While many people in the country are dusting off their festival wellies and making last-minute tent purchases in anticipation of Electric Picnic, some of us aren’t going. To save you much aggrieved non-attendants a weekend of mournfully listening to the headline acts on Spotify while weeping openly, here’s a list of a all the different things happening around Dublin - some musical, some not - throughout the weekend.
FRIDAY, 4TH SEPTEMBER
Happenings Open Air Cinema presents GREASE at Leinster Cricket Club
Happenings will be screening 1971 musical ‘Grease’, the classic tale of a girl sewing herself into spandex and taking up smoking to get the man of her dreams (and lung cancer, probably.) Tickets are €6, movie starts 7PM, and Ben ‘n’ Jerry’s will be handing out free ice cream. More info here
Pete Kennedy at Whelan’s Live
Irish born country singer-songwriter Pete Kennedy will take the stage at 8pm in Whelan’s after a string of shows in Nashville, New York and Atlanta. Tickets €15, available here
Theories Divide at Fibber Magees
Dublin metal band Theories Divide will be fundraising for their album in Fibber Magees this Friday, supported by a whole catalogue of head-banging-worthy bands including FOXDIE, Pethrophia and DIstance Ireland. Tickets €5, Doors 8pm. More info here
Bad Boy Jake at Patriot’s Inn, Kilmainham
Blues rock band Bad Boy Jake will be kicking off at 9:30pm with tunes from the past four decades right up to present day. Entry is free, more info here
SATURDAY, 5TH SEPTEMBER
Lee Fields & The Expressions at The Sugar Club
Get down with your funky selves. Lee Fields - nicknamed Little James Brown due to his likeness, both physical and vocal, to the famous crooner - will be bringing soul to the Sugar Club. Show starts 7:30pm, tickets €22.50. More info and ticket purchases here
Happenings Open Air Cinema presents UP at Sandymount Green
Though the primary objective of this list is to prevent crying you may crave some cathartic emotional experience in a public setting. Happenings have got you covered with a screening of this Pixar classic. Bring a picnic (no booze, sorry guys), a warm jacket and some tissues to mop up your tears for when that montage plays. Doors 7PM, tickets €5 on the door. More info here
Midnight Hour w/ The #1s, Oh Boland & Squatter Croup at Whelan’s
Catch some late night tunes and a schneaky pint if you’re so inclined. The #1s would be a good shout for anyone seeking something with a My Morning Jacket/Tame Impala kinda vibe, up tempo but with just the right amount of wistful nostalgia. Entry free before 10:30pm, with club entry applying after that. More info (and guestlist!) here
The Delines at Whelan’s
With a member of The Decemberists on keyboard and two other Portlanders in the band, The Delines are the intimate hipster ensemble of your dreams. Doors 8pm and tiickets €15, available here
The Matthews at Whelan’s Upstairs
If The Delines aren’t your jam, Wicklow born brothers and alt-rock trio The Matthews are bringing their powerhouse sound and downright impressive heads of hair to Whelan’s Upstairs. Doors, 8pm, tickets €6, more info here
SUNDAY, 6TH SEPTEMBER
Jellyfish as part of Dublin Fringe Festival at The Project Arts Centre
“It’s about questioning everything and the whole world shattering around us” This quote - taken from the description of one-woman Fringe show ‘Jellyfish’ - probably aptly describes how some of you feel in the wake of not scoring an EP ticket. Evidently, Alice Malseed knows how you feel. Show starts 2pm. Tickets €10, available here
Amazing Apples at Whelan’s Live
Whelan’s comes through yet again this weekend, bringing you five-piece Indie/folk band from Galway who have recently released their debut album. Tickets €8 adv/ €10 on the door/ €8 on the door if Galway win the hurling (no, seriously.) Available here
All Ireland Hurling Finals - Tipperary v. Galway at Croke Park
If you’re a sports fan you can watch two teams beat the shit out of each other with sticks go head to head to claim the All Ireland title this Sunday, 2pm. More info here
Stradbally Schmadbally. Sure we've plenty to be at.