Outdoor concerts take a bow this month, as summer gig season starts, with Musgrave Park in Cork; Fairview Park, St Anne’s Park, Trinity College and Marlay Park in Dublin; and Slane Castle and Malahide Castle hosting numerous nights. There’s A LOT on in June (and that’s even before the festival season gets into full swing). Just as well Covid’s done a runner…!
The Lumineers (St Anne’s Park, Dublin, June 2)
Anyone who still sees The Lumineers as a one-hit-wonder should wake up and look at their touring schedule. This large outdoor Dublin show, as part of their current European trek in support of 4th album Brightside follows on from a massive US stadium tour, which saw them play Chicago’s Wrigley Field alongside other iconic venues.
Soft Cell (St Anne’s Park, Dublin, June 3)
The great Marc Almond would be enough to carry this one off, on his own; but with OMD, Heaven-17 and Sophie Ellis-Bextor also on the bill it’s 80s retro overkill – but, in a good way!
Gladys Knight (Olympia Theatre, Dublin, June 3-4)
Undoubtedly, one of the main protagonists of the Great American Songbook, the Empress of Soul plays two nights at the Olympia on her World Farewell Tour. Not sure if The Pips will be with her, but the classics will be – Midnight Train to Georgia and Best Thing That’s Ever Happened to Me; included. Wonder if she’ll play Licence to Kill?
Lionel Richie (St Anne’s Park, Dublin, June 4)
It’s safe to say – as this gig is outdoor – there will be no dancing on the ceiling at this one, nor will it be going on all night long. There WILL be a curfew, so get there early to soak up all the hits. What’s more, he’s got The Human League and In Tua Nua in support.
Pulp (St Anne’s Park, Dublin, June 9)
Pulp is back together playing reunion gigs in Ireland and the UK. Jarvis and co stop off in Raheny on June 9 and are supported by on/off collaborator – and genius in his own right – fellow-Sheffield-born troubadour Richard Hawley.
Wu-Tang Clan (3Arena, Dublin, June 9)
Wu-Tang 4Ever – ODB RIP. Nas is 2nd on this bill of hip-hop legends and icons.
Harry Styles (Slane Castle, Co Meath, June 10)
This one has a real ‘changing of the guard’ whiff off it. Slane Castle will never be the same again for those of a certain vintage. Or, more likely, it probably will – still MENTAL trying to exit the place after the gig, still difficult to avail of the overpriced refreshments and still 80,000 people between you and the stage! And the day after Wu-Tang Clan, too??!! Challenging.
George Ezra (Olympia Theatre, Dublin, June 8; Musgrave Park, Cork, June 11)
This guy obviously likes playing to Irish audiences as he will have played 5 gigs here, during 2023, by the time June has gone. Still touring his third album Gold Rush Kid, Ezra plays outdoors in Cork and indoors in Dublin just a few short months after gigs in Belfast’s SSE Arena, Killarney’s INEC and Dublin’s 3Arena.
Paolo Nutini (Musgrave Park, Cork, June 14; Malahide Castle, Dublin, June 16; Belfast Belsonic Festival, Ormeau Park, June 17)
Perfect for those who like male singer-songwriters from Glasgow, but think Lewis Capaldi is too new and too chartsy. We, at ITTN, think both are good, but wonder if these venues are a bit big for this kind of gig. Vicar Street would be better.
Depeche Mode (Malahide Castle, Dublin, June 14)
The Mode is back, with nutty Martin Gore and the coolest frontman in rock for the past 100 years Dave Gahan – but, sadly, without keyboardist Andy Fletcher, who passed away last year – in support of new album Memento Mori. Their biggest Irish date ever, but nothing compared to the other enormous fields they’re playing on this tour – Twickenham in London, Milan’s San Siro Stadium, the Olympic Stadium in Berlin; and the Stade de France in Paris. This is intimate by comparison.
Jools Holland (3Arena, Dublin, June 16; Waterfront Hall, Belfast, June 17)
Jools Holland brings his boogie-woogie big band back to Ireland for yet another enjoyable night’s fun. Actually, it’ll be two nights this time – one each in Dublin and Belfast – with support from Pauline Black and ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson from 2-Tone legends The Selecter. It’ll be like watching his NYE ‘Hootenanny’ – only in the flesh, rather than on TV; in the summer rather than the winter and paying for it rather than for free.
The Coronas (Fairview Park, Dublin, June 17)
Moving the action about a mile down the road from St Anne’s Park, The Coronas celebrate 7th album Time Stopped by bringing the outdoor live vibes to Fairview.
Joey McIntyre (Sugar Club, Dublin, June 19)
Lower Leeson Street is, seemingly, where former New Kids on the Block members’ careers wind up.
Pet Shop Boys (3Arena, Dublin, June 19)
A much better alternative if you’re kicking your heels on June 19. Pet Shop Boys. Greatest Hits Tour. 3Arena. It does what it says on the tin, really!
The Boo Radleys (The Grand Social, Dublin, June 22; The Limelight, Belfast, June 23)
Freshly reformed after nearly 25 years off the radar, the Boo Radleys return in spades with a new album (Eight), a reissue of their classic album (Giant Steps) and a rake of gigs.
Dermot Kennedy (Marlay Park, Dublin, June 23-24)
Back with a new album (Sonder) and a bill that is as fresh and on point as it gets (Cian Ducrot and Nell Mescal support), this is largely unmissable. But, if you DO miss it, Kennedy is also doing a 3-night stand in Limerick’s Thomond Park in July.
British Lion (Opium, Dublin, June 23)
A busy couple of days for Iron Maiden leader and bassist Steve Harris as he fits a gig in with his second band – British Lion – around the day job, Iron Maiden’s latest European Tour. In fact, he’s doing a 14-date European Tour for British Lion in parallel with Maiden’s 33-date European trek which runs into August, before a fresh North American jaunt. Pheewww!
Iron Maiden (3Arena, Dublin, June 24)
Iron Maiden’s tour concepts are becoming as convoluted and confusing as their latter albums. This current trek is just as baffling. Going under the name ‘The Future Past Tour’, its central aim is to entertain fans of the band’s most recent album (2021’s Senjutsu) and Somewhere in Time from 1986. The latter was probably the weakest of Maiden’s 80s golden era albums – sandwiched as it was between the mighty Powerslave and nearly as mighty Seventh Son of a Seventh Son – so this could be for die-hards mainly.
Blur (Malahide Castle, Dublin, June 24)
Proving you CAN immerse yourself too much in listening to Icelandic folk music, making cheese, attending local council meetings and the rest, before needing to get back to what you do best…With so much else going on this month, it’s refreshing that THIS is being welcomed as the gig of the month and, potentially, the year.
Texas (Trinity College Dublin, June 26)
Interesting for a couple of reasons: Firstly, it wasn’t immediately obvious to some of us that Texas was still going strong. Secondly, Wild Youth is playing as a support act in their biggest gig since Eurovision.
Sting + Blondie (Malahide Castle, Dublin, June 28)
This one could go either way. Sting has the songs (especially from The Police era) and Blondie is one of the most peerless bands of all time. However, some people would say Blondie are better indoors in a smaller setting, while Sting can be a boring so-and-so at the best of times. Be prepared!
The Weeknd (Marlay Park, Dublin, June 28)
In reality, this is the grassy field you should be standing in on June 28 (as opposed to Malahide Castle – see above). The Save Your Tears and Blinding Lights singer brings the After Hours Til Dawn tour, which has sold out globally, to Dublin for one night (and dawn) only.
The Kooks (Fairview Park, Dublin, June 28)
Still immensely popular, as evidenced by three sold-out shows at Dublin’s Olympia in April, The Kooks rock Fairview at the end of the month.
Kraftwerk (Trinity College Dublin, June 29)
The arthouse electro-synth pioneers – nay, titans – return to Ireland to close out TCD’s June run of its summer series (there’re more in July).
The Prodigy (Musgrave Park, Cork, June 28; Fairview Park, Dublin, June 29; Ormeau Park, Belfast, June 30)
Now, unfortunately, without the late Keith Flint, The Prodigy are still burning as bright as ever with new music and a new tour.
Best of the Rest:
Kasabian (Olympia Theatre, Dublin, June 13)
Ben Howard (Fairview Park, Dublin, June 15)
Hans Zimmer (3Arena, Dublin, June 18)
Arctic Monkeys (Marlay Park, Dublin, June 20)
The Chemical Brothers (Musgrave Park, Cork, June 21)
Kodaline (Musgrave Park, Cork, June 23)
Sam Fender (Malahide Castle, June 25)
Peter Gabriel (3Arena, Dublin, June 25)
Placebo (3Arena, Dublin, June 26)
The War on Drugs (Trinity College Dublin, June 27)
Bastille (Trinity College Dublin, June 28)