HAPPENINGS: A few things worth checking out around the city

Route 66

Following on from a standing ovation at their Live in Concert Show at the Draiocht Theatre in Blanchardstown last month, the Route 66 16 piece Big Band bring their unique mix of music northwards to the Axis Theatre in Ballymun on Saturday, October 15 at 8pm. 

Their programme takes the audience on a musical trip from the big band era of the ‘40s right up to date including numbers made famous by Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Adele, Tina Turner, Tom Jones, Amy Winehouse and many more and has something to please all tastes. Seats for this show are expected to be in demand so book early on 01-8832100 or at www.axisballymun.ie.

The Secret Life of Suitcases

Puppet maker Ailie Cohen is behind this super show for kids that’s taking place in Draoicht, Dublin 15 next Friday.

The puppet show features Larry, whose world gets turned upside down by a fantastical flying suitcase taking him further than he ever thought possible.

The show is brought to you by Spréacha, Draíocht’s international programme for children and is presented in partnership with Fingal County Council.

Tickets available for 4pm on Friday, October 14 or Saturday, October 15 at 11am at €7 for adults and €5 for children aged under four

Songs About Home

A unique evening of musical, vocal and spoken word performances, Songs About Home reflects stories of home, homelessness and creative home making in the Grangegorman neighbourhood. These stories are emerging in conversations with the inhabitant-participants of this unique part of Dublin city as part of an ongoing, collaborative public art project, Home on the Grange.

Performers include Mary and the Pigeons, Susannah De Wrixon, Ciaran Crilly, the DeCourcey String Quartet (leader Philip Dodd), and choir Mellow Tonics. The event is free and it’s happening on Saturday, October 15 from 7-9pm at St Laurence’s, DIT Grangegorman (nearest entry Grangegorman Lwr). Find out more and reserve a space at homeonthegrange.ie/songs-about-home-booking/

Pumpkinfest 

Skerries Educate Together National School (Skerries ETNS) presents its first annual Pumpkinfest and Craft Fair this Sunday, October 16 in the school grounds from 3pm to 6pm. 

It promises to be a fun-filled afternoon, with activities for all the family, and a craft fair featuring a wide range of high quality, locally produced craftworks. The event is open to the public, and is free to enter.

Building on the success of a Halloween-themed garden party held just for the school community in 2015, this first public Pumpkinfest fun day will be packed with family-friendly activities, from a spooky bake-off and cake sale to arts and craft activities, face-painting, a wrap-a-mummy contest, and much more 

This is Palestine 

Riverdance founder John McColgan will be exhibiting his photographic collection, ‘This is Palestine’, over five days in Dublin starting this weekend. 

The collection of images are from McColgan’s recent trip to Gaza and the West Bank with Trócaire.

The exhibition will run from Friday to Tuesday, October 14-18 at the RHA Gallery, 15 Ely Place, Dublin 2.

Exhibition of paintings

Visual artist Dave Flynn embarks on his first Dublin solo exhibition in the Athena Room @ Sol Art, Dawson Street, this weekend with a selection of his Pop, Political and Psychedelic artworks.

‘A World of Many Colours’, an exhibition of paintings, opens on Friday, October 14 at 6pm and runs until Thursday, October 20 (1pm to 5.30pm daily). 

It stems from Flynn’s practice over the past 18 months, which has seen him work on more Pop, Narrative and Psychedelic influenced works. 

These subjects come from his childhood love of cartoons and classic animation and also from his adolescence, where he developed a love of underground comics and psychedelic imagery via record album and poster art. Tony Strickland will curate the exhibition.  

Celebrating Jennifer Johnston

Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre is hosting a special event to celebrate the work of writer, Jennifer Johnston during the Dalkey Creates Writing Festival October from October 13 to 16. Jennifer Johnston is a novelist, dramatist and short story writer. She has written more than 20 novels and many plays.

The celebration will feature a selection of her work and a reading by the author. Beautifully played by Geraldine, the show is directed, with her usual sensitive, consummate skill, by Caroline Fitzgerald.

Jennifer Johnston will read from ‘Naming the Stars’ and talk with the audience afterwards. Tickets: €12.50. Book online at www.dalkeycastle.com/product/celebrating-jennifer-johnston

Corey Harris 

The acoustic blues/reggae/African musician Corey Harris who appeared on Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Blues’ documentary plays The Solely Blues Club at Arthur’s on Thomas Street on October 29 at 8.30pm. 

Limited tickets for this intimate 70-seated show are available from Eventbrite on 01-402091

Every Brilliant Thing

Following its third UK and first international tour, the hugely acclaimed Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahue will make its Irish debut in Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire from October 11 to 16 as part of Dublin Theatre Festival 2016.

Audiences will be treated to plays tackling an eclectic range of subjects from testicular cancer to kids with super powers written by some of the UK’s finest playwrights Bruntwood Prize winners Alan Harris and Luke Norris, and award winning scriptwriter for stage, TV, film and radio Katie Douglas and visiting work from Fringe First winner Katie Bonna.