Coming Up At The Cooler | Aug-Sept

The Complex hosts Improvised Music Company at The Cooler. The Cooler is the stage for some of the finest jazz and improvised musicians, both local and international.

Additionally, Improvised Music Company is a valuable resource for musicians, providing frequent workshops and clinics for artists navigating the music industry.

Read on to see the programme for August and September so far.

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Just Another Music Admin Mondayyyyy

Date: Every Monday until 25 Aug

Time: 10am - 12.40pm

Venue: The Cooler @ The Complex,12 Mary's Abbey, Dublin 7, D07XR70

Tickets: Free, reserve a spot

IMC is currently running ‘Music Admin Mondays’, a 5-week, low-pressure, high-reward drop-in online series designed to help tackle the ‘business side’ of music. Each session provides a structured, supportive environment where musicians can focus, with guidance and peer accountability, to help get things done.

There is group support as well as optional 1:1 sessions.

What to Expect:

• Low-Pressure Drop-In Format: Join when you can. It is not necessary to attend every session.

• Real-Time Feedback: Get guidance from the IMC Team, who understand the unique challenges of music career management.

• Focus Techniques for those with ADHD: The program uses proven methods to help musicians concentrate and get things done.

• Build Your Network: Connect with other musicians who are also working on their careers.

Participation is free.

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JESS KAV

Date: Thurs, 14 Aug

Time: Doors 7:30pm | Music 8:00pm

Venue: The Cooler @ The Complex,12 Mary's Abbey, Dublin 7, D07XR70

Tickets: From €12 here

Jess Kav's work explores the intersections of music, social activism, and personal transformation. After studying at London’s Institute of Contemporary Music Performance and Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Jess has focused on songwriting, touring, recording, writing and social change. Known for her ability to merge powerful vocals with introspective storytelling, Jess’s artistry has roots in Ireland’s diverse creative scene, while her reach is increasingly international. Her sold-out one-woman show, "Fermented Dreams" (September 2024), intertwined humour, vulnerability, and profound self-reflection in a narrative about a 40-year-old musician confronting creative burnout and self-doubt.

Her collaborations are extensive and noteworthy, with Hozier, The Waterboys, and Villagers being part of the roster. Jess is no stranger to large-scale stages, yet her work retains a deeply personal and intimate quality. Jess has been involved in award-winning productions like Hot Brown Honey’s "Hive City Legacy" and is a founding member of the Dirty Laundry Collective, an interdisciplinary group focused on pushing artistic boundaries and engaging with societal issues.

Her recent releases "Genesis" (October 2024), "Diary Song" (Feb 2024), and "January Lullaby" (January 2025) use her original compositions to tell stories of resilience, vulnerability, and transformation. These tracks come to life in her live performances with a full band, where her raw emotional depth and energetic presence stand out.

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John Donegan | The Irish Sextet

Date: Thurs, 21 Aug

Time: Doors 7:30pm | Music 8:00pm

Venue: The Cooler @ The Complex,12 Mary's Abbey, Dublin 7, D07XR70

Tickets: From €12 here

John Donegan, based in Britain but originally from Cork, is a modern jazz pianist and composer. His music has been featured on BBC, Jazz FM, RTE and independent radio stations in Britain and Ireland. He has performed with a variety of British, Irish and International artists, including Art Blakey, Art Farmer, Barney Kessel and Greg Abate, Louis Stewart and many more.

John’s major influences have been the likes of Bill Evans, Kenny Barron, Wynton Kelly, Bud Powell, Chic Corea and Keith Jarrett. The Jazz Mann describes his music as, “...varied, intelligent and unfailingly melodic, and most importantly of all it swings." With the Irish Sextet John has drawn together a group of stellar musicians from across the four corners of the island to explore his original compositions in a soundworld with vintage bebop DNA and an Irish ear for melody.

Their debut album Shadows Linger in 2022 was described by the Jazz Mann as “...stirring in both its energetic responses to Donegan's original compositions and the sheer panache of the solo extemporisations.” The follow-up album Light Streams, was praised for “...themes that have real melodic value, each soloist, himself included, given pathways to follow which allow freedom to wander even if the way ahead is always clear.”

In 2024, John recorded the third album in this series with The Irish Sextet – We Will Meet Again, Sometime – featuring special guest Hugh Buckley on guitar. The album ventures through wholly new material, including a tribute to the late Louis Stewart, mentor and friend.

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Dave Redmond's All in Motion Quartet

Date: Mon, 25 Sept

Time: Doors 7:30pm | Music 8:00pm

Venue: The Cooler @ The Complex,12 Mary's Abbey, Dublin 7, D07XR70

Tickets: From €12 here

“A much sought-after bassist… assured with musical intelligence and depth of feeling.” ”RTE

Celebrated Irish bassist and composer Dave Redmond launches his highly anticipated new album All in Motion, with a special live performance featuring his dynamic All in Motion Quartet. Joining Redmond are three internationally renowned jazz musicians: George Colligan (USA) on piano, Stéphane Mercier (Belgium) on saxophone, and Darren Beckett (Ireland/USA) on drums.

All in Motion presents ten original compositions by Redmond, recorded at Camden Studios in Dublin. The music pulses with lyrical intensity, rhythmic invention, and fearless improvisation, an exciting new chapter in European jazz. With deep-rooted musical connections and explosive chemistry, the quartet delivers a performance that is both intimate and electrifying.

“This album is about connection and movement, between musicians, cities, and ideas,” says Redmond. “It’s a celebration of the musical relationships I’ve built across continents.”