Gig Preview - Week Starting 8th July

The week starts off with 'The Weeks' live at The Grand Social tonight (Monday). I'm attending this myself and it should be a cracker. The Mississippi band signed to Kings of Leon record label are also supporting KoL on their world tour. Not one to miss. 

On Tuesday we have Rockabilly princess Imelda May live in the Marquee in Cork. She also plays in the Iveagh Gardens on Thursday. Tickets for both shows available at Ticketmaster.

Wednesday sees the return of Justin Timberlake to Irish shores. JT is currently touring his 'The 20/20 Experience' album released earlier this year. Phoenix Park is the venue and there are still some tickets left via Ticketmaster. 

Thursday sees former Roxy Music lead singer Brian Ferry to the National Concert Hall. This is a sold out show.

The weekend shows are all about the Phoenix Park gigs. The Killers headline on Saturday evening with support from Frank Ocean, Two Door Cinema Club and Haim. On Sunday it's the turn of English Folk band Mumford and Sons with support on the night from The Vaccines, Ben Howard, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros. Tickets available on Ticketmaster.

For more details on Gigs this week see http://www.dublinconcerts.ie/concerts/this-week/

Thanks for reading. You can contact me on twitter @illusionalmusic

Pat 

IM Blog

Gig Preview - Week Starting 24 June '13

A few decent looking gigs this week kicking off tomorrow night with Blondie at the Olympia theatre (€44.05). Wednesday night sees a host of good gigs around Dublin which would have me fretting over which to see. In The Academy is the controversial '212' singer Azealia Banks (Sold Out). Down the quays to the O2 sees the return of Indie Pop trio 'The xx'. (€32.50) After selling out the Olympia last time out they'll be sure to impress on the bigger stage. 

Jamie xx of the xx will be playing a DJ set to a sold out crowd after the bands O2 gig in the Button Factory at 11pm. Earlier in the evening in the Button Factory is the extremely talented 'freak folk' sensation Devendra Banhart(€19.90). The American born Venezuelan, is touring off the back of his EIGHT studio album 'Mala'

Saturday night and the National Concert Hall plays host to Irish rockers Bell X1 (€25-€35). Bell X1 perform as part of the ESB Live Series in the NCH. The show is to be a premiere of their new album 'Chop Chop'. The album will be released the day before (Friday 28th) and coincides with an in-store performance at Tower Records at 6pm.

Have a good week and thanks for reading.

Click on the prices to take you to tickets for that gig.

Pat 

IM Blog (@illusionalmusic)

A Night for Christy

This week there is only 1 gig we will be featuring on the blog and that is 'A night for Christy'.

A night for Christy is a benefit night for Aslan front man Christy Dignam who is battling cancer. Some of the best and brightest that Ireland's music industry has to offer will all come together for this special night being held in the Olympia Theatre Dublin on Friday 21st June. 

Already confirmed for the gig are some big names including Paul Brady, Shane McGowan, Mary Black, Paul Walsh (Royseven), Danny O' Reilly (The Coronas), Tom Dunne, Ryan Sheridan and loads more. Even Jedward are getting in on the action. 

I'd post a link to Ticketmaster for tickets but this has long been sold out. Keep your eyes on your usual spare tickets buying websites like Toutless, Adverts and DoneDeal because this is one night not to be missed.

Opening the night will be Paul Walsh with his rendition of 'Gotta make it'. Later on in the proceedings U2 will perform 'This is' from their LA Studio and will be shown on a screen at the Venue. Others on the night will sing many more Aslan favourites including 'Down on me', 'This Time' and 'Chains'.

Not only will this be live in the Olympia but the gig is also being streamed live Worldwide. Over 100 premises around the globe will be streaming it live (some of the list below). An updated list will appear on www.aslan.ie later this week.

So, if you have tickets, don't lose them. If not, get to the nearest place streaming it or get your local to stream it by contacting mark@amamusicagency.ie 

Then on the night, get yourself your favourite tipple and raise a glass to Christy.

Pat

IM Blog

Updated List of Venues Streaming A Night for Christy

Dublin Central

Capitol Bar 18/19 Lower Stephen's Street

Copan Rathmines

Harry's Bar Stephens Green Dublin

Sinnotts Bar Stephens Green

Dublin Surrounding

Bottom of the Hill Finglas Village

Old Mill Tallaght

Paudi Ogs Mullhuddart Co Dublin

Sallynoggin Inn Sallynoggin

Ollies Place , New Street Skerries Co.Dublin Skerries

Carlow

Brennans Bar Graiguecullen, Carlow

Cork

Fir tree Bar Watergrasshill

The Old Oak Cork City

The Wollshed Bar Cork City

The Brick Oven Bantry

C - U fermoy Fermoy

Derry

Downeys Bar in Derry Derry

Dungarvan

Downeys Dungarvan Waterford

Donegal

Abbey Hotel Donegal

Galway

An Caislean Portumna Co Galway Portumna

Kilkenny

Rose of mooncoin Mooncoin

Hoganstand Ballyragget Co Kilkenny Ballyragget

Killarney

INEC Backstage bar, Gleneagle Hotel Killkarney

Meath

The Keltic bar Headfort Arms Hotel Kells

Navan

The Palace Ludlow st Navan

Portlaois

Bar Habana Main St Portlaois

Sligo

Belfreys Sligo

Wicklow

Carly Toms Quinnsborough Road Bray Bray

Dubai

Dubai Mc Gettigans at the Bonnington Towers Dubai

World Trade Centre - DWTC Dubai Dubai

Czech Republic

Franks bar Prague

Gig Preview. Week Beginning 10-6-13

Interesting and mixed week of gigs ahead. 

Monday kicks us off with Californian Metal band Slayer who come to the Academy in Dublin tonight. Tickets €42.50 (also Tuesday at same venue)

Tuesday: Canadian Folk artist Cara Luft performs at the Locke Bar in Limerick. Tickets priced at €13.50

For Wednesday I've gone for something a little different. Captains Live is a weekly mixture of bands and DJ's in Captain Americas in Blanchardstown, Dublin. Held in the Suas bar on top of the restaurant, it's perfect for the summer nights. Entry on the night is only €5. PS: Captains do great beer and cocktail deals.

Thursday sees more metal to the stages of Ireland with Mastadon hitting the Academy in Dublin. Well if Slayer fans don't totally destroy the place on Monday and Tuesday. Tickets for Mastadon are on sale on Ticketmaster and priced at €29. (Mastodon also play Friday at the same venue)

For the weekend we have some 'Big Shots' playing on these shores. It begins on Friday with Robbie Williams at the Aviva (Lansdowne Rd) Stadium, Not everyone's cup of tea but a good entertainer all the same. Tickets are still available for this priced at €69.50 to €129.50

Saturday is the big one for a lot of people with the return of " Rock Gods" Bon Jovi. This time they take on Slane Castle in Co Meath. Reading reviews of their RDS gigs in 2011 they seemed to impress so maybe this is the gig of the week for most. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster and are pried at €79 to €96.

If you're over the other side of the country Fight Like Apes play Roisin Dubh in Galway on Saturday night. Tickets €14.85

To finish off the week there are a few decent shows to see. To start off we have O Emperor in Tower Records, Wicklow St. Dublin for a store session at 1pm (Free), or you can see The Wanted in the Marquee in Cork (show from 6.30pm, tickets priced at €44.05) and to finish off head to the last day of the Doolin Folk Festival in Doolin Hotel Co. Clare. (Weekend tickets €59, Day tickets €29)

Have a great week, share and leave comments on your own recommendations for the week.

Pat 
IMBlog

This Weekend's Gigs

With June Bank Holiday weekend upon us, here's a list of 3 gigs to see this weekend.

Forbidden Fruit - Dublin

This 2 day festival situated on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilaminham in Dublin looks to be centre stage for music this weekend. With headliners of Kasabian (Saturday) and alternative rock greats Primal Scream (Sunday) backed up by many more acts including Crystal Castles, Fight Like Apes and Everything Everything. But music isn't the only reason for heading to Kilmainham this weekend with a decent looking lineup on the Comedy Stage including Dave McSavage and The Nualas, Forbidden Fruit looks to be a good choice.

Tickets for Forbidden Fruit, starting at €54.50 for one day and €99.50 for the weekend are available from Ticketmaster

Young Guns - 3 venues

Alternative rockers Young Guns come to Cyprus Ave. Cork, Academy in Dublin and Mandela Hall in Belfast this weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively. The London based band are known for their energetic live performances. Their top 20 album 'Bones', recorded with SikTH guitarist Dan Weller, was released to critical acclaim in February 2012. 

Tickets for Young Guns are available at Ticketmaster priced at €16.35 (Cork), €15.00 (Dublin) and £14.50 (Belfast)

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble are an 8-piece brass band from Chicago. All 8 are brothers. They are sons of the famous jazz musician Phil Cohran. I saw these when they supported Prince  in Malahide Park in Dublin in 2011. They had everyone in the crowd dancing. They play several different styles of music during their performances including Hip-Hop and Jazz. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble play Dolans Warehouse in Limerick on Thursday and The Sugar Club in Dublin on Friday and Saturday. I would certainly recommend seeing these if you get the opportunity. 

Tickets for the Limerick date are €17.35 and Dublin gigs at €22.40 and are available at Ticketmaster

Pat 

IMBlog