Something For The Weekend: Kevin Rowland's Cultural Picks

Choice cultural recommendations from the legendary frontman and artistic visionary of Dexy's Midnight Runners.

One of the true, certifiable geniuses of British pop, in recent years Kevin has been fronting a reinvigorated Dexys line-up while finding a new groove as a highly respected DJ - his unique sets incorporate occasional live vocals from the man himself, in inimitable Rowland fashion. This weekend, he's manning the decks as Guest Of Honour in Dublin's Grand Social on Saturday 8 April, as part of this year's MusicTown Festival.

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Film

I'm very critical of a lot of films I try and watch. I rarely watch films all the way through, unless I’m really into it. When I was in my 20s, I asked my Dad if he liked watching films. He said, ‘I’ve seen them all before in one form or another’. I now know what he means - almost every film I watch looks cliched to me. One exception to that is Men, Women and Children, I saw it last year, and I thought it was brilliant - original, moving and relevant to now. The only thing I didn’t like about it was Emma Thompson’s closing speech {not needed}. Other than that, great.

Music

I would have to say, Ireland’s Lisa O’ Neil is the purest music artist I have come across in a long time. She is a true Artist - totally uncompromising with an almost naive attitude to what she does, which makes for some of the purest music I've heard. She is an inspiration to us all - not just through her music, but in her approach. I was lucky enough to share the bill with at Imagining Home in Dublin and London last year, and as soon as I saw her perform, I felt a great connection with her. People like Lisa keep me on my toes and remind me of how important it is to be true to what you are doing. She is integrity personified, and that’s all over her music.

Book

I'm not really a book guy, I enjoyed Johnny Marr’s book, but mostly I just dip in and out of books that help me in my life. The most significant of those is Eckhart Tolle’s The Power Of Now.

Play

I'm not really a theatre guy, either! I went to see The Kinks' musical Sunny Afternoon last year and it was brilliant. The songs and the musicianship was top notch, and they have written and performed SO many great songs, but more than that, it was clear it was Ray’s story. They totally captured the machinations of the music business, and the brother thing. This show had far more depth than every other show and most plays I’ve seen.

The People Versus O J Simpson - I thought it was really great, in that as well as being about the case {which I found interesting, having not really followed it at the time) it was also about the circus that went on around it and the dynamics within, the relationships of the people involved. Powerful.

Gig

Lisa O Neil supporting the Divine Comedy at the London Palladium. Great gig. Sorry, I've already mentioned Lisa, but thats the only gig I’ve been to this year.

Art

I can’t really get into art shows. I kept getting invited but never go. Maybe I will soon. But as of now, art doesn’t move me anything like in the way music or films do.

Radio

Hawksby and Jacobs on Talk Sport. I find those guys really funny. They could talk about anything and make me laugh. I'm far more interested in everything that goes on around football than the actual football itself. I love listening to people like Gary Neville talk about it and I love the insights into how people deal with very high-pressure situations. Very interesting.

Tech

Google Maps and Waze Apps. I love them. My father lives 30 miles from me. Recently I was travelling over there a lot. I was amazed at how it took me on a different route each day. It can see the traffic ahead and plans the route accordingly. Amazing. I love it.

The Next Big Thing

No idea. And I wouldn’t want to know. 30 years ago, I couldn’t see how anybody could be interested in guitar bands anymore. I was wrong. What do I know?

Kevin Rowland (DJ Set), Saturday April 8th, Grand Social Dublin - details here.

Something For The Weekend: Kevin Rowland's Cultural Picks

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