10 Must See Gigs of 2015

By Bill O'Sullivan
29th Dec 2014

band poster

There are so many gigs coming our way in 2015 that we’re ridiculously excited about, a certain Miss Swift comes to mind. Alas, the queen of pop has already sold out two shows at the 3Arena and we don’t see a third date forthcoming any time soon. The same could be said for One Direction and for who have sold three nights at the same venue and AC/DC who sold out the Aviva Stadium in no time at all a few weeks back.

So who else is worth seeing in the new year? Here’s a handful of recommendations.

Orla Gartland

The Youtube sensation boasts over ninety thousand subscribers and video views that have topped eleven million. Having sold out shows across the UK and the US, Orla returns to Dublin to play the Sugar Club on February 15th. Tickets €10.50

Jape

Richie Egan’s Jape has won the Choice Music Prize on two occasions, the only artist to achieve said feat, so far. He plays the Academy on February 15th as he returns with a new album which he hopes will give him a hat trick of awards. Tickets €15.

Wyvern Lingo

We featured the trio from Bray in our Five Irish Female Acts To Listen Out For piece a few months back. Since then they played support to Hozier on his Irish tour and were invited to play Other Voices. They embark on their first headline tour in February which is rounded off by a show at The Sugar Club on the 26th of February for only €13.50.

Royal Blood

Having just had their debut eponymous album awarded with the album of the year title by NME magazine, Royal Blood are a band who have jumped from relative unknowns to bonafide rock superstars in less than a year. Do not miss them at the Olympia on either March 9th or 10th. €33.50

Bipolar Sunshine

The pseudonym of former Kid British vocalist Adio Marchant were one of the surprise packages at Longitude in July. When asked, Bipolar Sunshine describes himself as such; ?Imagine being at your favourit destination and you’re about to do something you’ve always wanted to do. I am that soundtrack.? You can catch him at Whelan’s on the 26th of March for €14.35

Booka Brass Band

Booka Brass have been making huge waves in the Irish music scene this year. They stole the show at Longitude when their set spilled out of the tent and into the fields long into the night, we knew they had truly arrived. Go see what all the hype is about when they play Vicar Street on the 27th of March for €19.

Ben Howard

The 27 year old Londoner wowed us at the Olympia earlier this month and we think he’ll have absolutely no issues in making the jump up to the 3Arena when he plays there on the 14th of April. Of course, the bigger venue means pricier tickets at €39 but believe us when we say, he’s worth every cent.

Take That

The now three-piece are re-inventing themselvs once aain and have just released their seventh studio album entitled III. Will the band, who’ve been around for a whopping 24 years now, be able to survive the loss of Jason Orange and of course Robbie Williams who left again after a brief return for their last album Progress. Tickets for their shows at the 3Arena on the 8th and 9th of May are available from €76.

Foo Fighters

Dave Grohl and co make their first return to Irish soil since they played Tennents Vital in Belfast in 2012 to play Slane Castle on the 30th of May. Tickets are a pricely €79.50 but with Hozier and Kaiser Chiefs named as support with more to come, it’ll certainly be a show to remember.

Damien Rice

The Kildare native made his long-awaited return to the music industry with the release of his third studio album, My Favourite Faded Fantasy. His first album in eight years has been with critical acclaim and ?his powerful live sets are something every music fan should experience at least once. Tickets to his Iveagh Gardens show are sold out but worry not you can still catch him at the Marquee in Cork for only €45.