Gig Guide
2020
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Sat04Jan2020
Lankum
Vicar StreetDublin
Dublin’s finest experimental folk miscreants Lankum play Dublin's Vicar Street on January 4, just a few months after their last show there, and the release of new album, The Livelong Day.
Combining four-part harmonies with tradition instruments that include uilleann pipes, concertina, Russian accordian, fiddle and guitar, the group have an incredible knack for melding traditional folk with contemporary underground influences - black metal & drone, for example - to create something truly transcendental. Their sets give and take from the peoples' songbook - listen to our Irish song of 2017, the hauntingly poignant 'What Will We Do When We Have No Money?'.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster, priced €30. Doors open at 8pm.
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Sat11Jan2020
Tony Visconti & Woody Woodmansey's Holy Holy
Olympia TheatreDublin
Now into its fifth year, the Dublin Bowie Festival has announced its 2020 headline act. Holy Holy features an all-star lineup of long-time Bowie producer/collaborator Tony Visconti on bass, '70-'73 Spiders From Mars drummer Woody Woodmansey, with the band set to play the Olympia Theatre on January 11.
Vocals come from Heaven 17's Glenn Gregory, keys/sax from Berenice Scott & Jessica Lee Morgan, while Scott Walker/Cult guitarist James Stevenson and Ian Hunter/Geldof guitarist Paul Cuddeford join them. They'll be performing Bowie's third album, The Man Who Sold The World, and Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars. As well as the former, Visconti produced some of Bowie's most acclaimed work, like the Berlin trilogy, Blackstar and Diamond Dogs - not to mention his work with some of the biggest rock artists of the 20th Century: Thin Lizzy, Iggy Pop, Morrissey & beyond.
Tickets are priced from €45.20, available at Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7pm.
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Mon13Jan2020
David Keenan
Olympia TheatreDublin
Young Dundalk singer-songwriter David Keenan plays the Olympia on January 13 in what's his biggest headline performance to date.
An artist who very much lives in the shadow the great Irish tradition, he's a performer of incredible charisma. Check him out on the Late Late Show.
Tickets cost €25 from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7pm.
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Tue14Jan2020
Slipknot w/Behemoth
3ArenaDublin
Coinciding with their lauded sixth album hitting Number 1 on UK & Irish charts, Slipknot play the 3Arena on January 14. Taken from their new album & return to form We Are Not Your Kind, watch the video for 'Birth of the Cruel'.
Supporting are Behemoth.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 6.30pm.
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Sat18Jan2020
Lee Fields & The Expressions
Vicar StreetDublin
ChoiceCuts bring Lee Fields & The Expressions to Dublin's Vicar Street on January 18.
The legendary soul frontman has been around since the 60s, when he was a teenager in North Carolina, sweating it out in juke joints. Now in his sixties, his legend has grown in stature, having given the likes of Sharon Jones & Charles Bradley early career breaks. Check out his wonderfully warm soul-funk of It Rains Love.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7.30pm.
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Wed22Jan2020
The Felice Brothers
Limelight 2Belfast
Following the May '18 release of their new album Undress, The Felice Brothers headline Belfast's Limelight 2 on January 22.
The band take rootsy songwriting, and, informed by the political and social milieu, create a harmonious, thoughtful takes on it. Based around the writing of upstate New Yorkers Ian & James Felice, who began in 2006 with subway & sidewalk performances, they've released nine albums and backed Conor Oberst's 2017 LP, Salutations. Stream 'Poor Blind Birds'.
Tickets cost £18 from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7pm.
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Thu23Jan2020
The Felice Brothers
Whelan'sDublin
Following the May '18 release of their new album Undress, The Felice Brothers headline Whelan's on January 23.
The band take rootsy songwriting, and, informed by the political and social milieu, create a harmonious, thoughtful takes on it. Based around the writing of upstate New Yorkers Ian & James Felice, who began in 2006 with subway & sidewalk performances, they've released nine albums and backed Conor Oberst's 2017 LP, Salutations. Stream 'Poor Blind Birds'.
Tickets cost €23 from WAV Tickets. Doors open at 8pm.
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Sat25Jan2020
The Teskey Brothers
Whelan'sDublin
Australian blues rockers The Teskey Brothers play Whelan's on January 25.
Crafting their own take on the blues & soul of Motown with a Foals-esque sheen, they've recently released debut album Half Mile Harvest, which was self-recorded & produced. Watch the video for 'So Caught Up'.
Tickets cost €17.50 from WAV Tickets. Doors open at 8pm.
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Wed29Jan2020
Amigo The Devil
The Sound HouseDublin
Murder-balladeer Amigo The Devil is set to play the Sound House on January 29. A member of the indie horror rock scene, with elements of alt. Americana, folk and punk, watch the video for 'Cocaine and Abel'.
Tickets cost €16 from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7.30pm.
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Wed29Jan2020
The Wildhearts, Backyard Babies & CKY
The LimelightBelfast
A hard rock trifecta takes place at the Limelight on January 29, headlined by The Wildhearts. They've just released mini-album Diagnosis, following their first LP in a decade with the original lineup - check out 'Dislocated'.
Sharing the bill on the UK tour are Swedish sleaze rock outfit Backyard Babies - they've recently released new album Silver and Gold - and Philly riff-rockers CKY.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster and Katy's Bar. Doors open at 5pm.
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Sat01Feb2020
Isobel Campbell
Liberty Hall TheatreDublin
Scottish songstress Isobel Campbell plays Dublin's Liberty Hall Theatre on February 1. The Glasgow-born former Belle & Sebastian singer-songwriter & cellist has just released new album There Is No Other, 14 years on from her last solo album outright - not including her work with Mark Lanegan. Check out the video for 'Ant Life'.
Tickets are priced €22 from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 8pm.
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Sat01Feb2020
Sturgill Simpson
Vicar StreetDublin
One of his generation's most gifted alt. country songwriters, Sturgill Simpson, who has earned crossover acclaim for his 2016 masterpiece, A Sailor's Guide To Earth, returns to Vicar Street for a show on February 1 in support of new album Sound & Fury. His music has moved more into electonic rock territory, while holding onto his roots.
A Sailor's Guide... earned a Best Country Album Grammy, as well as a nomination for Best Album, and his latest LP has an accompanying Netflix anime film, directed by Jumpei Mizusaki. Check the video for 'Sing Along'.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster, priced €30. Doors open at 8pm.
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Sat08Feb2020
(Sandy) Alex G
The Button FactoryDublin
U.S. indie rock hero (Sandy) Alex G will play Dublin's Button Factory on February 8.
This date follows the release of the singer, songwriter and musician's ninth album, House of Sugar, via Domino. Watch the video for 'Hope'.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster, priced €16.50. Doors open at 7.30pm.
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Sat08Feb2020
Algiers
Whelan'sDublin
Socially active post-punk/gospel quartet Algiers return to Dublin, playing Whelan's on February 8.
Oft-described as dystopian soul, their recent input has been instilled with the principles of the Black Panther movement, challenging systematic oppression with recent collaborative audiovisual piece Can the Sub_Bass Speak? as part of web installation There Is No Year.
Tickets cost €15 from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7.30pm.
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Mon10Feb2020Tue11Feb2020
Bombay Bicycle Club
Vicar StreetDublin
It's over half a decade since their Mercury-nominated last album, but Bombay Bicycle Club are back, playing a short of Irish shows, kicking off with two shows on February 10 & 11 at Vicar Street - the latter added due to demand.
Recorded with John Congleton, the date follows the January release of their fifth album. Watch the video for 'Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)'.
Tickets cost €34.15 from Ticketmaster.
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Wed12Feb2020
Bombay Bicycle Club
Ulster HallBelfast
It's over half a decade since their Mercury-nominated last album, but Bombay Bicycle Club are back, playing a pair of Irish shows, with the latter at the Ulster Hall on February 12.
Recorded with John Congleton, the date follows the January release of their fifth album. Watch the video for 'Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)'.
Tickets cost £31.50 from Ticketmaster.
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Thu13Feb2020
Explosions In The Sky
Vicar StreetDublin
Texan post-rock quartet Explosions In The Sky play Vicar Street on February 13 as they tour in celebration of their twentieth anniversary.
Formed in the Austin scene in 1999, the band were the product of an independent scene that included the likes of Lift To Experience, getting signed after their Austin-based friends The American Analog Set submitted a demo to Temporary Residence Limited. The often-triple guitar & drum crescendo masters haven't released any official studio albums since 2011, but have soundtracked a number of films in that time. They're a borderline-transcendental live show at their peak, so be sure to check them out if you can.
Tickets cost €36.15 and are available from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 8pm.
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Fri14Feb2020
Supergrass
Olympia TheatreDublin
Supergrass are set to play two Irish dates as part of their forthcoming reunion tour. The Gaz Coombes-fronted Britpop legends will play Dublin’s Olympia Theatre on February 14.
Band member Danny Goffey said, “Everything aligned for us to make this happen for 2020. It was the first time that we collectively felt the buzz to get back in a room together and play the songs. We’re extremely excited to get out there and bring a bit of Supergrass joy to all our fans… and their extended families.” This comes off the back of the release of their 1994-2008 career-spanning Greatest Hits.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7pm.
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Fri14Feb2020
Black Midi
The Button FactoryDublin
The UK's most hyped guitar band, Black Midi, play their debut Dublin date at The Button Factory on February 14. The mathy, krauty, genre-hopping London-based quartet released their debut album Schlagenheim to a Mercury Nomination.
Tickets are priced €16.50 from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7.30pm.
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Sat15Feb2020
Black Midi w/Ill Japonia
Ulster Sports ClubBelfast
The UK's most hyped guitar band, Black Midi, play the Ulster Sports Club on February 15. The mathy, krauty, genre-hopping London-based quartet released their debut album Schlagenheim to a Mercury Nomination.
Supporting is Bo Ningen bassist/frontwoman Taigen Kawabe, aka Ill Japonia.
Tickets are priced £13 from Ticketweb. Doors open at 8pm.
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Sat15Feb2020
The HU
Limelight 1Belfast
Mongolian metal outfit The HU play the Limelight 1 on February 15 following the release of their acclaimed debut album The Gereg.
A unique blend of heavy rock & metal with Mongolian throat singing, they've exploded online - check out 'The Great Chinggis Khaan'.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster & Katy's Bar, priced £17.50. Doors open at 7pm.
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Sun16Feb2020
The Hu
The AcademyDublin
Mongolian metal outfit The Hu play the Academy on February 16 following the release of their acclaimed debut album The Gereg.
A unique blend of heavy rock & metal with Mongolian throat singing, they've exploded online - check out 'The Great Chinggis Khaan'.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.
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Mon17Feb2020
Supergrass
Ulster HallBelfast
Supergrass are set to play two Irish dates as part of their forthcoming reunion tour. The Gaz Coombes-fronted Britpop legends will play Belfast's Ulster Hall on February 17.
Band member Danny Goffey said, “Everything aligned for us to make this happen for 2020. It was the first time that we collectively felt the buzz to get back in a room together and play the songs. We’re extremely excited to get out there and bring a bit of Supergrass joy to all our fans… and their extended families.” This comes off the back of the release of their 1994-2008 career-spanning Greatest Hits.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7pm.
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Tue25Feb2020
The Growlers
The Button FactoryDublin
Having been together for almost 15 years, garage rock outfit The Growlers play Dublin's Button Factory on February 25. They've moved from psychedelic tinges through to more recent forays in new wave funk on latest LP Natural Affair.
Tickets cost €24 from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7.30pm.
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Sun01Mar2020
Sleater-Kinney
Vicar StreetDublin
Five years on from their last Irish show and album, Sleater-Kinney are back with their St. Vincent-produced ninth studio album, The Centre Won’t Hold.
Corin Tucker, Carrie Brownstein, and Janet Weiss will stop off at Vicar Street on March 1st - watch the video for recent single 'Hurry On Home'.
Tickets cost €33.65 from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 8pm.
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Mon02Mar2020
Editors
Vicar StreetDublin
Editors celebrate the release of their greatest hits collection with a show at Vicar Street on March 2.
The album will include 13 hits from across their 15 year career and 6 studio albums, as well as some new material. Check out the video for one of those new singles, 'Frankenstein'.
Tickets are priced €37 from Ticketmaster.
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Tue03Mar2020
The 1975
3ArenaDublin
Mancunian electronic-hued indie-pop quartet The 1975 return to the 3Arena on March 3 following the release of their fourth album, Notes On A Conditional Form.
Formed in Manchester in 2002 as teenagers, this tour follows the release ofthird album, they've grown to become possibly the UK's biggest band - check out the video for 'People'.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster, priced from €46.20.
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Wed04Mar2020
The Bay Strikes Back: Testament, Exodus & Death Angel
National StadiumDublin
DME Promotions bring an incredible incredible West Coast thrash package to Dublin's National Stadium on March 4. Berkeley's Testament headline, having formed back in 1983. Selling over 14 million albums worldwide, they're one of the biggest bands of the thrash era, yet somehow overlooked by many who don't look beyond the 'Big Four'.
Supporting are Richmond's Exodus, who formed in 1979, releasing one of thrash metal's seminal albums in 1985 debut Bonded By Blood. Opening are Death Angel from Daly City, California, who ran from 1982, and are regarded as part of thrash metal's 'Big Eight' - as are the rest of this stacked bill.
Tickets are priced €45 from Ticketmaster & the Sound Cellar.
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Fri06Mar2020
Jon Hopkins
Bord Gáis Energy TheatreDublin
As part of his Polarity tour of 2020, Jon Hopkins will return to Ireland to play the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on March 6.
Following on from his Singularity tour, shaped by his experiences with meditative and trance-like states, this tour will tether together “the two disparate elements of harsh and fragile in my music. By going between the two, we’ll hopefully create some profound moments of stillness.” He'll be playing grand piano at points, and joined onstage by a group of musicians & long-time friends, including producer/guitarist Leo Abrahams, vocalist/arranger Emma Smith, and cellist Laura Moody.
Tickets are priced €40 from Ticketmaster.
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Sat14Mar2020
The Stunning
Olympia TheatreDublin
It's thirty years since Galway's The Stunning released their debut album, Paradise In The Picture House, which was the first Irish debut LP to go straight to Number 1, where it remained for five weeks. Formed in 1987, the band became a household name in Ireland, before splitting in 1994 for a decade. Have a listen to 'An Empty Feeling'.
Tickets cost €30 from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 8pm.
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Wed18Mar2020
The Who
3ArenaDublin
Following the November release of their first album in 13 years, Who, The Who headline the 3Arena on March 18. Drawing together themes of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, music theft, spirituality and beyond, the band have renewed their creative juices and written & recorded the album over the last two years.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.
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Sat21Mar2020
The Lost Brothers
Vicar StreetDublin
Irish songwriters & musicians Oisin Leech and Mark McCausland, aka The Lost Brothers, are set to play their biggest headline show to date at Vicar Street on March 21.
It's over a decade since the release of their debut album, Trails of the Lonely. Five albums on, with collaborations with the likes of Elvis Costello & M Ward in tow, this show will be a wonderful gathering of song and friends.
Tickets cost €30 from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7.30pm.
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Sat28Mar2020Sun29Mar2020
Laurie Anderson
National Concert HallDublin
National Concert Hall's Perspectives is a now-unmissable staple for Dublin music heads, and this year's programme is no different. Laurie Anderson will be presenting two special works over Saturday March 28 & Sunday March 29 at the venue.
The former is Radio Play, a mix of songs, stories, sound effects and electronics that combines the power of poetic language, music and visualization. Like radio, this piece is about using the imagination and interpreting the meaning of ambiguous sounds. Anderson will be joined by an ensemble of musicians headed by bassist and music director Greg Cohen.
The latter show, Here Comes the Ocean, is an evening of improvisation against the backdrop of the drones, a guitar feedback work by Lou Reed performed by his collaborator Stewart Hurwood. Both loud and intimate, the music includes songs by Reed and Anderson as well as improvisation by an ensemble led by bassist and music director Greg Cohen.
Tickets, priced from €27.50-€37.50, are available from NCH.ie. Doors open at 8pm.
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Sat28Mar2020
Elbow
3ArenaDublin
The Guy Garvey-fronted Elbow are set to play the 3Arena on March 28 as part of the tour for their latest album, Giants of All Sizes, which came out in October. Check out the video for 'Empires'.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 6.30pm.
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Sun29Mar2020
Blade Runner Live
Bord Gáis Energy TheatreDublin
Ridley Scott's sci-fi masterpiece Blade Runner is set to be scored by the 14-piece, synth-led Avex Ensemble at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on March 29.
They'll perform one of the all-time great original scores, composed by Vangelis for the 1982 release, live to Scott's 2007 Final Cut of the film. The soundtrack was nominated at the 1983 BAFTAs & Golden Globes for Best Original Score, and its influence has run more broadly into the electronic genre.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.
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Sun29Mar2020
Agnes Obel
Vicar StreetDublin
Singer-songwriter Agnes Obel plays Vicar Street on March 29, accompanying her latest album. Expect music from her award-winning & platinum-selling Philharmonics, Aventine and Citizen of Glass. Check her out live in Berlin.
Tickets cost €32 from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 8pm.
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Sun29Mar2020
Elbow
The Waterfront HallBelfast
The Guy Garvey-fronted Elbow are set to play Belfast's Waterfront Hall on March 29 as part of the tour for their latest album, Giants of All Sizes, which came out in October. Check out the video for 'Empires'.
Tickets are available from The Waterfront.
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Sun03May2020
Bon Iver
3ArenaDublin
Justin Vernon aka Bon Iver is set to return to Dublin. Having last played the venue back in 2012, the Wisconsin artist and his band will play 3Arena on Sunday, May 3. Support on the night comes from Big Red Machine, Vernon’s side-project with the National’s Aaron Dessner.
Tickets range from €49.50-€54.50 from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7pm.
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Tue26May2020Wed27May2020
Huun-Huur-Tu
The Sugar ClubDublin
Tuva - a republic situated on the Mongolian-Russian border - group Huun-Huur-Tu play The Sugar Club on May 26 & 27, following a pair of hypnotic sold-out shows in 2019.
They're characterised by their multi-tonal throat singing, sometimes accompanied by native Tuvan instruments like the igil khomus (jaw harp), doshpuluur & dünggür (shaman drum), which has led to collaborations with Ry Cooder, Frank Zappa, Kronos Quartet and many more. Check them out Live on KEXP.
Tickets are available from The Sugar Club and Ticketmaster, priced €21. Doors open at 7.30pm.
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Wed27May2020
JC Stewart
The AcademyDublin
Young Northern Irish pop singer-songwriter JC Stewart plays his biggest Irish show to date at the Academy on May 27. Check out latest single 'Bones'.
Tickets cost €18 from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7pm.
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Thu28May2020
JC Stewart
The LimelightBelfast
Young Northern Irish pop singer-songwriter JC Stewart plays his biggest Irish show to date at The Limelight on May 28. Check out latest single 'Bones'.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 7pm.
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Sun31May2020
Damon Albarn - The Nearer The Fountain, More Pure The Stream Flows
National Concert HallDublin
Blur, Gorillaz & The Good, The Bad and the Queen founder Damon Albarn is set to bring a new conceptual show to Dublin's National Concert Hall on May 31.
These days, he spends as much time as possible in Iceland, his spiritual home from home where he gains respite and inspiration from the landscape and its surroundings. With this fascination in mind he will perform this new piece with an ensemble and specially commissioned visuals. What can be more fascinating than the signs of the passage of time and the fragility of nature.
Tickets are priced from €55-€65, available from NCH. Doors open at 8pm.
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Sat20Jun2020
An Evening With Randy Newman
Vicar StreetDublin
Pianist and masterful singer-songwriter Randy Newman returns to Dublin to play Vicar Street on June 20.
Debuting back in 1968 with his eponymous debut album, he's become a master of wry, self-deprecating and socially astute storytelling in pop music's confines, earning a universal respect over the years. Commercially, he's known for his Grammy-winning work on Toy Story & A Bug's Life, among others, but look to Sail Away and Good Old Boys. Watch him perform 'Political Science' from the Old Grey Whistle Test, and his sensational NPR Tiny Desk concert from 2018.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster. Doors open at 8.30pm.
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Mon29Jun2020
Green Day, Fall Out Boy & Weezer
RDS ArenaDublin
Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer are set to team up for a show in Dublin as part of their global Hella Mega stadium tour. The three bands will play RDS Arena on June 29th.
Tickets cost €79.50 from Ticketmaster.
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Fri23Oct2020
Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
3ArenaDublin
Following his sold out 2018 show, Jools Holland brings his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra to the 3Arena once more. Just like his previous Dublin shows, Jools will be joined on vocals by Ruby Turner & Louise Marshall and his fellow Squeeze member Gilson Lavis on drums. The TV host & masterful pop craftsman & musician will be performing many of his classics, as well as big band interpretations of a broad range of hits.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster and doors open at 8pm.
