SUPER COOL UPCOMING EVENTS


Colm Ó Riain • October 10th, Keys Jazz Bistro

Irish-born virtuoso violinist and composer Colm Ó Riain returns to Keys with his ensemble and some special guests to soulfully explore the connection between Ireland and jazz as well as a host of other musical cultures. West African percussion underpinning plaintive Middle Eastern melodies, Flamenco duende driving jazz improvisations, and all topped by fierce fiery Irish fiddling. Colm will be joined by maestros Eamonn Flynn (keyboards), Joe Kyle, Jr (bass) and Wade Peterson (percussion)
Don’t miss the last performance of 2024! Actually, there are two performances – 7pm & 9pm

Keys Jazz Bistro
Tickets: keysjazzbistro.com ($35) 


LitQuake 2024 • October Dates

An Evening with Booker Prize Winner Paul Lynch • October 11, Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley
Event Listing

If the accolades for Irish writer Paul Lynch’s Prophet Song are any indication, the novel is no less than required reading for our turbulent times. Awarded the 2023 Booker Prize, Lynch’s fifth novel recounts in exacting, all-too-plausible detail the inexorable descent of Ireland’s liberal democracy into authoritarian rule. Booker Prize chair Esi Edugyan called the novel “soul-shattering and true,” and noted that readers “will not soon forget its warnings.” Join us for one of Lynch’s few North American events in honor of the paperback release of Prophet Song; he will be in conversation with Irish writer Ethel Rohan, author most recently of the novel Sing, I. 

FREE, $10–15 suggested donation. Book sales for this event coordinated by Mrs.Dalloway’s Bookstore of Literary and Garden Arts.


The Woman Behind the Door: Roddy Doyle with Dave Eggers • October 16 BATS Improv
Event Listing

Join old friends Roddy Doyle and Dave Eggers as they discuss Doyle’s newest novel, a powerful, moving mother-daughter story filled with struggle and redemption by the Booker Prize winner. A follow up to 1997’s standout The Woman Who Walked into Doors, Doyle’s latest, The Women Behind the Door, finds Paula Spencer—mother, grandmother, widow, addict, survivor at sixty-six—finally starting to live her life. That is until her eldest, Nicola, turns up on her doorstep one day. Nicola is everything Paula wasn’t—independent, affluent, a loving wife and mother, a “success”—but now she is suddenly determined to leave it all behind. As Nicola gradually confides in Paula the secret that unleashed this moment of crisis, mother and daughter must untangle past memory, trauma, and revelations to confront what they mean to each other—and who they want to be.

$17 adv (book bundle avail.) / $20 door
Book sales for this event coordinated by Inkspell Books.


RECENT EVENTS


Glen Hansard • The Fillmore, October 3 and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Golden Gate Park, October 4-6

IRISH CULTURE BAY AREA SPECIAL! WIN TWO TICKETS! Email [email protected]

Glen Hansard is the lead singer and a founding member of Irish rock band The Frames. He is one half of folk duo The Swell Season, along with Czech pianist and vocalist Markéta Irglová. Together, they share an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Falling Slowly,” from the film Once, in which they both starred. He has released five solo albums, including the GRAMMY-nominated Didn’t He Ramble (2015), as well as a number of EPs. Glen’s tour will promote his first new album in four years, ‘All That Was East Is West Of Me Now’ more info and tickets here


SF Irish Film Festival • Delancey St. Theater, Sept. 19-21

More information and tickets available at sfirishfilm.com

KNEECAP film screening, Delancey Street Theater – July 26

The Irish Film Festival, Irish Culture Bay Area, and Sony Pictures Classics, invite you and a guest to a screening of KNEECAP

When fate brings Belfast teacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed ‘low life scum’ Naoise and Liam Og, the needle drops on a hip hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish, they lead a movement to save their mother tongue.

Following the screening there will be a Q&A with director Rich Peppiatt and Kneecap.


John Bishop, Palace of Fine Arts • August 2

The comedian John Bishop is coming to town next Friday, August 2nd to perform at The Palace of Fine Arts. He’s a massive supporter of Liverpool FC and extremely proud of his Irish heritage.
If you’re not familiar, JOHN is one of the biggest comedians from the UK and a former footballer himself. Born in Liverpool, JOHN has been an active participant in charity work for Liverpool and football-related initiatives.
more
Enter our ICBA ticket giveaway by emailing [email protected] with “Bishop” in subject line


Girl From North Country, GG Theatre – July 30 – August 18

The North American Tour of GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY will perform a limited engagement at BroadwaySF’s Golden Gate Theatre (1 Taylor St., San Francisco) beginning Tuesday, July 30 and running through Sunday, August 18, 2024. Written and directed by celebrated playwright Conor McPherson and featuring Tony Award-winning orchestrations by Simon HaleGIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY reimagines 20 legendary songs of Bob Dylan as they’ve never been heard before, including “Forever Young,” “All Along The Watchtower,” “Hurricane,” “Slow Train Coming,” and “Like A Rolling Stone.” Tickets ($49–$150) are available now by visiting broadwaysf.com. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 888-746-1799 opt. 3 or emailing [email protected].


San Francisco Sea Music Festival 2024 • August 17

The San Francisco Sea Music Festival will be a lively day of free sea music and festivities, bringing the whole waterfront to life. Set against the picturesque backdrop of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Fisherman’s Wharf, this exciting event will feature multiple stages at Aquatic Park, the Crab Wheel Plaza, and more. We will be celebrating sea music traditions from around the world and offering a diverse lineup of music and dance performances. Join us for a music-filled day, honoring the spirit of the sea! Liz Carroll, Maria Muldaur and Her Red Hot Bluesiana Band, Shay Black, Amelia Hogan, Richard Mandel and Maureen Brennan among the extensive lineup.

More info here