Gigs round-up

FLOWDAN: The Grand Social, Dublin, tomorrow, Saturday 4 (€9)
Grime MC Flowdan would’ve torn the paint off the walls at the recent gig by his frequent collaborator The Bug at Opium Rooms — but better late than never.

Londoner Flowdan is one of garage and grime’s OGs — a scene pioneer and the man behind one of the most frightening set of bars ever — Skeng on The Bug’s LP London Zoo (below).

His latest album Disaster Piece is another underground cult heavy-hitter.

THE GLOAMING: National Concert Hall, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday; Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday week — ALL SOLD OUT
I thought we’d hit peak The Gloaming last year when they sold out five shows at the National Concert Hall — but they’re back now with a seven-night run.

If you’re a fan you’ll have seen them by now but if this is your first time expect a night of transcendent folk and trad, from a group that’s rewiring the form.

DO NOT SLEEP DUBLIN: District 8, Dublin, tonight, Friday 3 (€20)
The title of tonight’s event in District 8 is a clue to the state of your Saturday if you take the plunge.

UK DJ Darius Syrossian (pictured) heads up the night with deep house and techno, before his Do Not Sleep series hits Ibiza for the summer.

He’ll have plenty of help on the night from a crew who are headliners in their own right — Italian livewire Flashmob, Greek tech-house star Mihalis Safras and local boys Kaily and Dan Stritch. Check out buzz.ie for an interview with Mihalis Safras.

EMMA POLLOCK and RM HUBBERT: Workmans Club, Dublin, tonight, Friday 3 (€12)
After the IFI screens Lost in France — the new documentary about legendary Scottish indie label Chemikal Underground — two of the label’s cult heroes take over the Workmans Club in Dublin.

Expect a night of orchestral pop and dreamy indie, with everyone from the IFI piling in after the screening.

STRIKING SOUNDS: Jigsaw, Dublin, tomorrow, Saturday 4 (€10, BYOB)
Dublin Digital Radio hosts a female-fronted line-up performing in solidarity with Strike 4 Repeal — and since it’s BYOB make sure to dig a bit deeper if there’s a collection.

Acts include gothic alt-rock from Naoise Roo (pictured), ‘aggro-soul’ from Barq, Everything Shook’s gritty electro, Flecks’ synth-pop and DJ sets from GASH Collective and DDR DJs Staxx Lyrical.

THE AMAZONS: Whelan’s, Dublin, Tuesday 7 (€13)
In tune with 20-year cycles, grungey alt-rock is making a comeback these days, with most making a garage racket in the vein of Mudhoney and Bleach-era Nirvana.

The Amazons play with a bit more chops, channelling the big riff histrionics of Soundgarden and the melodic choruses of Biffy Clyro. They even go a little bit krautrock on Little Something.

They don’t have an album yet, but with six singles in two years and a spot on the BBC Sound of 2017 longlist, expect them to strike it while it’s hot.

ODDISEE: Sugar Club, Dublin, Thursday 9 (€15)
Washington MC Amir Mohamed el Khalifa aka Oddisee is cut from the same wax as
the classic 90s acts like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul — socially conscious rhymes over psychedelic soul, funk and jazz collages.

With 11 albums including new one The Iceberg, he’s got plenty to say and he’ll stay on message.