Dublin Gig Guide Highlights: Tradfest, The Next Big Thing Festival, R.Kitt’s Sunday daytime party, Sprints, Lias Saoudi, Dijon, Glasshouse perform Sigur Rós, Daniel Johnston day, VARO, A Lazarus Soul, Seamus Hyland, Madra Salach, Marcel Dettmann, Niamh Regan, Secret Sessions, Cocteau Twins listening party, Niamh Regan ,Demi Riquísimo…
It’s the Nialler9 Dublin gig guide
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Tuesday January 20th
Dijon @ 3Olympia Theatre
Sold out show from the experimental R&B artist.
Mon Rovîa @ Vicar Street
Afro-Appalachian singer-songwriter from Liberia who grew up in the States.
Joe Maxi, Mount Pyrus, imBau, Taiyō @ The Grand Social Ballroom
Presented by Skyrocket Promotions, Lift Off: is a curated event dedicated to showcasing exceptional upcoming talent.
Queen Trad Sessions @ The Big Romance
LGBTQIA+ trad sessions.
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Wednesday January 21st
Lias Saoudi @ Lost Lane
Sludge Club presents the Fat White Family lead singer for a solo show. Support Pig Music ambient project hosted by wastefellow and Brendan Doherty. Lias plays Dubh in Newbridge on Friday.
The Next Big Thing Festival @ The Workman’s Club
Four nights of emerging acts: Reylta, Hannabella, Girl I Boy, Kyral.
Machine Girl @ Button Factory
American electronic project digital hardcore, breakcore, drum and bass, and footwork. Atari Teenage Riot style. ‘Rabbit Season’
Grant Lee Phillips @ Whelans
Songwriter originally of Grant Lee Buffalo, now 12 solo albums deep.
Eyejust, Wobblin Jude, Grenade Sports, Ergo Sum @ The Sound House
Four band bill.
Space Jam Sessions @ Chillers On The Green
Jam session.
Casey Holiday and Coyote Lovely @ KIRKOS, Little Green Street
Casey is inspired by Sade, Lana Del Rey, and Kali Uchis.
Aoife Scott presents – Women of Note @ St Patrick’s Cathedral
Tradfest. Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Moya Brennan, Sharyn Ward, Martha Tilston.
Celtic Utopia Screening @ IFI
Tradfest. Screening of a film a new Ireland and its vibrant music scene, but also that of a post-colonial society wrestling with its heritage with folk music, punk, hip-hop, and beyond.
Shrem presents Press Play: Cocteau Twins @ The Big Romance
Heaven Or Las Vegas vinyl listening party.
Thursday January 22nd
Mark Kermode’s Gang Of Three @ Whelan’s
The film critic is in a tribute to Gang of Four – the English post-punk band.
The Next Big Thing Festival @ The Workman’s Club
Four nights of emerging acts: All Things Eve, digDeep, Glasseyed, Touzai
Superheaven @ The Academy
Grungey / shoegaze post-hardcore band formerly known as Daylight. Support Balance & Composure.
CODENAME KIDS NEXT DOOR: Finn Dynasty, Flacko, Cosmic, Creed, Azubs & Young Yola @ The Sound House
With DJs and to be announced and a range of genres from Hiphop, RnB, Trap, Rage, Newjazz, Digicore, Jerk and more.
CABL, Babyrat, Gurriers DJ Set @ The Grand Social
F*ck Yeah Thursdays / REVOLVE night.
Ellen O’Brien @ The Cobblestone
Tradfest. Whether it’s on the flute, whistle or piano, you’ll hear Ellen playing anything from Matt Molloy and Debussy to The Cure.
Milk Rain, Goblinz, Kid, Feral, Mark + Luke @ Anseo
Alternative acts.
Dublin Pride Géilí With Trad Is Amach @ Button Factory
Tradfest. A community of LGBTQ+ traditional Irish musicians, singers, dancers, and allies, that organises events such as music sessions, céilithe, and concerts to foster an inclusive environment and celebrate LGBTQ+ artists in Irish traditional music and dance.
Secret Sessions @ Curveball
The 15th edition of Secret Sessions is a fully secret line-up gig where the artists are only revealed once they step on stage. Past Secret Sessions have featured the likes of Shiv, Moio, Chameleon, Jafaris, SweetLemondae, and Sarah Crean, with each night offering an intimate, high-quality live music experience.
Soundglasses @ The Big Romance
Vinyl DJ. Ska, Reggae, Northern Soul.
Jazz @ Slattery’s (9pm)
Weekly night. Live jazz session with Mia Byrne (sax) and Dan Whelan (keys).
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Friday January 23rd
The Night Belongs to Us @ The Studio in The Civic Theatre, Tallaght
TradFest. NOISE Music and SubSounds merges trad, folk, and electronic influences in fresh, surprising ways.
Seamas Hyland @ The Grand Social
Tradfest. Multi-instrumentalist and composer who focuses on both traditional and experimental music.
Madra Salach @ Abbey Tavern, Howth
Dublin alternative rising folk band mark the release of their debut EP. Also play Sunday in the same venue which is sold out.
The Next Big Thing Festival @ The Workman’s Club
Four nights of emerging acts: Spooklet, iNNUNEDO, and he, the fool; SYGH, Gag Reflex.
Morbegs, Happy Days @ Sin é
Skyrocket Promotions presents alternative local acts.
Niamh Regan @ Pepper Canister Church
Tradfest. Galway singer-songwriter sold out show.
East Forest @ The Sugar Club
Weaving ambient, electronic, and modern classical threads into meditative soundscapes.
Féile Kíla @ National Stadium
Tradfest. Supportfrom afro beat group Yankari and The Paul Frost Brass Band.
Conor Schmitz @ The Big Romance
Vinyl DJ. House, soul, progressive.
New Jackson @ Pawn Shop (8pm – Midnight)
After Eight Club early club night. Support from resident Giita.
Demi Riquísimo @ Fidelity Studio (9pm – 1am)
All night long playing acid, Italo-house, disco and off-kilter funk.
Late Clubs
Four Four presents: Future Éire @ Tengu (11pm)
DIEBYVEG, Benson, RKM333 & Ali PJ. 18s + night in a usually 20s+ spot.
Spraoi Mór presents Session Victim @ Hang Dai (11pm)
German house duo.
After Dark @ Curveball (10:30pm)
Hip-Hop, R&B, Afrobeats, Dancehall, Reggaeton.
Colin Perkins @ The Pyg
The Pygmalion’s head honcho booker in the booth.
Subject: Marcel Dettmann @ Wigwam (11pm)
[Techno] An influential name in techno – Berghain resident.
Don Letts @ The Sugar Club (11pm)
UK reggae and punk DJ.
Bat’s Womb @ Fibber Magees (11pm)
Goth Club Night.
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Saturday January 24th
Reylta @ The Auld Triangle (6pm)
Tradfest. Free show from Irish alt-folk singer‑songwriter
Molly O’Mahony @ The Fleet Hotel , Temple Bar (4pm)
Tradfest. West Cork singer-songwriter. Free in.
Ispíní na hÉireann @ The Grand Social
Tradfest. Rowdy folk trad lads. Support Méabh Mulligan & Eva Carrol
The Next Big Thing Festival @ The Workman’s Club
Four nights of emerging acts: V-sensei, All Girls Piss, Eppie, Monday’s Child, Uptight Dad.
VARO @ Pepper Canister Church
Tradfest. Special Guests from The World That I Knew album – Alannah Thornburgh/ Inni-K/ Ian Lynch (Lankum).
Trad Folkin’ Rocks presents The Trad Stage @ The Sugar Club
Tradfest. Saltaire, Fada, The Labourers, A Clatter Of Drone.
A Lazarus Soul @ St Patrick’s Cathedral
Tradfest. Dublin band drawing on colloquial folk and rock.
Rose Betts @ Whelan’s
Sold out. LA-based English indie-pop singer-songwriter.
White Lies @ The Academy
English indie-band still knocking about since 2008.
Cruachan @ The Grand Social
Tradfest. Cruachan is recognised as one of the creators of the folk metal genre, blending traditional Irish music with heavy metal since 1992.
Transatlantic Women @ National Stadium
Tradfest. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Sharon Shannon, Katherine Priddy, Peggy Seeger, Eleanor McEvoy, Kaia Kater, Aishling Jarvis, Caoimhe Hopkinson, Edwina Guckian, Natalie Ní Chasaide, Nia Byrne
Edwina van Kuyk, Dora Gola & Megan Burke @ Thomas House
Edwina van Kuyk’s honey-soft soul-folk, Dora Gola’s haunting dark electro pop and Megan Burke’s powerhouse soul, R&B and big band swagger.
Governess @ The Big Romance
Vinyl DJ selector. 90s Rnb, Reggae, Bass.
Late Clubs
Sonic Explorations LIVE with brawni, Chaz Moloney, CooL GRL, SCARLET @ Tengu (11pm)
Live electronica from Irish artists.
Silva Bumpa b2b Prozak @ Index (11pm)
Bassline and bumping dance music.
Glaskin @ Wigwam (11pm)
Nocturnal Animals invites_002 future forward German techno duo.
ICE MACHINES III @ The Racket Space (7pm – 3am)
Eight bands and DJs. Live electronic music club. ICE MACHINES III features Mongolian folk with Moogs by Nomads, Galways very own Fluid Druid, Irish techno artists Analog playing a new live set, and all the way from Northside Dublin I AM BONO AND SO IS MY WIFE among many others.
393 Records & RLSD Records @ Pawn Shop (11pm)
[Hosue/ deep dub house] Philip Galvin Jnr, Collie, Doug Cooney, Robert Whittle..
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Sunday January 25th
Down the Market @ IFI (12:30am)
TradFest: Film screening. Created by Dave Tynan and Samuel Dennigan, 20 minute film was filmed over one day in the now under renovation Smithfield Fruit & Veg Market in Dublin 7. The film features unaccompanied singing from Landless, Barry Gleeson and Anne Buckley, all shot in single takes.
In Time – Dónal Lunny @ IFI (1:30pm)
TradFest. Film by Nuala O’Connor about the founding member of Planxty, The Bothy Band and Moving Hearts.
Damhsa with R.Kitt @ Flux Studios (2pm – 9pm)
A new Sunday daytime dance party in a community arts venue in the heart of Dublin city.
VUL TOOLS, 00:00:17 and Wondering if you love me still @ Kirkos (3:30pm – 6pm)
Vulcaire, Konho and Audicion Perdida share works in the genres of hip hop, improvised electronic and Rnb ballad songs.
Molly O’Mahony @ The Morgan Hotel, Temple Bar (5pm)
Tradfest. West Cork singer-songwriter. Free in.
Organ Freeman @ The Big Romance (6pm – 9pm)
Live jazz band every week. Booking recommended.
Glasshouse perform Sigur Rós @ National Concert Hall
The Icelandic band reimagined. Presented by Between the Notes & Foggy Notions.
“Hi, How Are You Day!” @ The Grand Social
A celebration of all things Daniel Johnston with Jerry Fish, Maykay and an array of special guests.
An Sesh Mór @ Button Factory
Tradfest. CLADA, SuperCéilí, Cailíní Lua and Moxie play a night of alternative trad music and dance.
Steo Wall Presents The Pavee Club @ The Sound House
Tradfest. Steo Wall and his band’s urban based folk music, Toshín and her funk/soul band, and young folk singers from Kildare, Tom and Felix Doran.
Ríoghnach Connolly @ Pepper Canister Church
Tradfest. Singer who performs with bands like The Breath, HoneyFeet, Band of Burns, and Afro Celt Sound System.
Peare McGloughlin, Nomaad @ Anseo
Little Gem’s regular Sunday experimental night.
Sprints @ Whelan’s
Omen Magazine present a headline show for all profits from these events go to War Child. Support Brooki.
Niall Breslin @ Pepper Canister Church
Tradfest. Performing recent meditative solo piano music.
Monday January 26th
Stripped Back Sessions 6.0 @ The Sound House
Bedhead, Merricat, NonSense, Black Horse Couriers, Roo Elizabeth
Lucinda Williams @ 3Olympia Theatre
Three-time Grammy winning coutnry/blues singer-songwriter.
Song Cycle @ Whelan’s Bar
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.
