Art – Sidney Nolan exhibition is at the other IMMA;  Kilmainham. It closes on the 27th of Jan, so just go this week. No more excuses! It’s a beautiful show with great landscape art combined with the bizarre story of Ned Kelly. Alice Maher‘s show at IMMA (Earlsfort Terrace) is really impressive also (until Feb 27th), and the Tribal Textiles from Iran continues in the Douglas Hyde (until Jan 30th). Stepping Into the Light (Group show including Pat Scott) continues at the Hugh Lane. Blackshaw at 80 (A complete legend in my book!) and Justin Larkin Scenery continue at the RHA until Feb 24th.

Private Galleries: Siobhan Hapaska & Stephen McKenna finishes this week at the Kerlin (until the 19th Jam). The Winter show (Group show until Jan 26th) is at the Taylor Gallery. Jessica Sturgess (Sculptor)  is at the Oliver Sears and finishes on the 11th! The Black Church Print Studio show ‘Repitition‘ is at the Cross Gallery (until Jan 31st). The Kevin Kavanagh Gallery is showing Elaine Byrne.

Theatre – The Dead is running the Abbey until the 19th (I think it’s sold out!), our review is here . Cousin Rachel is at the Gate until Jan 19th.  The Theatre machine turns you on runs at the Project Arts Centre until the 19th and the few I’ve seen have been lots of fun! It’s 24 new shows all running for a few nights each! The Life and Death of Eric Argyle had a hugely successful sell-out run in the fringe festival last year, and is returning to Smock Alley starting tonight, until the 26th of January. Expect our review later in the week! Albert Herring is at the Project Arts Centre. Turning of the Screw is at Kevin Street DIT. A new play ‘The Great Couch Rebellion’ by Philip Doherty is at Theatre Upstairs at Lanigans pub, Eden Quay.

Movies –  Tarantino Unchained is a Tarantino retrospective, which is at the Lighthouse with a chance to see Jackie Brown this week!  A Roman Polanski Season continues at the IFI, with Chinatown and Repulsion running for the next week! Part 2 of their Genius of Hitchcock season kicks off with Shadow of a doubt and Strangers on a train this week vanishes.

Gigs – Yes, the wait is over, and Kendrick Lamar is finally in town tonight! There’s a few decent things around this week, with Thurston Moore, Arlo Guthrie, Nathan Fake and Rebekka Karijord among others.

Kendrick Lamar – Vicar St – Monday 14/01/13

Asking Alexandria – Academy – Monday/ Tuesday 14-15/01/13

Thérése Fahy (piano) – Debussy Preludes – NCH – Monday 14/01/13

Christy Moore & Declan Sinnot – Bord Gais Energy Centre – Tuesday 15/01/13

Arlo Guthrie – Button Factory – Thursday 17/01/13

Sunken Foal – Twisted Pepper – Thursday 17/01/13

The Van Diemens – Upstairs at Whelans – Thursday 17/01/13

Rebekka Karijord – Workmans Club – Friday 18/01/13

Shadows and Dust – Whelans – Friday 18/01/13

Two Door Cinema Club – O2 – Saturday 19/01/13

Nathan Fake – Twisted Pepper – Saturday 19/01/13

Mulatu Astatke And His Band – Sugar Club – Saturday 19/01/13

Thurston Moore and John Moloney – Whelans – Saturday 19/01/13

Toro Y Moi – Button Factory – Sunday 20/01/13

Paul Banks – Academy – Sunday 20/01/13

Concorde : Up close with it – RHA – Sunday 20/01/13 @ 2.30