New Irish albums reviewed and rated: Paddy Hanna, Lullahush, Cushla, Maria Somerville and Danny Groenland
April 2025 releases include Oylegate, Ithaca, Tech Duinn, Luster and Burning Rome
Sugababes in Dublin review: A steamroller of peerless pop and sisterhood
Founding band members Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhán Donaghy replace old tensions with collective joy
By Ed Power
Julien Baker & Torres: Send a Prayer My Way review – Understated campfire-country album crackles with songwriting chemistry
By Ed Power
Finneas in Dublin review: Without his sister Billie Eilish, O’Connell shows his worth with a fun, high-quality gig
If Finneas can get more time off from working with his sister, he may make a career out of this
Paul Brady in Dublin review: A welcome stroll through master songwriter’s rich past
Paul Brady delighted fans with a typically assured performance at Dublin's Vicar Street on Friday night
By Pat Carty
Gavin Friday in Dublin review: Svelte, swooning performer lays bare his life on the stage
At 65, Friday shows a wilful disregard for inflexibility as he throws shapes, hunkers down and lurches forward
Bon Iver: Sable, Fable review – From carefree Supermac’s fan to angsty melancholy and, now, romantic yearning
By Ed Power
Ryan Adams at Vicar Street: A gig that nobody will forget anytime soon, but perhaps not for all the right reasons
The 50-year-old musician, who is no stranger to controversy, seems fragile and rambling at times over a three-hour Dublin gig
Thurston Moore live in Dublin review: Beautifully overcast set is brooding one moment, bucolic and balmy the next
The iconic indie-rock guitarist debuts his Guitar Explorations of Cloud Formations suite as part of the New Music Dublin festival
By Ed Power
David Gray in Dublin review: huge singalong moments accompany vocal firepower of one man and his guitar
White Ladder tracks open a home run of hit songs for the honorary Irishman’s ‘homecoming’ gig
The Waterboys: Life, Death and Dennis Hopper review – Sprawling, unpredictable and wholly delightful
By Ed Power
John Cale in Dublin review: ‘What a surprise you are,’ says former Velvet Underground musician on night of droll and doleful beauty
An atmosphere of legacy and infinity floats around the Welsh star’s sold-out show
By Siobhán Kane
The Music of Kenny Wheeler review: All-star Irish line-up keeps jazz virtuoso’s legacy vibrantly alive
Ronan Guilfoyle, Michael Buckley, Leopoldo Osio and Brendan Doherty are joined by Wheeler’s friend Nick Smart – the perfect host, guide and devotee
Mumford & Sons: Rushmere review – Old-school nu-folk might just give the band a new beginning
By Ed Power
Paul Heaton at 3Arena: bastardised Celtic pop gets the crowd going as a mellifluous voice stands the test of time
The anorak is gone, as is some of the nonchalance, but everyone keeps remarking that the voice hasn’t changed
Japanese Breakfast: For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) review – Melody and vulnerability in beautiful equilibrium
By Ed Power
Ethan Iverson at Triskel review: Jazz pianist shows off his harmonic elegance, delicate touch and winningly relaxed manner
Cork venue also hosts outstanding quintet led by trombonist, composer and Cork music hero Paul Dunlea
Steven Wilson: The Overview review – A wonderful album infused with the spirit of Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here
By Ed Power
Gracie Abrams in Dublin review: No nepo-baby here. A real star stands before us
Armed with an acoustic guitar and her breathy vocals, Abrams proves herself worthy of star status
By Ella Sloane
Lady Gaga: Mayhem review – An awkward attempt to re-create the magic of Bad Romance and Born This Way
By Ed Power
Lisa: Alter Ego review – Blackpink superstar’s solo debut is a clumsy lurch towards pop maximalism
By Ed Power
Clairo at 3Olympia: Whispery vocals and piano licks make a seamless transition from bedroom to jazz club
The US singer-songwriter’s development is clear from this performance, although it’s occasionally hard to see
Neil Young: Oceanside Countryside review – The sunny side of one of rock’s stormiest musicians
By Ed Power
Snow Patrol at 3Arena review: ‘Am I about to die?’ Gary Lightbody nearly plunges from the stage in a thrilling Dublin show
Gripping gig is thoughtfully paced with blitz of singles followed by a pivot into slower, more introspective numbers
By Ed Power
Sturgill Simpson at Vicar Street: Cosmic country maverick lets his superb music do the talking
It’s early days, but Simpson’s performance at Dublin's Vicar Street is a contender for ‘gig of the year’
By Pat Carty
Pantera live in Dublin review: Growling vocals, crowd surfing and mosh pits. This gig was worth the wait
Thirty-two years after Pantera last played Dublin, Phil Anselmo owns the stage
Manic Street Preachers: Critical Thinking review – Consistency in a world gone mad, drab and sad
By Ed Power
Dervish Present the Great Irish Songbook review: Breathing exceptional life into old standards
Amplifying the Irish song tradition at the National Concert Hall is a welcome pitstop on the band’s winding career path
By Siobhán Long
Mogwai: The Bad Fire review – Plenty of gruff authenticity, plus a moment that spears your heart
By Ed Power
Lisa O’Neill at the Gate: Story-telling artist has never sounded better
Legacy and history weave through this singular performance, which resonates long after it ends
By Siobhán Kane
Lyle Lovett in Dublin review: Rich reminder of a stellar songwriting talent
With his acoustic band, this idiosyncratic musician displays the extraordinary breadth and depth of his talent
By Siobhán Long
David Gray: Dear Life review – Lean into this raw, bumpy album. It’s well worth the effort
By Ed Power
Timothée Chalamet: A Complete Unknown soundtrack review – In what world does this Dylanless Bob Dylan album make sense?
By Ed Power
Skinner: New Wave Vaudeville – Spasmodic shot of art rock walks the tightrope between high culture and backstreet scuzz
By Ed Power
One Leg One Eye review: Forget Fairytale of New York. This is a soundtrack of the real Irish Christmas
Ian Lynch and George Brennan offer a wonderful ghost-train ride through droning electronica, warped uilleann pipes and spirals of unfiltered noise
By Ed Power
The Pogues at 3Arena: Applause rang out into the night, the crowd singing their way out on to the quays
A stacked line-up including members of Fontaines DC, Lankum and The Mary Wallopers delivers a brilliantly infectious performance
By Una Mullally
The 2 Johnnies Christmas Party at 3Arena: It’s easy to sneer at the triteness and crudeness, but are 13,000 happy fans wrong?
Support for the podcast stars, whose guests include Marty Morrissey, Nathan Carter and Dustin the Turkey, is fanatical
The Coronas at 3Olympia: Arms swaying, hands clapping, confetti flying – loyal Dublin fans lap it up
Frontman Danny O’Reilly flashes his pearly whites and engages fans with a night of energetic theatrics
By Ella Sloane
Tori Amos: Diving Deep Live – An A-grade tour of the singer’s lesser-spotted B-sides and deep cuts
By Ed Power
Fontaines DC at 3Arena: Masterly, compelling display as ‘the gall of Fine Gael and the fail of Fianna Fáil’ fills the air
How good can Fontaines DC get? At first of two Dublin concerts they answer that question with aplomb
By Una Mullally
Lauren Mayberry: Vicious Creature – Chvrches singer’s solo debut balances weighty lyrics with quirky melodies and clipped beats
Culture Club in Dublin: Do You Really Want to Hurt Me sends them wild, but the Boy George show peaks too early
George Alan O’Dowd is now returning to the band that made him famous in the first place, as Culture Club reunite to launch a tour by the Dublin docks in 3Arena
By Éamon Sweeney
Other Voices 2024: Laura Marling enraptures, Kojaque surprises. It can only be Dingle’s essential festival
What audiences are told before gigs at St James’ Church says it all: turn off your phone and just be in the moment
By Una Mullally
Belfast Philharmonic Society marks 150th anniversary with outstanding performance of Elijah
Choir re-creates first concert with Mendelssohn at Ulster Hall, featuring soloists Ben McAteer, Elinor Rolfe Johnson, Claire Barnett-Jones and Dean Power
By David Byers
Vampire Weekend in Dublin review: A head-spinning performance worthy of all the greats
The New York band return to Ireland after five years with a bang and clatter of afrobeats to open their European tour in the 3Arena
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