These listings are correct to the best of our knowledge, but more events may be cancelled, postponed or rescheduled, so please double-check with the venue before making a journey
Thursday, December 16th
Picture This STILL ON
INEC, Killarney, Co Kerry, also December 17th, 18th and 19th, inec.ie; plus December 31st, Dublin Castle, mcd.ie
One of Ireland's best-loved bands deliver a batch of their radio-friendly pop/rock to the good citizens of Co Kerry before their New Year's Eve gig in the capital.
Friday, December 17th
Ash POSTPONED
Ruby Room, Royal Theatre, Castlebar, Co Mayo, royaltheatrecastlebar.ie
The mighty (and still ridiculously youthful) Ash cut a sonic swathe across Ireland with a series of gigs. Lucky Castlebar, then, to experience V-shaped guitars and songs as brilliant as Oh Yeah, Burn Baby Burn, and Shining Light.
Mary Wallopers POSTPONED
Vicar Street, Dublin, also December 18th, vicarstreet.com; plus December 27th and 28th, Róisín Dubh, Galway, roisindubh.net
In which a few Louth mouths succeed in dragging folk ballads through a thorny hedge and then give them a kiss of life with a punk rock lick. We like.
Pillow Queens RESCHEDULED
Button Factory, Dublin, also Saturday, December 18th, buttonfactory.ie
This time next year the wonderful Pillow Queens will be playing sold-out shows at Vicar Street. Lesson to be learned? Catch them when you can see the whites of their eyes.
The Undertones DUBLIN SHOW CANCELLED
The Academy, Dublin, theacademydublin.com; plus Limelight, Belfast, Saturday, December 18th, limelightbelfast.com
The creators of some of the best punk/pop songs ever written? Indisputably. All of these – including the pop radiance of Julie Ocean and Wednesday Week – are whipped into shape by ringmaster and vocalist Paul McLoone.
Brian Deady POSTPONED
Róisín Dubh, Galway, roisindubh.net
Finally, we get a chance to hear tracks from Deady's all-but-buried 2020 album, Yellow Creek. Fine songs (and the Skibbereen man has a voice and a half, too).
The Zen Arcade CANCELLED
Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co Louth, spiritstore.ie
The band formerly known as the Strypes (and whose name is unashamedly nabbed from a Husker Dü album) return to the fray with a batch of pop/garage/punk/R&B tunes so watertight you could line your roof with them.
The Frank and Walters STILL ON
Cyprus Avenue, Cork, cyprusavenue.ie
And still these excellent musicians continue as they drill down on their infectiously catchy tunes. National treasures? You could say that.
Orla Gartland RESCHEDULED
Dolans, Limerick, dolans.ie; plus December 18th, Cyprus Avenue, Cork, cyprusavenue.ie
It has been a good year for the London-based singer, whose debut album, Woman on the Internet, showcased her acute talent for merging observational lyrics with the crunchiest of pop/rock.
The Coronas SOME SHOWS CANCELLED
Olympia Theatre, Dublin, mcd.ie; also December 18th and 19th, same venue; plus Royal Theatre, Castlebar, Co Mayo, December 27th, ticketmaster.ie; plus INEC Arena, Killarney, Co Kerry, December 28th, ticketmaster.ie
Always a draw for admirers of taut pop/rock, the band whose name you must not mock (no, really, stop it!) embarks on a brief and almost sold-out tour. Special guests on selected dates include Wild Youth and Róisín O. Olympia still on, with two shows per day, at 6pm and 9pm. Royal Theatre cancelled. INEC Arena still on
Inhaler POSTPONED
INEC Acoustic Club, Killarney, Co Kerry, inec.ie; plus Academy, Dublin
Will the Dublin band have enough momentum to bring them securely into 2022? The jury is out on that one, but based on these sell-out gigs it looks likely.
Glasshouse Ensemble STILL ON
Pepper Canister Church, Dublin, afrostydawn.ie
Nialler9 presents a special start to a multistranded arts event taking place until December 27th.
Saturday, December 18th
The Scratch POSTPONED
Róisín Dubh, Galway, roisindubh.net
In which one of the most crowd-friendly bands in Ireland return to the scene of many crimes for a sold-out show that could well be the most Christmassy pre-Christmas cracker of the year.
Hamsandwich RESCHEDULED
Opium, Dublin, opium.ie; also December 19th, same venue
It has been a reasonably quiet year for the Hansangers, but a recently released new song (Electro-Wave, their first for about three years) augurs well for their forthcoming new album. Also, they're the business live. Rescheduled for April 28th and 29th, 2022
ASIWYFA STILL ON
Dolans, Limerick, dolans.ie. Also December 31st, Workmans Club, Dublin, theworkmansclub.com
Guitars hellbent for leather? Riffs for free? Rapture for hire? You had better believe it. There really isn't any show like an ASIWYFA show.
Ordnance Survey STILL ON
Pepper Canister Church, Dublin, afrostydawn.ie
Electronica and soundscapes agogo with Ordnance Survey (aka Neil O'Connor), Gareth Quinn Redmond, and Dreamcycles.
Sunday, December 19th
Adrian Crowley STILL ON
Workmans Club, Dublin, theworkmansclub.com
You'll need to keep quiet at the back for this one as Adrian Crowley performs songs from his very fine 2021 album, The Watchful Eye of the Stars (and, no doubt, other works). Ssshh – grandeur this way comes.
Kean Kavanagh POSTPONED
Whelan's, Dublin, whelanslive.com
Along with his mate Kojaque, Kean Kavanagh spreads his musical net wide and far, gathering hip hop, soul, R&B and varying mutations of each. There will be special guests. I wonder who.
Damien Dempsey RESCHEDULED
Vicar Street, Dublin, vicarstreet.com; also December 20th, 22nd and 23rd, same venue
Four sold-out shows at Vicar Street are surely testament to Damien Dempsey's enviable powers of connection. He reaches out, he touches, he makes us feel better. Rescheduled gigs, at 50 per cent capacity, on Dec 18th, 19th,20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd
Junior Brother CANCELLED
Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co Louth, spiritstore.ie
As the man known as Junior Brother, Ronan Kealy has brought a sliver of difference into our lives. As you might expect from a folkish songwriter who regards Supper's Ready by Genesis as one of his all-time favourite songs.
Soda Blonde POSTPONED
Dolans, Limerick, dolans.ie
Soda Blonde's 2021 debut album, Small Talk, sorted out the wheat from the chaff. Quality songs from a stylish, erudite band whose live performances always shine.
High Kings SOME SHOWS CANCELLED OR RESCHEDULED
An Grianán, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, angrianan.com. Also December 27th, Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan, hillgrovehotel.com; December 28th, Fairways Hotel, Dundalk, Co Louth, fairwayshotel.ie; January 2nd, Royal Theatre, Castlebar, Co Mayo, royaltheatrecastlebar.ie
Anyone with a preference for Irish ballads expertly delivered by seasoned professionals will find much to love here. An Grianán postponed. Hillgrove Hoteland Fairways Hotel rescheduled. Royal Theatre still on
Scullion STILL ON
Pepper Canister Church, Dublin, afrostydawn.ie
Philip King takes some well-deserved time out of overseeing Other Voices with his long-standing friends in Scullion. Special guests include Cormac Begley.
Monday, December 20th
December Sounds STILL ON
St Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny, until December 22nd, yulefestkilkenny.ie
Running over three nights in a most distinguished venue, this festival features acts including the singer-songwriter Bríd Lyons, the concertina player Cormac Begley, the folk artist John Francis Flynn, Liam Ó Maonlai, the 11-piece Bird on the Wire performing Songs of Leonard Cohen, the folk duo Lemoncello and the Irish alt-folk alchemist Seamus Fogarty.
Ronan Guilfoyle's Tudo Bem! The Music of Brazil STILL ON
The Parade, Kilkenny, yulefestkilkenny.ie
Portuguese for "All Is Good!", Tudo Bem! explores the music of Brazil, led by the acclaimed Irish bassist Ronan Guilfoyle. Guests include the virtuoso Venezuelan pianist Leopoldo Osio and the Brazilian drummer Andre Antunes. The special guest is the distinguished Cork trombonist Paul Dunlea. As part of the Sofa Sessions.
Tuesday, December 21st
Aslan STILL ON
INEC, Killarney, Co Kerry, inec.ie. Also December 27th, 29th and 30th, Vicar Street, Dublin, vicarstreet.com
One of Ireland's most enduring rock/pop bands emerge from the pandemic fog to do what they do best: blast out beloved hits such as This Is, Crazy World and Too Late for Hallelujah. INEC show still on as planned; the Vicar Street shows are still on but with reduced capacity
Riptide Movement SOME SHOWS POSTPONED
Dolans, Limerick, dolans.ie. Also December 22nd, Róisín Dubh, Galway, roisindubh.ie. Also December 23rd, Whelan's, Dublin, whelanslive.com
A good night out with an Irish band well used to delivering crowd-friendly songs. Here you go. Dolans and Róisín Dubh postponed
Songs & Stories STILL ON
Clonacody House, Fethard, Co Tipperary, clonacodyhouse.com/event
A cosy and casual pre-Christmas evening of tunes and talk. Guests include Mike Hanrahan, Emma Langford, and Sive.
Nigel Mooney's Organ Failure: 21st Century Christmas Blues Show STILL ON
The Parade, Kilkenny, yulefestkilkenny.ie
The Dublin blues guitarist/singer Nigel Mooney has been playing in front of appreciative crowds since he founded the Gripewater Blues Band, in the 1980s. His critically acclaimed Christmas show includes such seasonal gems as It Ain't Nobody's Christmas But Our Own, Twenty-First Century Santa Claus Blues and (our personal favourite) Let's Cancel Christmas for Jesus's Sake. As part of the Sofa Sessions.
A Song for Solstice STILL ON
Hotel Doolin, Co Clare, hoteldoolin.ie
A nifty solstice line-up featuring musical turns by Luka Bloom, Susan O'Neill, Steve Wall, the Davies Brothers, Steo Wall and Eoin O'Neill. Factor in some spoken-word spots and you have a few enlightening and entertaining hours. All proceeds to Clare Haven Services.
Wednesday, December 22nd
Mark Geary STILL ON
Whelan's, Dublin, whelanslive.com
A classy folk-pop songwriter, Geary easily has what it takes to prise you out of the gloom and put you into a brighter space. Smiles and sage-like nods of the head are guaranteed.
Jimmy Smyth's Xmas Organised STILL ON
The Parade, Kilkenny, yulefestkilkenny.ie
The acclaimed guitarist Jimmy Smyth and his Xmas Organised group present festive jazz favourites (including Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Frosty the Snowman, and Let It Snow). Special guests include Belfast organ player Scott Flanigan and emerging Irish saxophonist, Tom Caraher. As part of the Sofa Sessions.
Thursday, December 23rd
Bronagh Gallagher STILL ON
Pepper Canister Church, Dublin, ticketbooth.eu
Do you wanna be saved? Take yourself to church, then, to see Ireland's sassiest soul sister and her sizzling selection of R&B songs. Special guests include the Dublin Gospel Choir and Steve Wall.
Sack POSTPONED
The Grand Social, Dublin, thegrandsocial.ie
One of the few benefits of the pandemic was to see formerly disbanded Irish groups get back together again, and if Sack's superb 2021 single, What a Way to Live, is anything to go by, 2022 is something to look forward to.
Monday, December 27th
Paddy Casey STILL ON
Upstairs at Dolans, Limerick, dolans.ie
Paddy Casey was out in the wilds for a bit, but his 2021 double album, Turn This Ship Around, shows how immensely talented he still is.
Tuesday, December 28th
The Four of Us CANCELLED
Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co Louth, spiritstore.ie. Also December 30th, Upstairs at Dolans, Limerick, dolans.ie
Another still impressive Irish band that have managed to navigate the decades and hold fast to their integrity.
Mick Flannery STILL ON
Dolan's, Limerick, dolans.ieOne half (with Susan O'Neill) of this year's superb In the Game album plays a solo gig for a change, but don't worry: Flannery has the songs to keep things more than ticking over.
Wednesday, December 29th
Something Happens STILL ON
Whelan's, Dublin, whelanslive.comThe post-Christmas traditions continue with four likely lads removing themselves from their day jobs and regrouping once again to deliver – fact! – some of Ireland's best-written rock/pop songs.
Friday, December 31st
New Year's Matinee STILL ON
Dublin Castle, mcd.ie
New Year's Eve festivities commence with a proper pop gig from Hudson Taylor. Special guests include Róisín O and Fia Moon.
New Year's Eve Street Party CANCELLED
St Stephen's Green South, Dublin, mcd.ie
The NYE fun carries on with Hothouse Flowers, Cathy Davey, An Emotional Fish, Frances Black, and Something Happens.
New Year's Eve Countdown Concert STILL ON
Dublin Castle, mcd.ie
The Co Kildare band Picture This wave a thankful goodbye to 2021 and count down to what will, with luck, be a much better year. Special guests include Lyra and Ryan Sheridan.
Gilla Band STILL ON
Dolans, Limerick, dolans.ie
Earplugs at the ready: Gilla Band make noise, more noise, and then – because they love you – even more noise. Special guests are Pretty Happy.
Saturday, January 1st
New Year's Afternoon in the Castle STILL ON
Dublin Castle, 2pm, mcd.ie
All is quiet on New Year's Day? Not likely with two stages at Dublin Castle. Stage 1 features the boisterous trad/fusion likes of Kila, Beoga and Cairde. Stage 2 features good-time pop/rock acts The Scratch, Chewie and The Deadlians.
Gavin James STILL ON
Dublin Castle, 6pm, mcd.ie
And so 2022 kicks off with a headline show from one of the country's most popular songwriters. Special guests include True Tides, Erica Cody and Brad Heidi.
