So apparently there was some kind of Culture night in Cork last Friday, I hadn’t a clue it was on until I stumbled across a friend of mine performing as part of it. Now, I don’t read the paper or listen to the radio, but I have loads of friends who do and nobody much seemed to know what was going on… so many cool events, why wasn’t this the talk of the town?

Pictured above is Chequerboard who was in the Vanguard Gallery on Friday from 5.30 to 10pm exhibiting some of his artwork and playing music from his album Penny Black. Chequerboard AKA John Lambert was in my class in college, which is how I heard of this event. I popped in, originally for twenty minutes and ended up staying about two hours listening to Johns chilled out choons as he layered up beautiful spanish guitar playing using pedals and other electronic equipment to create a full, rich, smooth organic sound.

After the Vanguard I headed onto Cyprus Avenue to see Fujiya & Miyagi (with support Project Jenny/Project Jan) both acts were superb, and after a brief stint in the Liquid Lounge which I wasn’t into I headed over to the Crane Lane where the atmosphere was more to my liking.

And the Crane Lane was where I found myself again the following night for Viking Moses. I arrived in time for the last song of the support act, Golden Ghost, which was excellent and I wished I had got there earlier. Viking Moses then started up… I thought at first I was listening to a sound check - the music started and ended abruptly and without warning, and the first two songs were so short they only served to confuse. The gig went on somewhat the same, with songs appearing to have no traditional structure, no beginings and no endings, but despite this I liked the sound.

I’ve read since that Viking Moses has gigged with the likes of Will Oldham, Cat Power, Six Organs of Admittance, Cass McCombs, Little Wings and Devandra Banhart, and I now wish I had bought a CD because I think the recorded material may surpass the live act.

Check out this track:

Viking Moses advised everybody to go see Bob Log III in the Crane lane on Monday night, and I had already been advised by several friends not to miss it, so I vowed to return, but in the meantime we still had Sunday to contend with, and on my way to meet someone for a coffee I wandered through Bishop Lucy Park (The Peace Park) where there was a mini festival going on… music, poetry, massages all kinds of things - again WHY DID I NOT HEAR ABOUT THIS???

Bobby lee and band were playing when I passed through, I went and grabbed my friends, sent out a few texts and relaxed in the park listening to excellent music. Bobby Lee got Sylvio up to do a Manu Chau song which rocked - Sylvio, if you read this, get your band back together, WE MISS YOU! Harry J and friends then played, followed by Aine Duffy who unfortunately only played three numbers, and finally Wiggle played out the mini festival and got the whole park dancing. Wiggle informed me their album is approaching readiness so watch for that!

After a more relaxed Sunday evening, we get to Monday when we head to Crane Lane at midnight for Bob Log III. I posted about Bob Log III already with YouTube videos, but let me just say this - YouTube does him no justice. The man is a LEGEND. UNBELIEVABLE. A sight to behold. I was dying with a cold but I dragged myself along to the gig, and I am not sorry. The energy and talent of this man is something else. Bob fucking Log people. Bob fucking Log. If you get the chance to see this man again, DO NOT MISS him.

A big shout out to Vicki and kate who sat on Bob Log’s knees, after much encouragement, for ‘I Want Your Shit On My Leg’ (where are the YouTube videos people?? I tried to capture it on my phone but is was too dark). Bob Log III was unable to find any Cork women willing to put their boob in his scotch though (see this YouTube clip from Adelaide for more on this).

So after four days of amazing musical outings, and with O’Death playing in Crane lane tomorrow night, I have to ask - has Cork always rocked like this if only I had ventured out more often???

Jody O’Neill was one of the nominees when the awards were handed out for the 2008 Dublin Fringe Festival.

The Fishamble New Writing Award is to a new or emerging Irish (or Irish-based) playwright premiered during the Fringe. The prize includes a playwriting course, dramaturgical support and €1,000 towards the writer’s next play. The winner was Elaine Murphy ( Little Gem ). Other nominees: Phillip McMahon and Belinda McKeon ( Love 2.0 ); Jody O’Neill ( They Never Froze Walt Disney ); Lawrie Pendlebury ( Thicker Than Water ).

O’Neill’s play, They Never Froze Walt Disney, had a successful run in the Festival and this nomination proves what I said back in December 2007.

Loads of people telling me this will be worth going to, and after a quick poke around on the web I think this will be something else. O’Death official site, O’Death myspace page. Looking forward to it. See you there.

Went to see Fujiya & Miyagi last Friday night in Cyprus Avenue - fair play to Cyprus Avenue for laying on all the great gigs lately, between them and Crane Lane there’s a plethora of events to be attending in Cork lately.

Anyways, most people who read BifSniff are cooler than me so you probably already know Fujiya & Miyagi who were absolutely excellent and rocked the joint, but you might not have heard of the support act Project Jenny / Project Jan.

I arrived into Cyprus Avenue in the middle of their first song and was immediately captivated - two guys, one doing the beats and elctronic thing and the other guy lepping about the stage and singing in a white suit.

They referred to their style as Electro-Karaoke, had incredible energy and a great sound - I bought their CD straight away and have been enjoying listening to it today. The album is called XOXOXOXOXO and is available on iTunes.

Fujiya & Miyagi played in Cyprus Avenue last Friday - excellent gig, totally brilliant. Support was great too, but more about them tomorrow.

Not only do Fujiya & Miyagi make great music they have excellent album art and excellent music videos too. Check these out: