Ronan Guilfoyle's Bemusement Arcade
Doors 7:30pm/Music 8:00pm
"Ronan Guilfoyle's searching lines, melodious yet edgy—and a little mischievous to boot—stem from traditions old, contemporary and subtly global." - All About Jazz
Ronan Guilfoyle’s new quartet Bemusement Arcade finds deep inspiration in the jazz tradition while challenging its rhythmic foundations with daring innovation.
Led by acclaimed bassist, composer, and educator Ronan Guilfoyle, their most recent record At Swing Two Birds was released on Livia Records, and launched at Bray Jazz Festival in 2025.
The title At Swing, Two Birds is a clever nod to Irish literary giant Flann O’Brien’s At Swim-Two-Birds, while also referencing rhythmic and harmonic ideas drawn from Charlie Parker’s groundbreaking language. It’s a fitting symbol for the way this album playfully dances between old and new, between swing and surprise.
The music here is alive with groove and grit—blues forms, shout choruses, solos and drum trades abound—but wrapped in atypical time signatures and rhythmic displacement. Guilfoyle’s signature approach to rhythm means that what feels familiar is often reimagined, reshaped, or joyfully derailed. The standout title track, At Swing Two Birds, exemplifies the album’s conceptual core: an irreverent celebration of jazz’s history that refuses to sit still.
Tickets
Additional Information
The Cooler
The Cooler is located upstairs at The Complex Arts Centre, 12 Mary's Abbey Dublin 7. The entrance to The Cooler is through the same door as The Depot at The Complex, on the Mary's Abbey side of the building, where the LUAS tracks run. The building has a red wall on the left hand side of a front plaza that has a sign reading 'The Complex', and a blue wall facing the front plaza that has a sign reading 'The Complex - Art Lives Here'.
The plaza in front of The Complex is used by the surrounding businesses and during the day is often full of fruits, vegetables or delivery vehicles. You can still access The Cooler at these times.
Above the small blue artists' door, you'll see a painted sign for The Cooler (in black) and the Depot (in white). The Cooler is also marked by a small sign between the main glass doors (sometimes covered by blue shutters) and a blue artist's door. The glass doors will be open for performances from door times (usually 7:30pm).
The Cooler cannot be accessed from the Arran St East side of The Complex - this is the entry for the Gallery and artist studios only. If you have any trouble locating the Cooler please give Caitriona a call on 087 783 3391.
To find the Cooler Google Maps, search for The Cooler or The Depot at The Complex (the main performance space downstairs at The Complex). If you find the address for just The Complex, it will generally will bring you to the gallery on Arran St East.
For performances, The Cooler bar is open at door time (usually 30 minutes before the start of the performance), and during intervals. To make finding a seat and getting your drink a comfortable experience, please ensure you have enough time before the music starts!
Access notes
The performance space is up two flights of stairs and may be difficult to access for patrons with mobility issues. The space is fully seated.
Gender-neutral toilet facilities are available outside the door and up a few steps up from the level of The Cooler. Baby-changing facilities are available at The Gallery, downstairs at The Complex (near the Arran St entrance). Please ask any of our team for directions.
Guide dogs and service animals are welcome, please notify us if you will be attending with a guide dog.
Children under the age of 18 are welcome to attend events at The Cooler but must be supervised at all times by a parent or guardian. See here for further details.
If you have any other queries regarding accessibility or require any accommodations for seating etc, please contact us at admin @ improvisedmusic . ie and we will do our best to assist you.