Something For The Weekend: Dave Flynn's cultural picks
Guitarist and composer Dave Flynn offers a fresh perspective on the Celtic guitar genre with his new album Celtic Guitar Master, released this month.
Founder and artistic director of the Irish Memory Orchestra, Flynn has recently returned from a 27-date New Zealand tour, and will perform this August with Irish fiddle legend Martin Hayes at the Masters Of Tradition festival in Bantry.
We asked Dave for his choice cultural picks...
FILM
The most recent film I've seen is Conclave. Ironically, the day before my wife and I had planned to watch it, Pope Francis passed away. So, the timing was very apt and it was fascinating to see the wonderful cast delve into the backroom dealings of Pope-making. The scenes between John Lithgow and Ralph Fiennes are gripping. One of my favourite films is This is Spinal Tap, so I'm really looking forward to the upcoming, brilliantly titled sequel Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues!
MUSIC
My music tastes are so wide-ranging it's hard to select anything specific, so as a curveball, here's a cross-genre A to Z of some living music artists I listen to. Animal Collective, The Bats, Cindy Lee, Dervish, Electric Youth, Femi Kuti, Giorgio Moroder, Hugh Buckley, Iron Maiden, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush, Laura Snowden, Michael Torke, Niwel Tsumbu, Orchestra Baobab, Phoenix, Q-Tip, Real Estate, Steve Reich, Thomas Mapfumo, Uros Baric, Vienna Philharmonic, The War on Drugs, XTC, Yes and Žibuoklė Martinaitytė.
BOOK
My reading habits are mainly focused on music. The last novel that really grabbed me was Cormac McCarthy's The Road. I was so moved and enthralled by it that I thought it best not to see the Hollywood adaption. McCarthy's prose is so vivid and original that it really drew me in emotionally.
THEATRE
The most memorable recent theatre experience was Straight Line Crazy by David Hare, which I saw in London's Bridge Theatre a few years ago. Ralph Fiennes put in an incredible performance, it was fantastic watching his stagecraft and he was brilliantly supported by Irish actor Siobhán Cullen. I'd love to catch Stephen Rea in Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape in my hometown of Dun Laoghaire this July, but unfortunately, I won't be around to see it. I'd also love to see Glengarry Glen Ross on Broadway, but can't get to NYC for it. It's got an amazing cast including Bob Odenkirk and Michael McKean.
TV
Speaking of which, Odenkirk and McKean starred in my favourite TV show of modern times, Better Call Saul. The prequel/sequel to Breaking Bad is so masterfully written and acted, juxtaposing darkness with light, quirky humour with deepfelt emotion. I was really sad when it ended. It left me with a sense of longing for the characters, which really doesn't happen me, ever! I actually prefer it to Breaking Bad. I also loved Succession which was incredible. I don't miss the characters of that so much though, because they're all horrible people! I watch The Daily Show whenever Jon Stewart is hosting. He's the best of the US late night hosts, very witty and more balanced than anyone else.
Fun TV fact; I was Bronson Pinochet's body double for a scene in Netflix series Our Flag Means Death where his character is plucking a Chinese lute! I met him on set and he's a really nice and funny guy. He's best known for his hilarious role as Serge in the Beverly Hills Cop movies.
ART
Whenever my wife and I travel, we make a point of going to galleries. She's helped me really appreciate visual art. We visited Bulgaria in 2023 and were really impressed by galleries in the old town of Plovdiv. Plovdiv is Bulgaria's 'City of Artists' and they have beautiful old houses that are now galleries dedicated to some of their best artists, including Zlatyu Boyadzhiev and Encho Pironkov. A word also for Ireland's National Gallery, it's something to be very proud of, a world class permanent collection alongside an always excellent programme of temporary exhibitions.
GIG
The best gig I've seen so far in 2025 was on a trip to Bali, were I saw several gamelan ensembles, but the best was Tirta Sari. They do an incredible weekly music and dance show in the Peliatan area.
In 2024 there were two standout gigs in different genres. French band Phoenix gave a euphoric set at Iveagh Gardens, they're a fantastic band to see live. They seem so genuinely happy to be doing what they do and they're effortlessly cool.
Completely different, but equally uplifting, was the Vienna Philharmonic performing Bruckner's 1st Symphony in Bruckner's home city of Linz, during the 2024 Bruckner Festival. It was very special indeed. They were conducted by Christian Thielemann, who really knows how to get the best out of the distinctive Vienna Philharmonic sound. There really is no orchestra like them!
TECH
Noise-cancelling headphones, they make life as a touring musician so much better, especially when flying. They are also great at blocking out construction noise, which is one of my pet peeves. I have Sony ones which are great quality sound and durable.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
The Next Big Thing for Irish music could be one of the wonderful young musicians who have played with my ensemble the Irish Memory Orchestra. One in particular who I'd love to see making an album is Róisín Donohoe, a stunning sean-nós singer and versatile multi-instrumentalist. Another is fiddle/viola player Ciara Ní Bhriain, who first performed professionally with my orchestra aged 15. Her father Mick O'Brien and sister Aoife are very renowned and Ciara is well on her way to becoming just as acclaimed. Eimear Coughlan was a standout from the orchestra's first Apprentice Scheme in 2013 and she's developed into one of Ireland's best harpists, as well as an excellent fiddle player. I'm delighted she'll be joining Martin Hayes and I, among others, at a concert of my compositions and arrangements at the Masters of Tradition Festival in August.
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