The Guide: The events to see, the shows to book, and the ones to catch before they end

Event of the week

The Cat Laughs

From Friday, June 2nd-Sunday, June 4th, various venues/times/prices, Kilkenny; thecatlaughs.com

Side-splitting, thigh-slapping, breathtaking and whatever else tickles your fancy? That “whatever else” includes something this established comedy event (curated this year by artistic director Angela Squire and festival diehard Naoise Nunn) has never previously engaged with: a raft of UK-based stand-up comedians that haven’t yet performed in Ireland. Of course, big names in comedy are very much present (Deirdre O’Kane, David O’Doherty, Dylan Moran, Alison Spittle, Barry Murphy and Colm O’Regan) but it’s great to see new names, new faces and (hopefully) new jokes on display. The full line-up is on the festival website.

Gigs

Bonnie Raitt

Thursday, June 1st, Vicar Street, Dublin; 7pm; sold out; ticketmaster.ie

Bonnie Raitt (who recently won yet another Grammy for best song of the year) has been garnering plaudits for her work since she started in the early 1970s but it wasn’t until the 1990s when she reached the commercial highs with a sequence of albums (1991′s Luck of the Draw, 1994′s Longing in Their Hearts, 1998′s Fundamental, each of which featured songs written by Paul Brady) that she became a household name. Classy blues-rock awaits those fortunate enough to have a ticket.

The Lumineers

Friday, June 2nd, St Anne’s Park, Dublin; 5pm; €49.90; ticketmaster.ie

It took US band The Lumineers 10 years before they released their self-titled debut album in 2012, but since then they have rocketed to continued success – not bad going for a band that dragged itself up by the scruff of the neck, whose early days sweating in Denver, Colorado, clubs and bars were driven by their love of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. The band’s latest album, last year’s Brightside, combines their rugged if reliable Americana with folk-pop appeal. In contrast, the special guest support act, Sigrid, will surely raise the pop music temperature with her quality tunes.

Live at the Marquee

From Saturday, May 27th-Saturday, June 24th, The Marquee, Cork, various prices/times; ticketmaster.ie

The month-long series of gigs at the impressive pop-up marquee venue located just outside Cork city features comedy (Tommy Tiernan, John Colleary), podcast (My Therapist Ghosted Me) and buckets of music (The Frames, Aitch, Olly Murs, BellX1, Soda Blonde, Ye Vagabonds, Mimi Webb, Christy Moore, The Waterboys, True Tides, Rod Stewart, David Kitt, Lea Heart, and Jenny Greene). Visit aikenpromotions.com for full details of dates and ticket prices.

Visual art

Victoria Morton and Merlin James: Double Shuffle

From Friday, June 2nd-July 8th, Kerlin Gallery, Dublin; kerlingallery.com

Double Shuffle presents the work of two artists (Cardiff’s Merlin James and Glasgow’s Victoria Morton, who exhibits for the first time in Dublin) who share interconnected approaches – Morton’s paintings burst with glistening vitality, while James’s works are well known for their stunning disparateness. The exhibition features the full gamut of the artists’ respective work, which is perhaps best underpinned by Morton’s description of art: “Paintings are not just a flat thing to look at; they can be felt like clothes you put on or a room you sit in.”

Stage

Abigail’s Party

Monday, May 29th-Friday, June 2nd, The Everyman, Cork; 8pm; €31/€28; everymancork.com

While the 1977 BBC Play for Today iteration of Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party has been lauded as a landmark in British television, its stage revivals suffer, perhaps, from comparisons (especially with the play’s original lead character, Beverly, played by Leigh’s then wife, Alison Steadman). Cue the arrival of another revival (by London Classic Theatre), which plays exclusively at Cork’s Everyman Theatre. “The play is a lamentation, not a sneer,” said Leigh of his tragicomic work focusing on the class divide, aspirations, and cultural preferences. Prepare to laugh and cringe at almost the same time.

Musical

Strictly Ballroom: The Musical

Monday, May 29th-Saturday, June 3rd, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin; 7.30pm; €55/€40/€35/€30; ticketmaster.ie

In Baz Luhrmann’s 1992 film we were advised to put on our happy face when pitted against negativity. There will be no problem heeding that advice during the musical version of this most amusing Australian-set story, which sees dissenting ballroom dancer Scott Hastings displease the conservative members of ballroom’s governing body. Forced to team up with ingénue Fran, Scott gradually overcomes his reluctance to dance with her. Strictly Come Dancing’s Kevin Clifton and Dancing on Ice finalist Fay Brookes costar as the leads. Craig Revel Horwood (Strictly Come Dancing’s long-term judge) directs and co-choreographs.

Dance

Lovetrain2020

Saturday, May 27th/Sunday, May 28th, Abbey Theatre, Dublin; 7.30pm; €40/€28/€20; abbeytheatre.ie

As part of Dublin Dance Festival, Emanuel Gat Dance Company presents a multi-limbed celebration of the groovy music and upbeat mood of the 1980s. It isn’t often you get to experience a dance production that has at its heart the music of Tears for Fears, but that’s what we have here. Israeli-born Gat looks at the connections between movement and music, based on, he has said, “finding a certain balance between a coherent set of directives shared by everyone, but one that has a quality of being open for individual interpretation”.

Still running

The Disappointed Tourist

Until Sunday, May 28th, Butler Gallery, Kilkenny; butlergallery.ie

The compelling exhibition by New York City-based conceptual artist Ellen Harvey is based on the premise that while as individuals we may need to restore and repair what has been destroyed, we ultimately can’t. What remains are memories and/or images, but are they enough?

Book it this week

Rickie Lee Jones, National Stadium, Dublin; July 9th; ticketmaster.ie

Feist, National Stadium, Dublin; September 6th; ticketmaster.ie

Mahalia, Vicar Street, Dublin; October 13th; ticketmaster.ie

Ute Lemper, NCH, Dublin; December 2nd; nch.ie