Event guide: Stevie Wonder, Dublin Book Festival and the other best things to go to in Ireland in the week ahead

This week in Ireland's cultural calendar is marked by a compelling convergence of music, literature, theatre, and visual arts, showcasing both legendary artists and emerging talents. Among the most anticipated events is the Dublin stop of Stevie Wonder’s European tour, commemorating the 50th anniversary of his seminal album Songs in the Key of Life. Celebrated for its enduring influence on popular music, the album will be performed in full alongside a recently surfaced EP of unreleased tracks from the original recording sessions, offering an immersive experience primarily tailored to devoted fans rather than casual listeners.

Adding a dynamic contrast to the soulful legacy of Wonder, the metal band Korn returns to Ireland after a decade-long absence. Renowned for pioneering the nu-metal genre, despite their distaste for the label, Korn arrives with a substantial discography exceeding 40 million records sold worldwide. Their current tour also hints at new material from an upcoming, yet untitled fifteenth studio album. They will be supported by Architects, a metalcore group from Brighton, and Youth Code, an industrial music duo, enhancing the night’s intensity with diverse heavy music influences.

In the realm of electronic and pop music, Alison Moyet concludes her European tour with intimate Irish shows featuring selections from her solo repertoire and her influential collaboration with Vince Clarke in Yazoo. Moyet’s setlist includes acclaimed synth-pop pieces such as "Only You" and "Winter Kills," as well as lesser-known tracks, offering a comprehensive auditory retrospective of her career.

On the literary front, the Dublin Book Festival enters its twentieth year with a series of events that delve into contemporary fiction, women’s writing, and the politics of commercial literature. Highlights include discussions featuring prominent authors such as Louise Kennedy, Jan Carson, and Marian Keyes. The festival also hosts a sold-out conversation with American novelist Jodi Picoult, underscoring the event’s growing international relevance.

Simultaneously, an Irish-language festival is underway, blending storytelling, poetry, music, and multimedia performances. The opening event features storyteller Daithí Ó Muirí and musician Fergus Kelly at Músaem Na nGréibhlí, setting a tone of cultural preservation and innovation. Notably, the festival presents Diamonds and Rust: The Dylan-Baez Project, which interprets iconic songs from Bob Dylan and Joan Baez into Irish, performed by Colm Seoighe and Emma Ní Fhíoruisce, bridging folk traditions with contemporary expression.

Theatre enthusiasts are offered a significant revival with Enda Walsh directing the 30th anniversary production of Disco Pigs. This play, a cornerstone of Walsh’s early career, originally launched at Triskel Arts Centre in 1996 and featured future stars Cillian Murphy and Eileen Walsh. The current staging introduces Aoise Meany and Séamus McLean Ross as the central characters, exploring the intense bond between two teenagers.

Visual arts also command attention through an exhibition by Estonian artist Edith Karlson, who utilizes armatures and clay to create ethereal, hybrid sculptures. Her work contemplates humanity’s precarious existence within the natural world, enhancing the thematic depth of the exhibition’s setting, a historic pilgrimage site.

Moreover, the Contemporary Art Gallery Association unites eleven venues for a four-day celebration of art trails, dialogues, and workshops. Visitors can engage with diverse exhibitions, including Mythologies by John Kindness, shows featuring David Hockney and Amelia and Stein at Oliver Sears, and Sonia Shiel’s The Nature of Tables at Kevin Kavanagh, reflecting a vibrant and interconnected artistic community.

Looking ahead, further notable performances are scheduled in Dublin, with theatrical productions such as Big Maggie at the Gaiety Theatre, and concerts by Spiritualized at the National Concert Hall as well as Tindersticks at Vicar Street. These upcoming events continue to underscore Ireland’s rich and varied cultural landscape.

Collectively, this period presents an enriching array of experiences that highlight Ireland’s position as a nexus for music, literature, and the arts. From Stevie Wonder’s historic album celebration to the nuanced explorations of language and identity in the Irish-language festival, the week ahead promises both reverence for artistic legacies and enthusiasm for contemporary creativity.