Dublin Gig Guide Highlights: Gorillaz, Optimo, Belle & Sebastian, Thundercat, Sofia Kourtesis, Daniel Avery, Dani Larkin, Mobb Deep, Soul Juice Jam, JME, Travy, beddyMinaj, Efa O’Neill, Officer John, Barnburner, The Weaving, The Wran, Chewie, Leon Thomas, God Is An Astronaut.
It’s the Nialler9 Dublin gig guide
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Tuesday March 31st
Leon Thomas @ 3Olympia Theatre
Brooklyn R&B artist Leon Thomas plays his psychedelic R&B and music. I really like this guy’s vibe.
Tengu Jazz: Michael Buckley Quartet @ Tengu (Two shows)
Presents the music of Joe Henderson.
Wednesday April 1st
Gorillaz @ 3Arena
Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s virtual band bring The Mountain Tour to 3Arena for two nights, performing material from their ninth album The Mountain – an expansive, globally-informed record featuring Anoushka Shankar, Yasiin Bey, Johnny Marr, IDLES, Kara Jackson and Asha Bhosle among many others.
Doctor Millar @ Whelan’s Upstairs (8pm)
Dublin singer-songwriter Sean Millar is revered among Irish songwriters. up next, I Am Vermin – a five-disc boxset album.
The Weaving @ The Cobblestone
Album Launch from trad folk trio who are from Kerry, Tipperary and Yorkshire: MéabhNí Bheaglaoich (accordion, vocals) and Owen Spafford(fiddle) and Cáit Ní Riain(piano, vocals).
Stingin’ Roger, MDR, Daddee @ Fibber’s
Funk meet rock.
Thursday April 2nd
Gorillaz @ 3Arena
Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s virtual band bring The Mountain Tour to 3Arena for two nights, performing material from their ninth album The Mountain – an expansive, globally-informed record featuring Anoushka Shankar, Yasiin Bey, Johnny Marr, IDLES, Kara Jackson and Asha Bhosle among many others.
Mobb Deep @ Button Factory
Shook Ones American rap originators. Havoc along with Big Noyd & DJ L.E.S.
Mark McCabe @ 3Olympia Theatre
Dublin DJ and producer best known for his massive 2000 hit Maniac 2000.
Basciville @ Whelan’s Upstairs
Wexford natives Cillian and Lorcan Byrne just released second album Love In The Time Of The State.
Dani Larkin @ The Grand Social Ballroom
Singer-songwriter’s latest album Next Of Kin brings traditional Irish folk and contemporary songwriting together.
Steve Gunn @ Bello Bar
American guitarist and singer-songwriter. ‘Nearly There’
Red Line Jazz @ The Circular
Red Line play a collection of hard swinging and energetic Hard Bop and contemporary jazz. Weekly night in The Other Hand.
Sceptic, The Olivines, Eyejust, Evan Harris @ The Workman’s Club
Skyrocket Promotions second night in the same venue.
Revolve: Wife Swap, Runner & Pillow Queens DJ Set @ The Grand Social (10pm)
The Grand Social’s late night Thursday club night returns. Doors 10pm, runs until 2:30am.
Good Friday April 3rd
Chewie @ Whelan’s
The Dublin band Chewing On Tinfoil’s annual Good Friday gig. Support: Babyrat and Colourview.
Thundercat @ Vicar Street
Los Angeles bassist, vocalist and producer Stephen Bruner is one of the most boundary-defying musicians working today, blending jazz, funk, R&B, hip-hop and psychedelia across a run of brilliant albums. Collaborator of Kendrick Lamar, Flying Lotus and Kamasi Washington.
God Is an Astronaut @ The Academy
Wicklow post-rock duo Torsten and Niels Kinsella have spent two decades crafting grand, atmospheric instrumental rock that has earned them a devoted global following. A rare chance to see them in a Dublin venue.
The Wran, The Awning, Méabh McKenna @ The Grand Social
A Good Friday triple bill with three Irish acts with a folk lean. ‘Fear Dearg’
Daniel Avery (live) @ Opium
British electronic producer and DJ known for his hypnotic, textured techno and ambient electronic work recently pivoted to a guitar-lead shoegazey sound.
Trad Folkin’ Rocks @ The Sugar Club
The Great Friday Lock-in with Ispíní na hÉireann, Ashtray, Friends Of The Relics, Rub a Dub Hi-Fi.
Barnburner, Ian Nyquist, Isaac Jones @ The Cobblestone
Barnburner is a two piece from Dublin consisting of David McGuane and Pippa Molony trading in introspective alternative folk and indie pop and this EP is produced Daniel Montague O’Brien. EP launch.
Officer John @ Yamamori Tengu
Early show with the baggy ’90s shoegaze Dublin artist on Wah Wah Wino.
Outstraight Presents: Cormega @ The Bernard Shaw
New York hardcore rapper. Handsome Paddy on support.
Clubs
Danny Howells @ Tengu (11pm)
Melodic celebrates 15 years with a 3 hour set from tech/prog house.
Bass Jamz @ Index (11pm)
Gaskin, Ellia Jaya, Wildish, Ellam, Wal, Caul.e.
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Saturday April 4th
As One Fest @ The Grand Social (1pm – 10pm)
Hardcore all-dayer.
Soundmate rooftop party @ Brew Dog (3pm – 10pm)
Secret Guest, bernie soundmate, Vandi (ES), Pemax, Fatima
Belle and Sebastian @ 3Olympia Theatre (7pm)
Glasgow indie legends Belle and Sebastian play the first of two sold-out 3Olympia nights performing Tigermilk in full – their 1996 debut, recorded in three days and released in a limited edition before becoming one of the most beloved cult albums in indie history. Followed by a second set of B&S favourites. Sold out.
Carpark Sci-Fi @ Curveball
Dublin alternative/indie Launch Party. Support: Sneak Past Demons.
Ben de la Cour @ The Cobblestone
Gothic folk singer-songwriter draws from Townes Van Zandt, Jimi Hendrix, Nick Cave, Nina Simone, Leonard Cohen, James Baldwin…
Bog Bodies @ Whelan’s Upstairs
Tipperary nu-trad folk bodhrán rock band. ‘The Regime’.
Gliders presents Reckless @ Button Factory
A stacked showcase of Ireland’s hottest rappers, all under one roof with Travy, beddyMinaj, Youngiz, Fortune Igiebor and more.
And He, The Fool @ Whelan’s Upstairs
Dublin-based seven-piece.
Late Clubs
No Merci: JME (live), Maximum, Travy + More @ Index (10pm)
Plus Dansie, Onai and Becky. Multi-genre night headed by the UK grime MC.
Hive Club @ Curveball (11pm)
Local selectors play house music. Free in. Irish Cancer Society fundraiser.
Fantazee presents Efa O Neill @ Hang Dai (11pm)
Kerry electronic DJ heads this one. Support Pat Hyland.
Ricky Chong’s Residency @ Yamamori Tengu (11pm)
Tengu presents the Sligo house and DJ digger.
Tall Paul @ The Sound House (11pm)
English ’90s house legend.
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Easter Sunday April 5th
Belle and Sebastian @ 3Olympia Theatre (7pm)
Second night of Belle and Sebastian’s sold-out 3Olympia run, this time performing If You’re Feeling Sinister in full – the 1996 sophomore album that Pitchfork called one of the greatest records ever made. Followed by a second set of classics. Sold out.
Soul Juice Jam : The Resurrection @ The Sugar Club
Neo-jazz, soul, hip-hop and whatever else shows up on the night. Everything fully improvised. Special guest Darah Abdurahman performs and leads the jam, with D12 Inc. on the decks. Qbanaa hosts.
Nevaeh Dyson @ Generator Bar
Canadian singer-songwriter Nevaeh plays in Smithfield.
Searows @ Vicar Street (8pm)
American singer-songwriter Searows – Alec Duckart – plays intimate bedroom folk and introspective songwriting. ‘Dirt’
Organ Freeman @ The Big Romance (6pm)
Live Jazz every Sunday. Breffini (DJ) from 9pm.
Clubs
SCARLET presents: Day Into Night 002 @ Secret Location (3:30pm – 10pm)
Síofra, Nev Jio, Reclaim The Mainframe, Surka & Prøwl, Naoise and more.
Chicane @ Index (6pm – 10pm)
Well ’90s Balearia. Moya Brennan sang on Saltwater.
All Rise Easter Sunday with Optimo, Tia Cousins and Budino @ Hang Dai (8:30pm – 3am)
Jonnie Wilkes brings the same spirit of gleeful genre chaos that made Optimo one of the most beloved nights in the world and he has continued to fly the flag after the passing of his long time partner JD Twitch last year.
Sofia Kourtesis @ Fidelity Studio (8pm – 1am)
Peruvian electronic producer. ‘Unidos’ with Daphni.
Mother: Easter Bank Holiday Sunday @ Lost Lane (11pm)
Rocky T. Delgado · Glamo · Sally Cinnamon6
Soundsystem Sunday: Woozy: Om Unit @ Tengu (11pm)
[Acid Dub Studies Live]. Support livwutang, Florbit + Rub A Dub Hifi
Sam Divine @ Index (11pm)
Defected house DJ.
Skip to day: Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun | Mon
Monday April 6th
Meitheal @ Kirkos (6pm)
FLINTA electronic music skill share.
KK LEWIS @ Bewley’s
Candle-lit intimate full band show from Dublin-based singer-songwriter. ‘One Step Behind’.
Song Cycle @ Whelan’s
Whelan’s informal weekly singer songwriter night
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
