BOOK: THE BENEFACTORS
The debut novel from Wendy Erskine, the prize-winning author of acclaimed short story collections Dance Move and Sweet Home, is a ‘polyphonic’ tale exploring class and trauma in suburban Belfast through the story of a teenage girl’s sexual assault and its aftermath, and a vivid portrait of life in today’s Northern Ireland – the author talks to Oliver Callan below (Sceptre, out now)
EVENT: KRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT & IRISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Internationally acclaimed pianist Kristian Bezuidenhout joins the Irish Chamber Orchestra for a special series of concerts this week, for what promises to be a memorable take on Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 4, with dates at University Concert Hall, Limerick (June 19), Siamsa Tíre, Tralee (June 20), and The Whyte Recital Hall, Dublin (June 21)
CINEMA: 28 YEARS LATER
Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland returns to their post-apocalyptic world with a long-awaited sequel to 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later, picking up decades after the Rage virus outbreak. The cast includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes; as to whether OG star Cillian Murphy pops up… hold steady, there are another two chapters already in the pipeline (In cinemas now)
STREAM: CARAVAN RADIO
Oisin Leech, acclaimed singer-songwriter and one half of The Lost Brothers, brings his deep love of music and storytelling to the airwaves with an hour of handpicked tunes and tales from across genres and eras, returning to RTÉ Radio 1 for a new season of warm, meandering musical journeys, with guest selections from artists like Richard Hawley – hear the latest installment below (RTÉ Radio 1, Wednesdays at 10pm)
MUSIC: HAIM
Soundtrack Of The Summer alert! The Haim sisters return with their highly anticipated fourth studio album I Quit, offering a bold evolution of their signature West Coast sound. Sisters Danielle, Este, and Alana dive into themes of heartbreak, self-empowerment and liberation, set to a musical backdrop fusing rock, folk, R&B and ’90s-pop with winning results – sample the anthemic single Relationships below (Now streaming)
