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Gig Reviews - 2026

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    #212
    Granite Head
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 371 ✭✭Granite Head


    Robert Finley - Whelans. Criminally small crowd but "Wow" what an uplifting gig. I know there's recency bias but I think my gig of the year so far and that's a high bar after David Byrne and Gorillaz. His daughter Christy Johnson, also a very talented singer and clearly a protective bond between the two. Catch them in Belfast tomorrow if you can.

    2026 Gigs and Events: Bren Berry, Grant Lee Philips, Jarlath Regan, Craig Finn, Westside Cowboy, Magdalena Bay, Neil Delamare, The Streets,The Paper Kites, TJ Baham, Borderline Festival (Fri + Sat), Whitney, Stereolab (Whelans), Antlers, David Byrne, Buck Meek, Bar Italia, Gene, Gorillaz, Thundercat, Belle & Sebastion x2, Jason Byrne, President, Jacob Alon, Robert Finley, Big Thief, The Big Star Quintet, Superfurry Animals, These Charming Men, Kraftwerk, Ray LaMontagne, Sugar, Mack Fleetwood, Pixies, Stewart Lee, Aldous Harding, Royel Otis, The Cure, Florence & the Machine, Beta Band, Forest Fest, ATN, Moby, GOAT, Jack White, Sigar Ros, Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy, Bonny Prince Billy, Death Cab for Cutie, Olafur Arnalds, Reytones, Arab Strap, Arlo Parks, Strokes, Cat Power, Widows Peak, Jeff Tweedy, Ocean Colour Scene, Fat Dog, Interpol & Bloc Party, Madra Salach



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    #213
    LLamachara
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 185 ✭✭LLamachara


    Love the prodigy but that was brutal tonight.



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    #214
    FullBack Jam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,537 ✭✭✭FullBack Jam


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124428706#Comment_124428706

    Really. Why? I enjoyed it. I don't know all their stuff, But there was some atmosphere there and the tunes seemed good. I saw them about 20 years ago and in Fairview last year or the year before, and I thought it was decent. And tonight was like Fairview. I guess I'm asking what else could they have done to make it better.

    Like I say, I would be their biggest fan, in that I only knew about half the songs. But it seemed good. To me anyway. The crowd in the standing area were gone crazy.



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    #215
    jellybeano
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 192 ✭✭jellybeano


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124428706#Comment_124428706

    Ah they were alright. The climbatize/ warrior/ everybody into the the place medley megamix is simply terrible. They need to play each one in full. Snippets of Speedway and the intro to weather experience would break your heart. Again full songs required. They should drop a few like Roadblox / the day is my enemy /thunda. Plenty of back catalogue they could be getting stuck into eg Girls / 3 kilos/ Fire or even their new song G.O.A.T. Invaders Must Die and Ruff in the Jungle were top notch tonight🔊🔊🔊



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    #216
    scruff monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,165 ✭✭✭scruff monkey
    Snarky Snark Snark


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124428691#Comment_124428691

    twas good indeed



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    #217
    LowOdour
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,916 ✭✭✭LowOdour


    2hr 30min epic set from Big Thief tonight in Dolan Limerick. They said at the outset it would be the biggest setlist of the tour, so everyone got moneys worth.

    A heap of new songs, but packed in plenty of their back catalog.

    It was sweltering in there at times, so there was a lull in the crowd 90min in but brilliant last 30-40 min



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    #218
    Stillill42
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,205 ✭✭✭Stillill42


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124428778#Comment_124428778

    Oof! Anything from Masterpiece?



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    #219
    LowOdour
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,916 ✭✭✭LowOdour


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124428963#Comment_124428963

    Yep! Masterpiece and Real Love! Setlist is up on Reddit

    https://www.reddit.com/r/bigthief/s/lLmLv1kTZQ



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    #220
    Stillill42
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,205 ✭✭✭Stillill42


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124429027#Comment_124429027

    Ah deadly. Going tonight, looking forward to it. Masterpiece still easily my favourite album, can't shake it, those big guitars, I miss them. Saw them last time in the National Stadium, saw them on the main stage at Green Man a couple of years ago, always great and the more recent stuff MUCH better live I think than at home. Anyway, sounds like we're in for a treat.



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    #221
    LowOdour
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,916 ✭✭✭LowOdour


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124429064#Comment_124429064

    They really rocked out at times last night, so enjoy the gig tonight!



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    #222
    grudgehugger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,100 ✭✭✭grudgehugger


    29 songs according to setlist.fm - lucky Limerick!

    Looking forward to tonight



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    #223
    Penfailed
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,044 ✭✭✭Penfailed


    Going to see them at the end of May in the Barrowlands in Glasgow.

    Gigs '24 - Ben Ottewell and Ian Ball (Gomez), The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Smashing Pumpkins/Weezer, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Stendhal Festival, Forest Fest, Electric Picnic, Pixies, Ride, Therapy?, Public Service Broadcasting, IDLES, And So I Watch You From Afar

    Gigs '25 - Spiritualized, Supergrass, Stendhal Festival, Forest Fest, Queens of the Stone Age, Electric Picnic, Vantastival, Sprints, Getdown Services, And So I Watch You From Afar, The Scratch

    Gigs '26 - Deftones, Sleaford Mods, Stereolab, KNEECAP, Sugar, Clutch, Big Thief, Jon Spencer, The Cure, Forest Fest, IDLES, Electric Picnic, Public Service Broadcasting, Levellers, Suede/Manic Street Preachers, Korn, Fat Dog, Ash



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    #224
    Beagslife
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 409 ✭✭Beagslife


    The House Must Win - Mick Flannery's Musical Drama @ The Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire | The Everyman, Cork 🎸

    Got to this show over the weekend, and so glad I did. It's a very special experience, despite what a few critics have written. Sublime performances, with extraordinary vocals and great backing musicians in a very intimate setting.

    My only pre-show concern was not having Mick on stage, but Niall McNamee was a worthy stand in for his vocal style, while Tabitha Smyths' singing voice was exceptional. Ferdia Walsh-Peelo from the Fynches was no slouch either! As for Tommy …..

    If you're lucky enough to be going along to either venue, enjoy. I can see this show making the transition to the States in the future 🎭

    mgp-pavillion-theatre-dun-laoghaire-april-2026.jpg


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    #225
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers, Paid Member Posts: 45,560 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    Going to check this out on Saturday night in the pavilion, really looking forward to it



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    #226
    grudgehugger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,100 ✭✭✭grudgehugger


    Big Thief unsurprisingly excellent @ 3Arena although the atmosphere was a little flat - maybe not a good match between band and venue?

    Highlights for me were Real House, Anything, Simulation Swarm and Vampire Empire.

    Bringing out the departing crew member to play guitar on Vampire Empire was a touch that worked well I thought.

    Also, the unreleased material largely sounded great with "Beautiful World" (is that the name?) being a standout. Feels like they have the spine of a great next album waiting to be recorded.



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    #227
    loyatemu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 16,594 ✭✭✭✭loyatemu


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124431476#Comment_124431476

    second time I've seen them, they always seem to play a ton of new material - Lenker is a songwriting machine. The long one in the middle (which I see from Setlist.fm was a medley of a Lenker solo tune and a new song) was incredible, it's a shame it was cut at the climax because someone fainted in the crowd.

    I though the atmosphere was OK, it's the first time I've been in the Point in that reduced layout but it still wasn't totally full. Also my first time standing in the Point since probably the 90s!

    I do think a lot of the younger crowd are there for Lenker and her poetic acoustic side, and they didn't seem as into the heavy feedback-laden Neil Young type stuff (which I loved). The one disappointment was I see other nights got both "Mary" and "Paul", neither of which were played last night.

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    #228
    Stillill42
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,205 ✭✭✭Stillill42


    Agree with everything in those 2 reviews lads. Thought they were great. She is an absolute superstar. She must literally never stop writing songs and there never seems to be a dip in quality. Loved the amount of big guitar! As @loyatemu said, she went full on Neil Young at times last night. Also correct in your assessment of how the kids see her. My 19 year old was there with a couple of mates, she's the soundtrack to a bazillion Insta posts. Simulation Swarm the highlight for me despite my love for everything off Masterpiece. Bit of an odd one to end on but no complaints overall. Great stuff.



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    #229
    Wooderson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,762 ✭✭✭Wooderson


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124432038#Comment_124432038

    How many were there chief? Admittedly would have been interested if it had been on in the Vic.



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    #230
    piggysiren
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 364 ✭✭piggysiren


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124431742#Comment_124431742

    Yeah, they were on point and I do love Lenker solo and missed out on Vicar Street so I didn't mind the bigger songs being thrown in or one or two unreleased songs but the problem was that there was loads of unreleased material people just didn't know, and if push came to shove I would have rather had Masterpiece, Paul, Shark Smile, Mary etc over unreleased cuts, Laraaaji, and even Lenker solo given the size of the 3arena



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    #231
    Stillill42
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 5,205 ✭✭✭Stillill42


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124432298#Comment_124432298

    Reduced capacity and not full at that but still felt like a good crowd where we were, good atmosphere, people defo into.it. Would still take them anywhere else over the Arena.



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    #232
    loyatemu
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 16,594 ✭✭✭✭loyatemu


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124432416#Comment_124432416

    that's what they do though, she has a ton of material both released and unreleased and they never just play the hits. They're a great live unit and she's a mesmerising frontwoman, so whatever they're. playing it's good.

    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124432662#Comment_124432662

    what is the reduced capacity? I'd have said it was 70% full, which is probably multiple nights at Vicar St so I don't see where else there is for acts of their size.

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    #233
    scruff monkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,165 ✭✭✭scruff monkey
    Snarky Snark Snark


    big star quintet : button factory

    these are hard to review as its essentially a cover band on steroids. Despite that, this was just beautiful at times, it was an enraptured audience of fans who knew the words inside out rather than drive by celeb watchers looking to see the bands individual members up close.

    just lovely playing and genuinely emotional at points.

    IMG_4335.jpeg IMG_4332.jpeg IMG_4316.jpeg


    added bonus of MORE COWBELL!



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    #234
    mrk75
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 295 ✭✭mrk75


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124434046#Comment_124434046

    Agree with this. A beautiful night. Venue absolutely rammed. That would be the only small quibble - the band and the music deserved a more fitting venue like one night in Vicar St rather than two there but hey ho..

    The music speaks for itself and what a setlist but it comes down to whether those on stage can do it justice and they more than delivered. Jon Auer, Chris Stamey, Mike Mills, Jody Stephens and Norman Blake were simply outstanding. Lead vocals were pretty much shared. However, Auer held it all together, I felt - great singer and guitarist I was largely unfamiliar with.

    Mills stepped up as a great front man on several numbers including the inevitable closer September Gurls and it was great to see him in a small venue. Highlight was probably Jody who still looks so youthful and was a far better singer than I’d thought. He did Thirteen brilliantly - hairs are standing up on my arms as I write and recall it. Outstanding!

    Got a nice signed poster afterwards and the buzz among folk leaving was great. Normally people are a bit blasé and too cool for school but random blokes (let’s face it - it was an audience of mostly middle-aged blokes) in the bogs were raving about what they’d seen and everyone was buzzing. A wonderful experience not to be forgotten…



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    #235
    gilly1910
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 367 ✭✭gilly1910


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124428735#Comment_124428735

    Was it really that bad, as I was seriously considering getting tickets for the IMMA since I missed out on tickets for Tuesday night. However I have to admit a huge part of the reason would be to see the legendary Carl Cox, as I haven't seen him in almost 20 years, what was he like on Tuesday night?



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    #236
    FullBack Jam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,537 ✭✭✭FullBack Jam


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124434490#Comment_124434490

    Like I said, I enjoyed it. But I had no big expectations. Just a night out on a Tuesday night, and listen to some music.

    I only decided to go to the gig at 7.30 on the evening of the gig, so I didn't see Carl Cox. There were plenty of cheap tickets going at that time.



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    #237
    ned rierson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 590 ✭✭✭ned rierson


    Enjoyed the Big Star gig so much i travelled down to Kilkenny this afternoon. i'm now sitting in a pub wondering how i'm going to get into tonights sold out show.



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    #238
    JimBurnley
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,086 ✭✭✭JimBurnley


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124435886#Comment_124435886

    I seen one or two advertised in this FB group

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/fannysfanssupport/?ref=share



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    #239
    jellybeano
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 192 ✭✭jellybeano


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124434490#Comment_124434490

    Get tickets. You won't be disappointed. Just be prepared for them not to play full tracks. Carl Cox was really excellent. Played tracks like Xpansions Move Your Body and this track:

    https://youtu.be/RpZVPSCv79U?is=aPxjfONGWu5FKIjT


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    #240
    Gloomtastic!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,920 ✭✭✭Gloomtastic!


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124435886#Comment_124435886

    Stand at the door, ask everyone who approaches. The bouncers might even take pity on you or one of the band. Good luck!!!!



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    #241
    Gloomtastic!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,920 ✭✭✭Gloomtastic!


    Eyes fixed on the prize……… 😎

    IMG_9060.jpeg


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