Now that we've all had a month to hibernate it's high time we start getting out and about again, right? With this in mind we at CI Studio have compiled what we're looking forward to seeing and doing this month, along with sharing what we're listening to, reading and eating for February. We've put together 55 (!) recommendations to keep you all going for the next 28 days, from restaurants we think you should try out, podcasts you might listen to and books you should at least take a quick flick through. Read on...
GIGS WE'RE GOING TO
Bicep + Hammer, District 8
2 Feb, 11.00pm – 3.00am
The Belfast DJ duo have quickly established themselves on the international festival and club circuit via their deep digging DJ sets and their record label Feel My Bicep. They will be joined by rising star Hammer.
eventbrite.ie
Woweembeem, The Sugar Club
3 Feb, 9.00pm – 3.00am
Celebratory sounds to nourish the soul. Expect afrobeat, reggae, latin and rare grooves coming all away from Africa, the Caribbean, South America and all corners of the globe.
thesugarclub.com
Full Moon Psytrance LX-D’s, Voodoo Lounge
9 Feb, 9.00pm – 3.00am
Sound leans on melodies from the Far East and Oriental tones selected to transport you on a journey through time and space.
facebook.com
Franz Ferdinand, The Olympia Theatre
11 Feb, 7.00pm
‘Always Ascending’ the new album from FF featuring 10 songs bursting with fresh ideas and vigorous sonic experimentation.
olympia.ie
Loney Dear, The Workman’s Club
16 Feb, 8.00pm
Swedish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Emil Svanängen makes records and plays shows under the enigmatic name of Loney Dear.
theworkmansclub.com
Out to Lunch with Sunil Sharpe + Giant Swan Live, Yamamori Tengu
17 Feb, 11.00pm – 2.30am
eventbrite.ie
O Emperor, Bello Bar
17 Feb, 8.30pm – 11.30pm
Make it Rain is the first song to be released from a batch of new material which marks a significant break from the song-centred approach of the band’s previous work. The track is a delicious slice of fuzzy Afro-Disco, emerging from spontaneous instrumental experiments captured and pieced together at the band's Cork studio.
bellobardublin.com
Joshua Burnside, Roisin Dubh, Galway
23 Feb, 8pm
Northern Irish experimental folk songwriter and producer Joshua Burnside is something of a regional anomaly. With a brooding, powerful sound echoing artists of places afar and time long gone, his enthralling craft defies local comparison in striving towards an aesthetic as much as visual as it is sonic.
roisindubh.net
Peggy Lou, Job Jobse + Soichi Terada, District 8
23 Feb, 10.30pm – 3.00am
Peggy Gou returns to Dublin after standout performances at Forbidden Fruit & Metropolis Festival. Joined by Job Jobse for a long-awaited return to our capital plus a very live performance from one of Japans finest electronic exports Soichi Terada.
eventbrite.ie
Marlon Williams + Cut Worms, Whelan’s
24 Feb, 8.00pm
Marlon Williams returns with his first headline tour in over a year, supporting his new single 'Vampire Again' and playing new songs from his forthcoming sophomore album, due in 2018.
songkick.com
FEBRUARY FESTIVALS
Quarter Block Party, Cork City
2 – 4 Feb
A 3 day music and art festival on Cork’s North & South Main Street
quarterblockparty.com
Ted Fest, Aran Islands
22 – 25 Feb
Annual fan convention held on the island of Inishmór, off the coast of County Galway, Ireland for fans of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted.
tedfest.org
ALBUM RELEASES WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
Rhye, Blood (2 Feb)
AWOLNATION, Here Come the Runts (2 Feb)
Son Lux, Brighter Wounds (9 Feb)
MGMT, Little Dark Age (9 Feb)
Marlon Williams, Make Way for Love (16 Feb)
PLAYLISTS YOU'LL HEAR IN CI STUDIO RIGHT NOW
Happy Good Morning! – Daniel van Egmond (puts everyone on the right foot for the day...)
Fresh Picks from Unknown Artists – Vitor Castanheira
Indie Boutique 2018 – Jonathan Good
Space Electronic Disco, Vol.5 – Various Artists
Composition Thirteen (Snatch Me From The Jaws Of Death) – Coat Check (our Friday favourite!)
THIS MONTH'S DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS
Making a Show of Herself, Panti Bar
Until 18 Feb
Niall Sweeney’s enduring friendship and working relationship with Panti manifests itself in a exhibition of 100 posters – a decade of design drag delirium boobs and booze!
totallydublin.ie
IADT Taster Days, IADT
12 - 16 Feb
Taster days and workshops exploring the courses at IADT.
iadt.ie
NCAD Visual Culture Taster Day, NCAD
13 Feb
Taster day for students interested in studying Visual Culture at NCAD.
eventbrite.ie
Young Directors Awards, The Sugar Club
22 Feb
CPI and ICAD have come together to officially launch the Young Directors Awards 2018. Now in its third year, the aim is to find, award and nurture the best of the up and coming directors in Ireland today.
yda.ie
Kilkenny Animated, Kilkenny City
23 – 25 Feb
A festival of visual storytelling by Oscar nominated animation studio, Cartoon Saloon.
visitkilkenny.ie
CULTURE AROUND THE COUNTRY
Science Expresso, The Science Gallery
6 Feb
A talk on the future of bio-printing by Prof. Danny Kelly.
dublin.sciencegallery.com
In Case of Emergency, The Science Gallery
Until 11 Feb
An exhibition on the end of the world, how it is portrayed in media and entertainment and how we would cope if it actually came to pass, told through art, design and science.
dublin.sciencegallery.com
There’s a Strong Wind in Beijing, The Hugh Lane Gallery
18 Feb
For real cinema buffs, there’s a one off free screening of this Ju Anqi film as part of the Chinese New Year 2018: Year of the Dog.
hughlane.ie
The Seasons in Quincy: Four Portraits of John Berger, The Hugh Lane Gallery
25 Feb
A documentary film screening about all round genius, John Berger.
hughlane.ie
Swan Lake/Lock na hÉala, The Abbey Theatre
8 – 17 Feb
The Abbey is hosting a modern adaptation on Swan Lake/Lock na hEala which has picked up plaudits worldwide since its debut. Tchailovsky’s score has been replaced by a mix of Scandinavian trad with minimalist and experimental influences. We’ll say no more.
abbeytheatre.ie
Haughey/Gregory, The Abbey Theatre
8 – 10 Feb
On The Peacock Stage, ‘a new play by Colin Murphy set in Dublin’s Inner City 1982, where novice TD Tony Gregory comes up against the indomitable Charles J. Haughey.
abbeytheatre.ie
Time Travelling Circus - Katrina Palmer, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios
23 Feb
Palmer uses words as a sculptural form, exploring sensuous objects, absences and material uncertainties, through storytelling. Elaborated audio environments, found objects and publications are employed to create narrative situations in which the viewer can experience her work.
templebargallery.com
Heroes & Villains, Crawford Gallery, Cork
8 Feb
Selected works from the Crawford collection, questioning traditional archetypes of good and bad.
crawfordartgallery.ie
Rudolf Heltzel: In Precious Metal, National Design & Craft Gallery, Kilkenny
2 Feb – 18 April
A solo exhibition by renowned jeweler & craftsperson Rudolf Heltzel
ndcg.ie
FEBRUARY FOODIE EVENTS
With many practicing a bit of self restraint in January, February is the month when we begin to think about getting back out and about. Here’s a look at the best food events that are on around Ireland.
Drag Bunch, Pot Bellied Pig, Rathmines
3 Feb
If you’ve been off the hooch for January and looking for a way to kick-start February, you could try the Fabulous Drag Brunch. With a glass of prosecco or beer on arrival, this all singing, all dancing show, is a sure way to celebrate the start of the month.
potbelliedpig.ie
Flavours of Opium, Opium Restaurant, Dublin 2
6 Feb
Opium Restaurant re-opened in October, offering Pan-Asian cuisine with a broad array of international wines. Food & Wine Magazine have partnered with Opium Restaurant to host a bespoke eight course tasting menu, paired with some of the finest wines Gilbeys of Ireland have to offer. If you are a food and wine lover, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
opium.ie
Searsons and Tindal Wine Merchants Annual Public Tasting, The Marker Hotel, Dublin 2
12 Feb, 6pm – 8pm
120 wines from some 35 producers in more than 40 regions. Many of the producers will be there on the night.
searsons.com
Vegan Afternoon Tea @ O’Neill’s Bar, Cork
11 Feb
Thyme + Tonka & Banana Melon Kitchen are delighted to bring you a vegan afternoon tea in O’Neill’s, featuring an assortment of both savoury and sweet treats.
tastecork.com
Chinese New Year Food Extravaganza @ Asia Market, Drury Street
17 – 18 Feb
This food and drinks tasting extravaganza is free and is a great opportunity to try authentic Chinese products. Visitors will be treated to exotic fruits, dumplings, flavoured oils, drinks, sweet treats and snacks and much more during this 2 day event.
dublintown.ie
CI'S RESTAURANT AND FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS
Clanbrassil To Go - Clanbrassil Street Upper, Dublin 8
In Dublin 8, right next door to Clanbrassil House, will be Clanbrassil To Go – a new cafe venture opening early 2018 that's part of Bastible/Clanbrassil House, but a separate entity.
Salt & Stove – 79 Clanbrassil Street, Dublin 8
Just down the road from Clanbrassil House is the newly opened Salt & Stove, on Clanbrassil Street. A long overdue deli and artisan food store which opened in January, Salt & Stove is independently owned, with lots of Irish produce and larder goods. If you’re looking for high quality coffee beans, chocolate, cheese, meats and more, then this is the place for you.
facebook.com/saltandstove
Barrow's Keep - Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny
In Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny, Stephen McArdle has just opened Barrow's Keep, where he's serving a locally sourced menu featuring all organic vegetables that changes weekly.
barrowskeep.com
CI STUDIO'S FLICK PICKS
The Post, nationwide
A bounding docudrama about the freedom of the press and a rousing hosanna to unfake news. Directed by Stephen Spielberg and starring Meryl Streep.
rottentomatoes.com
All The Money In The World, nationwide
A Ridley Scott film about the kidnapping of J Paul Getty’s grandson Paul and starring Michelle Williams as the boy’s mother.
rottentomatoes.com
Three Billboards Outside Epping, nationwide
Martin MacDonagh’s caustic comedy has Frances McDormand playing a grieving mother confronting the local police chief over the unsolved murder of her only daughter months before.
rottentomatoes.com
The Final Year, IFI, Dublin
Covering three months in 2016 where Greg Barker was granted access to key members of Barack Obama’s outgoing administration, as they shaped US foreign policy in the days before the Trump inauguration.
rottentomatoes.com
WHAT WE'RE READING RIGHT NOW
50 Things That Made the Modern Economy, Tim Harford
While not strictly a design book, its certainly a book packed with the best of design thinking. It charts economic change by telling the stories of the ideas, people, and tools that had far-reaching and unexpected consequences for all of us. He discusses the inventions that have transformed the ways we work, play and live. From the plough to artificial intelligence, from Gillette’s disposable razor to Ikea’s Billy bookcase, he recounts each invention’s own memorable story and introduces you to the characters who developed them, profited from them, and were ruined by them.
amazon.co.uk
Optimism over Despair, Noam Chomsky & CJ Polychroniou
A series of interviews with unparalleled thinker Noam Chomsky covering almost every major issue facing the world in 2018, including rising neoliberalism, the refugee crisis, the Black Lives Matter movement and the dysfunctional US electoral system. Culminating in Chomksy’s message of ‘Optimism over Despair’ as society faces the challenge of building a movement for radical change, a movement in which design and designers must be fully engaged.
amazon.co.uk
Spin/Adventures in Typography 2, Unit Editions
The Spin team have embarked on a journey into typography’s deepest recesses.
uniteditions.com
Letraset: The DIY Typography Revolution, Unit Editions
For lovers of Letraset, the rubdown lettering system, this is the first comprehensive history of the system that revolutionised typographic expression.
uniteditions.com
PODCASTS WE'RE HOOKED ON
Golazzo: The Totally Italian Football Show
One for fans nostalgic 90s Italian Football stories and Channel 4’s Football Italia. With weekly updates an Napoli’s first serious title challenge since Maradona.
itunes.apple.com
Truth & Movies: A Little White Lies Podcast
Film review show for people who haven’t got time for Kermode and Mayo anymore. The weekly film club on classics and forgotten gems is a highlight every week.
itunes.apple.com
The Blindboy Podcast
The Rubberbandits but with digestives and tea instead of yokes and cans. Topics range from mental health to the nocturnal adventures of an otter called Yurty Aherne.
itunes.apple.com
My Favourite Murder
Lifelong fans of true crime stories, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark tell each other their favourite tales of murder and hear hometown crime stories from friends and fans.
itunes.apple.com