Something to do today: Whelan's record fair

I went to the first Whelan's record fair way back in August. It was raining, freezing, it was supposed to be summer. The records I was flicking through didn't interest me and I was ready to condemn the venture and go off in search of warming drinks. Then I found a gem of a record, not one I had ever heard of but one I knew I had to have. Suddenly everything was better and braving the wind and rain and the walk from the dart station seemed worth it. That's the beauty of a good record find, its like discovering buried treasure. That day the record sellers said they'd be back if it was a success. It's good to know that it was. In fact, it went so well that they moved it downstairs to the main venue. A city can never have too many decent second hand record sellers, or second hand book sellers (book fair anyone?). Hone your flicking skills as there are stacks of vinyl to get through, but it's worth it for that one unbeatable album.

The record I found, for €4

Whelan's record fair, Whelan's, Wexford St - today - 1pm - 5pm

First published here

Handsome Furs - tonight - Whelans

Canadian husband and wife duo Handsome Furs (Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry) return to Dublin tonight with a new album, Sound Kapital in tow. Months of touring has driven the pair to almost entirely abandon their guitar driven electro-rock for a more up-tempo, synthtastic sound. Their travels in Eastern Europe and the Far East have inspired a cacophany of sound that reflects the hot, bright, noisy metropolises of those regions. See them at Whelan’s tonight for a turbulent, beat driven, sweaty gig, like some sort of 21st century version of a riotous underground gig in 1980s East Berlin. Listen to Repatriated and Cheap Music to get into the album, but here’s hoping they play some of the excellent tunes from their first album Plague Park as well.

 

First published here.

Kings of Folk

Two legends of folk music, Andy Irvine and Dick Gaughan, play Whelans this Wednesday. Irvine, veteran of bands such as Planxty and Sweeney's Men and Gaughan, prolific Scottish folk and protest singer, perform together for the first time since the release of their 1983 album, Parallel Lines. It could quite possibly be the most important and most excellent folk gig since Planxty's 2004 reunion tour.

 

 Andy Irvine playing and singing The Blacksmith with Planxty in the 70s

 

Dick Gaughan - Bonnie Jeanie O'Bethelnie

I'm going to be yelling for these songs all night. 

Tickets are €20 from Ticketmaster oldflattop.com & WAV

  

http://www.andyirvine.com 

http://www.dickgaughan.co.uk