Teddy Swims (Olympia Theatre, Dublin, May 20/21)
Travel2Ireland previously warned that missing the Lose Control singer at the Olympia on his last visit to Ireland would probably be the last chance before a jump to bigger and less intimate venues. Well, you have one more chance as he’s squeezing in another show at the same venue on his new I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy tour. The May 21 show has been added due to huge demand. The 3Arena awaits!
Keane (3Arena, Dublin, May 13)
We honestly thought these guys were long gone, but everyone’s favourite south England posh boys are back touring the 20th anniversary of their mega debut album Hopes and Fears. If going to see Bryan Adams is like watching your former Maths teacher in concert; this is akin to watching your least favourite class mates, who were better than you at Maths. We HOPE this is good, but we FEAR it won’t be.
Darius Rucker (Olympia Theatre, Dublin, May 9; Waterfront Hall, Belfast, May 11)
Hootie & The Blowfish singer Darius Rucker returns to Europe for the first time in a little while for his solo Starting Fires tour. A recent social media post had the singer enthusing how the whole tour (which takes in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK and Ireland) was sold out, but Dublin was – at that time, anyway – the only date NOT sold out. We haven’t made up our mind if that’s something to be ashamed of, or proud of.
Bryan Adams (3Arena, Dublin, May 21; SSE Arena, Belfast, May 22; Live at the Marquee, Cork, June 11)
When Bryan Adams clogged up the singles charts with his (Everything I Do) I Do It For You track in 1991, there were thousands upon thousands of people, here, claiming they’d never be seen in the same room as the craggy-faced croaky Canadian soft-rocker. Well, those people are probably the same ones who’ve sold out the Irish leg of his So Happy, It Hurts tour, which is due to play to gazillions in the next couple of months. A summer gig in Cork follows these two outings.
Girls Aloud (3Arena, Dublin, May 17/18; SSE Arena, Belfast, May 20/21)
We’d never heard of a band reuniting for a 21st Anniversary tour, before (20th, yes; 25th, yes, but…), but the mighty Girls Aloud are doing just that – jaunting around the UK and Ireland on a Greatest Hits tour; unashamedly eschewing any new tunes (the tour blurb actually makes the point that they are not back to make any new music, just sing the classics). Anyway, the foursome (nowadays, sadly, without the late Sarah Harding) are in Ireland for 4 shows during the month.
Tenacious D (3Arena, Dublin, May 5)
You might have presumed Jack Black and Kyle Gass’ comedy-driven acoustic metal/rock duo schtick may have tired a bit, but seemingly not if this latest jaunt is anything to go by. Having, in recent times, headlined London’s O2 Arena, the duo bring the second leg of their current ‘Spicy Meatball’ European Tour to Dublin’s 3Arena this weekend, with it nestled among a string of other enormo-dome venues. Baffling!
The Black Keys (3Arena, Dublin, May 3)
Now, here IS a duo. The ‘Howlin’ For You’ and ‘Lonely Boy’ band (vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach; drummer Patrick Carney) is back, once again – this time plugging 12th album Ohio Players, which only came out earlier this month. So, you’re getting them at the start of their latest World Tour. Enjoy!
Bruce Springsteen (Boucher Road Playing Fields, Belfast, May 9; Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, May 12; Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, May 16; Croke Park, Dublin, May 19)
Oh, for…! The Boss is back to his Irish ATM. Is there, seriously, any venue left in the country at which this man hasn’t played. Someone lamented, recently, “this could be the last time…!”. That same person said the same thing 12 months ago. But, in all seriousness, what is Ireland going to do every summer when he DOES quit touring?!
Richard Hawley (Olympia Theatre, Dublin, May 24/25)
Sometime Pulp touring guitarist and collaborator; pretty much all the time brilliant solo artist. Supporting his recent Best of… and In This City, They Call You Love albums, the former Longpigs man packs out the Olympia for a 2-night stand. Always welcome!
Miles Kane (Limelight 2, Belfast, May 7; Academy, Dublin, May 8; Dolans, Limerick, May 10; Roisin Dubh, Galway, May 11; Cyprus Avenue, Cork, May 12)
Last seen, in Ireland, supporting Arctic Monkeys at their rescheduled Dublin and Belfast shows last October, Kane returns to headline his own Irish shows in support of last year’s One Man Band album, and takes in Galway, Cork, Belfast, Limerick and Dublin.
