What’s At The Whale?

Get in!

iven that there are new acts being added pretty much daily, we thought it wise to start pulling together all The Whale’s new shows in one place.

Because there’s very much something for everyone – including you – it’s good to know what’s on that ever-expanding menu.

You can, of course, jump straight to the source here.

And find out what’s rockin’ all over de town here.

For now though, here’s the latest Whale wonders…

THURS25+FRI26APR24 8PM €25 Tony Cantwell Litterboxxx
He’s a viral sensation and a cult favourite, so, Tony Cantwell is due to hit the mainstream any day now. And that day happen towards the end of April, as he comes to The Whale for two shows with his latest psychedelic night of stand-up, sketch, sexy cats and a puppet. According to The Irish Times, he’s a ‘grotesque and fabulous creation’, whilst Hot Press – the magazine with its finger on the purse – reckons Cantwell is ‘the 2nd best comedian in Ireland’. Tickets here.

SAT27APR24 8PM €15 Mute The TV Don’t Change The Channel
Straight outta Greystones, the Crampton brothers have been busy grooving to their own particular brand of retro-cool for over a decade now, producing some very fine singles – and Oscar Hackett-directed videos – along the way, and even popping up on The Late Late Show. And their Mute The TV side project has grown too, as their last sell-out Whale show proves. So, you might want to grab your seat early for this one. Tickets here.

SUN28APR24 2PM €16/€12 Greystones Vocal Academy Student Showcase
With the bould Justin McCann on piano, the end-of-year students from the Greystones Vocal Academy will be showcasing their latest adventures on the high Cs, with some very special guests promised on the day too. Could be Hozier! Could be Bono! Or it could be Cathaoirleach Stephen Stokes! Who knows? Tickets here.

FRI3MAY24 8PM €25 Georgia Cécile Quintet
Coming to town as part of George Jacob’s bigger, fatter, richer Bray Jazz Festival, Glasgow-born chanteuse (yowsa!) Georgia Cécile was named UK Jazz Act Of The Year and Vocalist of The Year at the 2022 Jazz FM Awards, whilst her debut album, Only The Lover Sings, hit the top spot in the official jazz agus blues chart. Then again, she is the granddaughter of noted Scottish jazz pianist Gerry Smith, so, destiny, and all that. Tickets here.

SAT4MAY24 8PM €25 George Colligan Quartet
Another guest overspill from George Jacob’s bigger, fatter, richer Bray Jazz Festival, the George Colligan Quartet is a melting pot of American, Belgian and Irish musicians, all brought together by the New York pianist who has released over 25 albums (including, eh, 2018’s Live In Arklow) and played with everyone from Cassandra Wilson to Don Byron and Buster Williams. The man is also part of the legendary Jack DeJohnette ensemble – so, the fecker clearly knows his be-bop stuff. Tickets here.

SUN5MAY24 3PM €12 The Incredibles 20th Anniversary Screening
At heart, this is a mid-life crisis movie in the shape of a retro superhero movie that pretty much knocks the Marvel and the D.C. universes into space. If that makes sense. Former Disney student animator Brad Bird had already given us the best eight seasons of The Simpsons and a moving adaptation of Ted Hughes’ The Iron Giant when he moved to Pixar and delivered arguably its finest and definitely its funniest animated classic. And given the fact that it’s celebrating every 1960s comic book and spy film, The Incredibles is a timeless classic too. Marking its 20th anniversary, this is a film that really should be seen on the big screen. Tickets here.

THURS9MAY24 8PM €12 Dinner 2050: The Future Of Food In Ireland (Ireland U 60mins)
Pulling together some of Ireland’s leading foodies and food producers, chef Tadgh Byrne and filmmaker Max Barry ask the important question – where will our food come from in 2050? And will it actually be good for you, or the country’s agricultural industry? Narrated by celebrity chef Catherine Fulvio, those offering up their take on the plate include Michelin Star chef JP McMahon, Sustainable Seafood Ireland’s Niall Sabongi, hemp and beef farmer Ed Hanbridge, TU Dublin’s Anke Klitzing and animal rights activist Gerry Boland. Tickets here.

FRI10MAY24 8PM Sold Out Peter McGann Great Lad
Having broken through by sharing his character sketches on Instagram and Twitter during lockdown, Wicklow’s Peter McGann has come a long way, with sell-out shows at Vicar Street and a role in Chris O’Dowd’s upcoming Small Town, Big Story. And the lad is also working on completing a trilogy of plays with a little Abbey Theatre moolah, and a TV series with Deadpan Productions. So, catch ‘im while you can. Waiting list here.

SAT11MAY24 8PM €22.50 The Frank & Walters Acoustic
They’re Cillian Murphy’s favourite band – which may explain why he’s on their recent single, Stages – and they’re coming back to The Whale for another unplugged night of revelry, remembrance and general messing about. Head honcho Paul Linehan will be joined by one of the other four (they have a rota going), and for those who like their vintage 45s, a night with The Frank and Walters will be something close to a manic pop thrill. Interview here, tickets here.

THURS16+FRI17MAY24 8PM €20 The Manny
Having debuted at the King’s Head Theatre in London last year, Sam McArdle’s blackly comic one-man show The Manny takes a wry look at the rise of Irish male nannies in the richer parts of West London. First conceived in 10-minute chunks during the lockdowns in the hope of saving his sanity, McArdle to the opportunity to process his failed dreams of becoming an internationally acclaimed actor, and the subsequent loss of his confidence and drive, and somehow find the funny in his time of looking after Tristan and losing his sense of self. Tickets here.

SAT18MAY24 8PM €20 Dan Astro X Dora Gola with Aoibheann Boyle The Grand Stretch
Hailing from the wilds of the west of Ireland, Dan Astro and Dora Gola will be bringing their electronic grooves to Greystones for a night that will both, they say, ignite your soul and transport you to new realms of sonic wonder. Which sounds like pretty good value for €20. Astro comes with approval from 2FM’s Dan Hegarty whilst Gola got her hurrahs from Hot Press and that Tony Clapton-Upon-Sea fella in The Irish Times. So, respect. Tickets here.

SUN19MAY24 4PM €20/€18 Classical Guitar Recital with John Feeley
Arriving into Greystones trailing rave reviews – The Irish Times calling him ‘a trailblazer’ whilst The Washington Post settled for ‘Ireland’s leading classical guitarist‘, John Feeley learnt his craft at Trinity College, Dublin, Queens College in New York and The National University of Ireland in Maynooth. So, the fecker knows his stuff. And has the paperwork to prove it, having graduated with a PhD in music before going on to teach at the American Institute of Guitar and the Royal Irish Academy of Music. We could go on, with a list of A-list collaborators and top-of-the-range venues, but, meh. Tickets here.

FRI24MAY24 8PM €20 The David Preston Trio feat Seb Rochford Purple / Black
The London-based guitarist and composer David Preston has been making mark on the jazz scene, with The Guardian dubbing him ‘virtuosic’ and Time Out rating him as ‘superb’. His debut album, Purple / Black, has also been getting critics in a tizzy, getting a 4-star review and Editor’s Choice in Jazzwise Magazine. Joining the Preston lad will be Polar Bear leader Sebastian Rochford on drums and bassist Kevin Glagow, who has played alongside the likes of John Scofield, Tim Garland and Randy Brecker. Tickets here.

SAT25MAY24 8PM €25 Kevin McGahern Shy Talker
For a terminally lazy Cavan comedian, Kevin McGahern likes to keep himself busy, something he tries to address in his latest stand-up show, Shy Talker. Decisions such as signing on for Dancing With The Stars when there’s a 6-week-old baby at home show that Kevin’s calendar – and thinking – might a little out-of-whack, but a visit to Greystones should help get all his ducks in a row. Once he’s been for a sunrise swim, a crack of dawn coffee at Carraig Eden and a few hours in the sauna. Tickets here.

SUN26MAY24 4PM €16 Jazzing On A Sunday Afternoon
Those musicians who like to dance to a difficult drummer will be happy to know that Dara MacMahon has once again rounded up some of Wicklow’s finest for a lazy, hazy afternoon of jazz standards at The Whale. Also taking the mic will be Marion Smith and Anita Malzone, as the band take on the Great American Songbook. Tickets here.

THURS30MAY24 8PM €12 Driving Mum (Estonia Iceland 12A 112mins)
You know how it is, if it ain’t one thing, it’s your mother. Something that Jon (Þröstur Leó Gunnarsson) is still trying to understand as he takes the woman who brought him into this world for one last road trip. Because the woman’s dying wish was having her pic taken at Gullfoss. Naturally, mother (Kristbjörg Kjeld) and son have some major heart-to-hearts along the way. Driving Mum has been praised for its ‘transparent, simple, but bold film language, with its graceful sense of humour’, whilst critic Wendy Ide described it as ‘a road movie from beyond – and before – the grave’. Tickets here.

FRI31MAY24 8PM €17.50 Ian McKellan in Hamlet
Be the holy, Gandalf does Greystones, finally, in this exclusive screening of the two-time Academy Award nominee’s return to Shakespeare’s most famous creation. Recorded at the Theatre Royal Windsor – with every room transformed into the immortal Elsinore – the production also boasts Steven Berkoff, Frances Barber, Jonathan Hyde, Jenny Seagrove and Francesca Annis. Tickets here.

SAT1JUNE24 8PM €28 Iarla Ó Lionáird with Cormac McCarthy
The twice Grammy-nominated vocalist behind such outfits as Dublin’s Crash Ensemble, New York’s Alarm Will Sound and The Afro-Celt Sound System, Iarla Ó Lionáird will revisit his vast back catalogue with a little help from pianist, composer, arranger and conductor Cormac McCarthy for a unique and intimate concert. Enough said. Tickets here.

THURS6JUNE24 8PM €20 Rose Henderson in Vixen 
Helen Casey’s one-woman show is all about ‘the other woman‘, the mischievous and fun-loving woman. Played by Rose Henderson, Angie is marking the 1st year anniversary of her lover’s passing by observing from her car the man’s family visit his grave. Thoughts of frothy nights turn to much darker terrain as Angie begins to consider that it might have been better to have never loved and therefore never lost… Tickets here.

SAT8JUNE24 8PM €25 Eleanor McEvoy The Whale
The 57-year-old Dublin singer-songwriter makes a welcome return visit to The Whale as part of a globe-trotting tour that’s taking in Australia, Germany, the UK and, hey, little ol’ Ireland. With her latest album, Gimme Some Wine, touching a nerve with many a fan, McEvoy promises a trip through her impressive back catalogue – including the 1992 song that put her on the map, Only A Woman’s Heart, the inspiration for the title of Ireland’s best-selling Irish album, A Woman’s Heart. Tickets here.

SUN23JUNE24 2PM Free Music Together See The Beat The Whale
The latest free Sunday afternoon show from Marion and Andy and the Music Together crew is all about new sensations, with new works for voice alongside electronically-composed orchestration. With Irish musicians joining the melting pot, See The Beat will culminate with a new percussive arrangement by Zeca Munhoz. Yep, that Zeca Munhoz. Book your free spot here, and find out more about Music Together here.

THURS20JUNE24 8PM €12 Poor Things (Ireland/UK/US/18/141mins)
There’s all kinds of malice in Yorgos Lanthimos’ wonderland, but there’s also a surprising amount of delicious and devilish humour. Emma Stone is Bella Baxter, the baby doll creation of Willem Dafoe’s quite possibly mad Victorian professor (dubbed The Monster by his medical students), her blossoming sexuality leading Bella to follow Mark Ruffalo’s self-confessed cad-about-town out into the great, wide, wicked world. As her world jumps from black and white to colour, Bella’s undiluted passions soon follow, free from the social norms and with an insatiable appetite for new sensations. Based on the 1992 novel by Alasdair Gray, Poor Things won four Oscars, 2 Golden Globes, 5 BAFTAs, with Stone rightly picking up Best Actress at all three. Tickets here.

FRI21JUNE24 8PM Sold Out Ye Vagabonds
Steeped in native music not only from their beloved Ireland but Scotland, England and America too, brothers Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn were not yet teens when they fell under the spell of Willie Clancy, Andy Irvine and Nick Drake – to name but three of their early folk heroes. With three acclaimed albums of their own under their belt, the lads will be bringing a full band with them to Greystones to road-test their fourth album too. You can join the waiting list here. Interview here.

FRI28JUNE24 8PM €26 Duke Special
Belfast’s Peter Wilson has been banging his own particular drum for a few decades now, and the fact that he’s got 14 albums and EPs under his belt is something of an achievement for an Irish artist who has never really crossed over into the mainstream. Moving well beyond rock agus roll, as Duke Special, Wilson has soundtracked the likes of the National Theatre’s production of Mother Courage And Her Children and a Metropolitan Museum Of Art photography exhibition in New York celebrating Stieglitz, Steichen and Strand. But it’s performing live, says Wilson, where his true passion lies, something he’s about to prove with his Wicklow debut at The Whale. Tickets here.

FRI5-SAT6JULY24 8PM €26 Enya Martin Is It Just Me?
Becoming something of a regular visitor to Greystones, viral sensation turned Vicar Street headliner Enya Martin brings her latest dose of cosy stand-up comedy to The Whale, asking all the important question. Such as, ‘Is it just my relationship that’s like this?‘ and ‘Was it just my upbringing that has me this way?‘. Joanne McNally reckons the woman is “a comedic machine”. Tickets here.

FRI19JULY24 8PM €28 Rattle And Hum The Whale
With Ireland’s fab four having officially become their own tribute act out inVegas, their no.1 actual tribute act is hitting the road once more with a back catalogue that can raise any roof for a good two hours. And a bit. Like The Happy Pear, you either love these guys or you don’t. If it’s the former, you’re going to have an incredible night. Followed by a beautiful day, basking in the afterglow. Tickets here.

SAT14SEPT24 8PM €25 Bernard O’Shea Desperate House Husband
As much as RTÉ gets a regular kicking for not producing good comedy, there’s little doubt in GG’s incredible mind that The Savage Eye and Bridget & Eamon will be loved, cherished and wahayed for generations to come. And a big part of the latter’s brilliance is Bernard O’Shea, who has the Traditional Irish Thicko Husband routine down to a tee. Which should make his latest stand-up show that little bit more poignant. Given that it’s all about his real life as a Traditional Irish Thicko Husband. Tickets here.

SAT30NOV24 8PM €35 Ed Byrne Tragedy Plus Time
Taking his latest show’s title from a quote attributed to everyone from Steve Allen to Woody Allen (although here, it’s Mark Twain who gets the nod), funnyman Ed Byrne decides to dig deep into the darkest moments of his own life. And, you know, maybe mine some comedy gold. That he managed to get the Best Reviewed Stand Up Show At Edinburgh 2023 from the British Comedy Guide certainly suggests he does. Tickets here.

Explore The Whale’s full upcoming line-up right here, and the town’s coming weeks right over here.