The Dubliners Encore
January 23rd until February 1st, Cork Opera House, then Castlebar, Dublin, Derry, Waterford, Limerick and Kerry, thedublinersencore.com
Created by the original Dubliners member John Sheahan, this official stage show will highlight the influence and charisma of Irish folk’s pioneering performers.
James Blunt
February 11th, SSE Arena, Belfast, £40; March 6th, 3Arena, Dublin, €59.30, ticketmaster.ie
After a sell-out Dublin show in 2024, James Blunt returns to deliver pop/rock anthems and sharp-witted asides.
Declan O’Rourke
February 13th, National Concert Hall, Dublin, €35, nch.ie
One of Ireland’s most insightful songwriters in one of Ireland’s most elegant venues. What’s not to like?
Cyndi Lauper
February 16th, SSE Arena, Belfast, £55, ticketmaster.ie
The US singer’s farewell tour, we are told. But what’s this – no Dublin gig?
Pitbull
February 19th, 3Arena, Dublin, €59.85 (sold out), ticketmaster.ie
Twenty years a singer and rapper, Pitbull plays a rare Irish show. Special guest is Pitbull’s long-time friend Lil John.
Pantera
February 21st, 3Arena, Dublin, €80.25, ticketmaster.ie
Texas heavy-metal band Pantera visit Ireland on their first tour for more than 20 years. Fans are on high alert.
Snow Patrol
February 25th, 3Arena, Dublin, €45 (sold out); February 27th and 28th, SSE Arena, Belfast, £44, ticketmaster.ie
Now down to the trio of Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly and Johnny McDaid, Snow Patrol plug their latest album, The Forest Is the Path.
RTÉ Orchestra Performing the Songs of David Bowie
March 2nd, 3Arena, Dublin, €59, ticketmaster.ie
Highly anticipated gig featuring numerous associates of David Bowie (including the Dubliner Gerry Leonard, and Gail Ann Dorsey) and guest vocalists Faye O’Rourke, Shobsy and Duke Special. P{art of Dublin Bowie Festival.
Sabrina Carpenter
March 3rd and 4th, 3Arena, Dublin, €61 (sold out), ticketmaster.ie
The United States’ latest pop sweetheart brings her Short’n’Sweet Tour to Ireland. Two sold-out shows attest to her popularity.
Chris de Burgh
March 9th, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin, €65.40; March 11th, Cork Opera House, €70.90 (sold out); March 13th and 14th, National Opera House, Wexford, €69.90 (sold out), ticketmaster.ie
More than 50 years on the go and still Chris de Burgh sells out venues. “A genuine master of the soft ballad”, AllMusic notes.
Gracie Abrams
March 10th, 3Arena, Dublin, €54.90, ticketmaster.ie
The daughter of the film-maker JJ Abrams and the television producer Katie McGrath (yes, there’s an Irish background) returns to Ireland to channel the spirits of Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers.
Limp Bizkit
March 11th, 3Arena, Dublin, €60.15, ticketmaster.ie
US nu-metal band that divides opinion as Moses did the Red Sea.
Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
March 11th, National Concert Hall, Dublin, €40, nch.ie
Jazz fans are surely salivating at the prospect of one of the world’s most celebrated jazz orchestras guided by a musician whose influence on the form has been vast.
Country to Country
March 14th-16th, SSE Arena, Belfast, £49, ticketmaster.ie
No Dublin date for this annual US country-music love-in. Acts performing include Dierks Bentley, Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson, Nate Smith and our personal favourite, Tucker Wetmore.
Paul Heaton
March 20th, 3Arena, Dublin, €49.20; March 21st, SSE Arena, Belfast, £45, ticketmaster.ie
Easily one of the best UK songwriters of the past 40 years, the former Beautiful South singer is rooted, conscientious and, by all accounts, a decent guy. Special guests are The Lighting Seeds.
Spiritualized
March 20th, National Stadium, Dublin, €40.80, ticketmaster.ie
The British sonic shape-shifter Jason Pierce performs Pure Phase in its entirety. The 1995 album, he recalls, “was Michael Nyman, Steve Reich and John Adams, rock’n’roll and gospel music … It sounds like driving as fast as you can in torrential rain.”
The Dead South
March 24th, National Stadium, Dublin, €46; March 25th, Waterfront, Belfast, £46, singularartists.ie
The Canadian acoustic band play alt.Americana, country and western, folk and a different kind of bluegrass. Think outside roots music with, they say, “a wink and a smile”.
Gabrielle
March 29th, 3Arena, Dublin, €51.20, ticketmaster.ie
Classy English soul/pop singer delivers hits such as Dreams, Rise, Going Nowhere and Out of Reach.
Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds
March 30th, 3Arena, Dublin, €45, ticketmaster.ie
Just when you thought spectacular stage presentations of concept albums were a thing of the past, along comes an updated version of one of rock’s most trailblazing arena shows.
Ryan Adams
April 5th, Waterfront Hall, Belfast, £41.50; April 7th and 8th, Vicar Street, Dublin, €40.50, ticketmaster.ie
Ryan Adams returns from semi-exile – in 2019 several women accused him of sexual harassment – with an abundance of new music. Since his re-emergence in 2020, he has released no fewer than a whopping 14 studio albums.
Gavin Friday
April 8th, Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co Louth, €33; April 10th, Vicar Street, Dublin, €33, ticketmaster.ie
One of Ireland’s pioneering maverick musicians plays extremely rare live shows that will be based around his most recent album, Ecce Homo.
Sugababes
April 19th, SSE Arena, Belfast, £53.35; April 20th, 3Arena, Dublin, €52.35, ticketmaster.ie
Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and second-generation Irishwoman Siobhán Donaghy deliver classic pop/dance tunes such as Freak Like Me, Round Round, Push the Button and About You Now.
Andrea Bocelli
April 27th and 28th, 3Arena, Dublin, €60, ticketmaster.ie
Genre-spanning opera singer whose Sacred Arias, from 1999, is the biggest-selling classical album by a solo artist. Celine Dion is a fan. If God has a singing voice, she once said, “he must sound a lot like Andrea Bocelli”.
The Flaming Lips
April 28th and 29th, 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin, €61.85, ticketmaster.ie
For a band of their vintage – they formed in 1983 – Flaming Lips remain as weird and experimental as they’ve always been. Dress up – it’s expected.
Olly Murs
April 29th, 3Arena, Dublin, €44.20 (sold out); April 30th, SSE Arena, Belfast, £45.20; July 13th, Live at the Marquee, Cork, €44.20, ticketmaster.ie
The popularity of the X Factor alumnus goes from strength to strength. No, we’re not sure why, either.
David Gray
May 2nd, 3Arena, Dublin, €72.70, ticketmaster.ie
Sturdy songwriter and passionate performer provides sustenance for the head and soul with songs from his esteemed back catalogue and new album, Dear Life.
Twenty One Pilots
May 8th, SSE Arena, Belfast, £60.50; May 9th, 3Arena, Dublin, €61.35, ticketmaster.ie
US punk/electropop/hip-hop/indie duo Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun cover as many bases as they can. They got their name from an Arthur Miller play, you know.
Tate McRae
May 16th and 17th, 3Arena, Dublin, €61.35, ticketmaster.ie
Super-duper US singer-songwriter very popular with tweenagers, teenagers and young people of all ages.
Bryan Adams
May 20th, 3Arena, Dublin, €71.70; May 21st, SSE Arena, Belfast, £65, ticketmaster.ie
Canadian rocker whose best songs are the ones he wrote several decades ago. So it goes.
Tyler, the Creator
May 24th and 25th, 3Arena, Dublin, €81.25, ticketmaster.ie
US rapper, producer, and genre-blender whose latest album, Chromakopia, embraces jazz, hip-hop and R&B.
Scissor Sisters
May 27th, SSE Arena, Belfast, £56.50; May 28th, 3Arena, Dublin, €72.70, ticketmaster.ie
Cracking electropop band celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album. Special guest is Alison Goldfrapp.
Remembering Christy Dignam
May 29th, Vicar Street, Dublin, €44, ticketmaster.ie
Special guests have yet to be announced for this concert celebrating the songs of one of Ireland’s most characterful performers.
Inhaler
May 30th, St Anne’s Park, Dublin, €44.20, ticketmaster.ie
Irish pop-rock contenders are back in the fray following a hiatus. Their new album, Open Wide, is released in February.
The Lumineers
May 31st, St Anne’s Park, Dublin, €61.05, ticketmaster.ie
Alternative folk with a kick, all the way from Denver, Colorado.
Lionel Richie
May 31st, SSE Arena, Belfast, £88; June 1st, 3Arena, Dublin, €91.25, ticketmaster.ie
Lionel Richie brings his Say Now to the Hits tour to Ireland. Dancing on the ceiling optional.
Forbidden Fruit
May 31st and June 1st, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, ticketmaster.ie
It’s a bank holiday, baby! Line-up and ticket prices are to be announced in January.
The Swell Season
May 31st and June 1st, National Concert Hall, Dublin, €55, nch.ie
Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová reunite once again.
Bonnie Raitt
June 1st, Ulster Hall, Belfast, £46.50; June 3rd and 4th, Vicar Street, Dublin, €54.85, ticketmaster.ie
Supreme blues/pop guitarist and singer.
Rewind
June 1st, St Anne’s Park, Dublin, €59.90; June 21st, Virgin Media Park, Cork, €69.90, ticketmaster.ie
Relive the hits of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s with The Boomtown Rats, Billy Ocean, Squeeze, ABC, Toyah, Midge Ure, Tiffany and more.
Stereophonics
June 6th, St Anne’s Park, Dublin, €59; June 7th, Virgin Media Park, Cork, €59, ticketmaster.ie
Looking for stadium anthems? Form a queue and walk this way.
In the Meadows
June 7th, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, €65, ticketmaster.ie
Whoa – what a line-up! Iggy Pop, Gilla Band, Sprints, The Scratch and more blow the competition away.
The 2 Johnnies Podcast: Pints in a Field
June 7th, St Anne’s Park, Dublin, €59, ticketmaster.ie
Must we? Oh, very well … Vengaboys, Basshunter and (be still thy beating hearts) Timahoe Male Choir.
The Waterboys
June 7th, 3Arena, Dublin, €41.20; June 8th, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, £51.60; July 10th, Live at the Marquee, Cork, €54.15, ticketmaster.ie
Mike Scott. Big music. Full heart. Be there.
Beyond the Pale
June 13th-15th, Glendalough Estate, Co Wicklow, €218.95 (early bird), itsbeyondthepale.ie
Much-loved newish festival. Acts confirmed include Jon Hopkins, Róisín Murphy, The Sugarhill Gang, Death in Vegas and Fionn Regan.
The Saw Doctors
June 14th, Virgin Media Park, Cork, €49, ticketmaster.ie
The lads from Tuam rarely miss a trick. Special guest is Damien Dempsey.
Charli XCX
June 17th, Malahide Castle, Co Dublin, €59.90 (sold out); Belsonic, Belfast, £60.50 ticketmaster.ie
One of 2024′s biggest stars. You’ll be blessed if you manage to nab a ticket.
Amble
June 19th, King John’s Castle, Limerick, €49.90 (sold out); July 5th, Trinity College Dublin, €49.90 (sold out), ticketmaster.ie
Irish folk trio continue to sell out big shows. Who’d have thought?
Kneecap
June 19th, Fairview Park, Dublin, €59.90, ticketmaster.ie
Who gives a focal? Masterly bilingual hip-hop from Belfast.
Zack Bryan
June 20th-22nd, Phoenix Park, Dublin, €121.25, ticketmaster.ie
Three gigs in Phoenix Park? Say hello to one of the United States’ biggest country-music stars.
The Mary Wallopers
June 20th, Fairview Park, Dublin, €49.90, ticketmaster.ie
Spiky folk tunes from Pogues/Dubliners-style Co Louth group.
Kingfishr
June 21st, Fairview Park, Dublin, €59.90, ticketmaster.ie
Irish indie-folk band teetering on the brink of mainstream success.
Ani DiFranco
June 22nd, National Concert Hall, Dublin, €55, nch.ie
Much admired, fiercely independent US songwriter and musician.
Dean Lewis
June 24th, Fairview Park, Dublin, €59.90, ticketmaster.ie
Increasingly popular Australian singer-songwriter with three acclaimed albums to his name.
Olivia Rodrigo
June 24th, Marlay Park, Dublin, €119, ticketmaster.ie
The one, the only and the best? Special guest is another fine songwriter, Beabadoobee.
Iron Maiden
June 25th, Malahide Castle, Co Dublin, €83.75, ticketmaster.ie
Metal fans rejoice – salvation is at hand.
Dua Lipa
June 27th, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, €99.90, ticketmaster.ie
Smart English-Albanian performer brings her Radical Optimism tour to the converted.
Night & Day
June 27th-29th, Lough Key Forest Park, Co Roscommon, €165, nightandday.ie
Family-focused festival featuring José González, KT Tunstall, The Stunning, Lisa Hannigan and more.
Justin Timberlake
June 28th, Malahide Castle, Co Dublin, €89.90, ticketmaster.ie
The all-rounder – singer, actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist – reappears.
Alanis Morissette
June 29th, Malahide Castle, Co Dublin, €59.90, ticketmaster.ie
In which Morissette’s 1995 album Jagged Little Pill receives 30th-anniversary greetings.
Lana Del Rey
June 30th, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, €106.25, ticketmaster.ie
The queen of glamorous melancholia.
Joe Bonamassa Plays Rory Gallagher
July 1st-3rd, Live at the Marquee, Cork, €75.95 (sold out), ticketmaster.ie
US blues guitarist plays tribute to an Irish music icon.
Weezer
July 2nd, Trinity College Dublin, €79.90, ticketmaster.ie
Quality pop-rock from stateside. Prepare to whistle.
Kaleidoscope
July 4th-6th, Russborough House, Blessington, Co Wicklow, €50, kaleidoscopefestival.ie
Family-friendly event in gorgeous surroundings. Headliners include Texas and The Coronas.
Longitude
July 5th and 6th, Marlay Park, Dublin, ticketmaster.ie
Line-up and ticket prices are to be announced in January.
Marti Pellow
July 6th, Trinity College Dublin, €59.90, ticketmaster.ie
Wet Wet Wet hits – smashes and splashes galore.
Ludovico Einaudi
July 8th, 3Arena, Dublin, €49.20, ticketmaster.ie
Calm, measured neoclassical music from a master craftsman.
The Wolfe Tones
July 11th and 13th, Thomond Park, Limerick, €59.90, ticketmaster.ie
The “Final Farewell” gigs from Irish balladeers.
The Script
July 12th, Thomond Park, Limerick, €59.85, ticketmaster.ie
Dublin trio specialising in power ballads and pop-rock anthems.
Forest Festival
July 25th-27th, Emo Village, Co Laois, €220/€100, forestfest.ie
Lots of positive feedback for this recent entry on the festival calendar. Acts confirmed include Franz Ferdinand, Manic Street Preachers, Orbital, Travis and Pillow Queens.
Billie Eilish
July 26th and 27th, 3Arena, Dublin, €55 (sold out), ticketmaster.ie
Goth-pop of the highest order.
All Together Now
July 31st-August 3rd, Curraghmore Estate, Co Waterford, €245, ticketmaster.ie
A firm favourite. Acts announced so far include Fontaines DC, CMAT and Michael Kiwanuka.
Oasis
August 16th and 17th, Croke Park, Dublin, €86.50 (sold out), ticketmaster.ie
The Gallagher brothers reunite. Special guests are Richard Ashcroft and Cast.
The Human League
August 22nd, Collins Barracks, Dublin, €63.20, ticketmaster.ie
Electro-pop par excellence from Sheffield’s finest. Yes, we want you, baby.
Raye
August 22nd, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, €59.90, ticketmaster.ie
Award-winning, smooth-as-honey British singer-songwriter.
Robbie Williams
August 23rd, Croke Park, Dublin, €102.25, ticketmaster.ie
You’re in dependable hands with this assured, charismatic performer.
Electric Picnic
August 29th-31st, Stradbally Hall, Co Laois, ticketmaster.ie
The line-up hasn’t been announced yet. The event is sold out, nonetheless.
Sounds from a Safe Harbour
September 11th-14th, Cork, soundsfromasafeharbour.com
Enlightening biannual festival of ideas curated by festival director Mary Hickson, actor Cillian Murphy and The National’s Bryce Dessner. Headline acts to be announced.
OneRepublic
September 18th, 3Arena, Dublin, €66.70, ticketmaster.ie
Colorado Springs pop-rock band with impressive genre-spanning back catalogue.
Pierce the Veil
September 20th, 3Arena, Dublin, €60.85, ticketmaster.ie
US punk-pop with a side order of what the band describe as Mexicore, or rock with Spanish sensibilities.
Simply Red
September 23rd, SSE Arena, Belfast, £55; September 24th, 3Arena, Dublin, €55, ticketmaster.ie
Mick Hucknall sings happy birthday to himself as he celebrates 40 years of his pop-soul band.
Deacon Blue
October 8th, 3Arena, Dublin, €44.20, ticketmaster.ie
Scottish soul-pop band – regular visitors to Ireland and much loved because of it.
Busted vs McFly
October 20th and 26th, 3Arena, Dublin, €59.85; October 21st and 22nd, SSE Arena, Belfast, £56.10, ticketmaster.ie
A rarity in pop-rock as two bands of similar vintage and musical style team up as joint headliners.
The Offspring
November 12th, 3Arena, Dublin, €60, ticketmaster.ie
California punk-rock band still surprisingly alert after 40 years on the trail.
My Bloody Valentine
November 22nd, 3Arena, Dublin, €65.70, ticketmaster.ie
One word: earplugs.
Hans Zimmer
November 26th and 27th, 3Arena, Dublin, €93, ticketmaster.ie
Film-score composer par excellence. You might be unfamiliar with the name, but you’ve heard the music.
