Five For Your Radar: Kneecap play Cork, Rory Gallagher fest in Donegal...
Kneecap play two shows in the Savoy in Cork; right, the annual Rory Gallagher festival hits Ballyshannon.
The ‘world’s friendliest film festival’ continues this weekend with some star-studded names coming to the West Cork village. On Friday, there is a tribute to the late Manchán Magan with a screening of , while locally made horror is screened at the Palace Cinema at 9pm. Cork-born director John Crowley is in conversation with Lenny Abrahamson on Saturday, and Sunday features Robert Sheehan chatting with Maureen Hughes.
After three seasons of The Mandalorian on Disney+, which took place across the galaxy in fan-favourite settings, The Mandalorian and Grogu brings the story to the big screen for the first Star Wars cinematic event since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Pedro Pascal returns as Mando alongside loveable Grogu as they attempt to rescue Rotta the Hutt in exchange for information from the Hutt clan on a New Republic target.
Cork Folk Festival founder Noel Shine and his partner Mary Greene are Greene & Shine and launch their new album Like Sweet Summer Rains with a show at The Corner House on Saturday. They have made music alongside their daughter Ellie as RTÉ Folk Awards-nominated band Greenshine, but as Ellie tries life abroad, the duo decided to set out their stall for this new chapter. Blending folk, Americana, and indie influences, the record features original songs alongside interpretations of tracks by Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Jessie Winchester.
Seven years on from their Cork debut at Spailpín Fánach during Quarter Block Party in February 2019, Kneecap are set to return to the city for a headline show at Live at the Marquee on July 6, amid a packed summer of festival appearances across Europe. Before that triumphant return, however, the Belfast trio bring their Irish No 1 album to Cork’s Savoy for two intimate release shows. Taking place at 6.30pm and 9pm, the 90-minute performances will see Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí perform live on stage for a portion of that.
The 22nd installment of the festival in the town where Rory was born promises the usual craic, crowds, and killer riffs. More than 30 acts will play across 15 stages over the bank holiday weekend, paying tribute to the late guitar legend. ZZ Top’s Billy F Gibbons is the headline attraction in a coup for the festival. Rory’s longtime bassist Gerry McAvoy brings Band of Friends back, while Johnny Gallagher and Boxty, The Zac Schulze Gang, and Nine Below Zero will all take us A Million Miles Away.
