What’s on Friday: Offset, the Strypes, Sasha and Karen Egan

R’N’B

The Strypes
JRBs, Newbridge, Co Kildare 8pm €12
(Also Sat, Donegal; Tues/Thurs, Meath)

Cavan’s Strypes may not yet be a major headline act, and takes some cajones to embark on a 20-date Irish tour to road test new material. Special guest throughout is The Mighty Stef.

CLUB

Scuba
Twisted Pepper, Dublin 10.30pm €15/€13
facebook.com/OfficialScuba

When Paul Rose isn't running the canny Hotflush label, he works the switches and machines as Scuba. Albums such as Triangulation and Personality have demonstrated that the Berlin-by-way-of- Bristol man is a dab hand when it comes to sculpting and shaping dark, moody, liquid thumpers as he roams deep and wide amid house and techno's hinterland. Support from the Room19 crew.

SUPERSTAR DJ

Sasha
Button Factory, Dublin 11pm €22.50
djsasha.com

Alexander Coe is the original of the superstar DJ species. His prowess as a DJ comes down to an innate abilty to tweak those big room sound-systems and send the crowds home screaming. Despite a record releasing career that hasn’t set the world alight, he remains a guaranteed big draw on the international club circuit.

JAZZ

Jeff Ballard Fairgrounds
Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin 8pm €24
note.ie

Drummer Jeff Ballard’s day job is touring with the Brad Mehldau Trio. When he’s not doing that, he’s playing with Fairgrounds, featuring ex-Herbie Hancock guitarist Lionel Loueke, Bad Plus bassist Reid Anderson and front rank NYC pianist Kevin Hays. Ballard says his last gig in Dublin was what convinced him to keep Fairgrounds together, so it’s time for the city to give the drummer some more love.

CHANTEUSE

Karen Egan
Whelan's, Dublin 8pm €20

Karen Egan has had quite the chequered career, whether it's performing with the Nualas, working on radio or acting on stage or screen (in English or Finnish). Tonight sees her launch her second album, Charlatanne. Expect a gallop through a range of musical styles, and the between-song banter should be sharp as a knife. 

PICK OF THE WEEK

Offset
Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Friday 6th - Sunday 8th, from €70
iloveoffset.com

Is there a better industry- focused conference in Ireland than Offset? This weekend the creative series of workshops and lectures takes over its regular, annual roost in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin, with a top-class roster of international and local designers and creatives.

If you haven’t been before, the set-up is straightforward. Each speaker gets 45 minutes in the big main room of the theatre for a presentation on their life and work. The venue’s second room lets you get a little more up close and personal with panel discussions and Q&As with the creative high rollers.

There are no VIP rooms at Offset, which makes the whole enterprise feel entirely inclusive.

The tickets are not exactly cheap, but the calibre of speakers is second to none. If you work in any sort of creative field and go to Offset with an open mind, you’ll leave with plenty of inspiration and more than a sackful of ideas to bring back to your desk (even if you work in an area as conservative and traditional as, say, newspapers).

Among those making the trip to Dublin this year are Snask, Barber Osgerby, Pentagram, Chrissie Macdonald (whose work is featured above) Ian Anderson and Aisha Zeijpveld.

Local talent on offer includes Rory Hamilton from Boys and Girls, designers Annie Atkins and Sue Murphy, and comic book artist Declan Shalvey. Colour us enthused.