 restrictions, physical libraries have, naturally, closed. 

But online services have been ramped up: your library card now gives free access to the Borrowbox app

Borrowbox app to borrow ebooks straight to your phone, while a range of local and historical books published by Cork City Libraries are free to download in PDF form.

Other offerings include audiobooks, online exhibitions and online classes which are free to access with a library card. www.corkcitylibraries.ie/en/