The 18th Fringe Festival in Dublin might just be the biggest one yet, with this year's festival seeing up to 525 events taking place across numerous venues, dates and times. Around 150,000 people are expected to have at least one Fringe experience this year when Dublin is turned into what the organisers are calling a 'dream factory' - a showcase of great creative talent from across the globe. While some people me associate Fringe primarily with theatre and art, there's also a music programme this and every year and below are just a few of the upcoming highlights.
You can purchase tickets for available Absolut Fringe shows via entertainment.ie/tickets
Efterklang - Meeting House Square - 14th September, 8pm
Scandinavian group Efterklang are one of the few bands that the word 'unique' truly applies to. The Danish group, whose fourth album Piramida is out on 4Ad later this month, will be joined on stage by the Major Lift Orchestra and conductor Matthew Coorey for their show. Equally adept at rocking your socks off, or a more measured orchestral approach (and frequently both), Efterklang's Meeting House Square performance is the biggest "must see" musical date on the Fringe calendar.
Kormac's Big Band - Meeting House Square - 14th September, 10.30pm
Anyone who saw Kormac's Big Band last week at Electric Picnic (or the Body & Soul festival before that) will know exactly how fun these guys are in person. The stage at Meeting House Square will be packed with performers who seem to be having the time of their lives - and that feeling, as so often happens at Kormac gigs, transfers seamlessly to the crowd. For pure unbridled fun and danceability, you can't do better than Kormac's Big Band.
Rockeroke - Meeting House Square - 15th September, 10.30pm
Rockeroke is the closest you'll ever get to being in a band unless, well, you're actually in a band. A full backing band will be behind you as you belt out some of your favourite hits to your mates, fulfilling those deep-seated fantasies 'singing into a hairbrush' moments you had when you were younger. 90 minutes of unbridled fun.
Rubberbandits and Pop Ceili - Meeting House Square - 22nd September, 10.30pm
Whether you've seen their hilarious 'Horse Outside' video, or listened to Willie O'Dea defending them on Joe Duffy's radio show you're sure to know all about Rubberbandits by now, unless you've been living under some sort of rock for the past couple of years. BlindBoy Boatclub and Mr Chrome have graduated from the streets of Limerick to become one of Ireland's finest live acts. Their funny/filthy/hilarious live show is sure to sell out, see get your tickets post-haste!
