UB40 feat. Ali Campbell (April 4, 3Arena, Dublin)
This is akin to saying Black Sabbath featuring Ozzy Osbourne; or Beatles featuring Paul McCartney…but such are the politics and contractural and legal requirements when bands divide…Anyway, any fan of UB40 in their pomp would want an Ali Campbell fronted version for nostalgia purposes. Bitty McLean supports on a solid looking bill.
Blind Guardian (April 10, The Academy, Dublin)
Now, 20 albums down their fantasy metal path, German power metallers Blind Guardian rock up to Abbey Street in early April.
Jazzy (April 4, Olympia Theatre, Dublin)
One of the hottest properties in Irish music right now, dance-pop icon in the making Jazzy plays a special show – billed as Jazzy & Friends – at the Olympia Theatre, with all proceeds going to support the Children’s Health Foundation, which supports the children’s hospitals at Tallaght, Crumlin, Connolly and Temple Street.
Take That (April 22-23, 3 Arena, Dublin; June 20, Musgrave Park, Cork; June 21, Malahide Castle, Dublin; June 22, Ormeau Park, Belfast)
Irish TT fans are in for a treat this year. The boys are playing 19 outdoor dates across Europe this summer on their ‘This Life Under the Stars’ tour…and 3 of them will be in Ireland; preceded by two indoor shows here as well.
Eric Cantona (April 10, Liberty Hall Theatre, Dublin)
Footballer, actor, singer, poet, kung fu fanatic…21st Century renaissance man Eric Cantona visits with his modest and humble-titled show Cantona Sings Eric.