Saturday, June 30
Kiefer Sutherland
Academy Dublin 8pm €33.50 ticketmaster.ie
It isn't unusual for an actor to try their hand at music, but it's rare that some are good at both. Kiefer Sutherland was aware of eyes rolling heavenwards when it was announced in 2015 that he was working on a debut album of country songs, but the moderate success of the record, and the fact that he is performing in, ahem, 'intimate' venues is indicative of a balanced approach. The debut album, Down in a Hole, also features (bar one song) co-written material with one other songwriter, thereby steering clear of the committee-based tunesmithing adopted by today's current crop of pop stars. Down home and down to earth? We can respect that. TCL
Rootsman Productions Presents: Bubble Up
Connolly's of Leap, Cork €5 connollysofleap.com
Based in Kinsale, Bubble Up is collective made up of people from Cork, London and Hungary to promote reggae music in west Cork, by playing vinyl recordings and exclusive new releases. This reggae and dancehall event will see the unstoppable force that is London-born, Kinsale-based DJ Rankin Bellyman up against the Hungarian reggae enthusiast Flipside Selekta as they play back-to-back for a night of whinin' in one of Cork's best music venues. LB
Mother Pride Block Party
Tivoli, Dublin €16.61-€27.32 motherclub.ie
To properly celebrate this year's Dublin Pride, join the sequinned rascals of Mother for their fourth annual Pride Block Party. Giving you enough time to recover from the Dublin Pride Parade, the festivities will kick off at 4pm and music and entertainment will come from from the one and only Nadine Coyle, Soulé, Le Boom, Studio 54 legend Nicky Siano and Veda's Coven drag show extravaganza. And, of course, the Mother DJs will work their magic. LB
Monday, July 2
Jack Johnson
Live at the Marquee, Cork 7.30pm €49.50 ticketmaster.ie
Former pro-surfer, Hawaii-born Jack Johnson (himself the son of acclaimed surfer Jeff Johnson) left the damp profession in his teens following an accident that put over 150 stitches in his forehead. Several years later, Johnson – having by this time contributed to albums by G. Love and toured with Ben Harper – was well on his way to stardom with albums such as Brushfire Fairytales (2001), On and On (2003) and In Between Dreams (2005). He quickly gained a reputation for his relaxed, easy-to-remember beach party tunes, and if Monday, July 2nd, is as warm as the days he spends at his home in Oahu, Hawaii, then expect equal levels of good vibes and singalong songs. TCL
Tuesday, July 3
Bomba Estereo
Tivoli Theatre, Dublin 8pm €25 ticketmaster.ie
From Bogata, Columbia to Dublin's Liberties? You couldn't make it up. With the English translation of 'stereo bomb' and the Columbian term for a cool party, Bomba Estereo has all the makings of a Latino spectacle. Certainly, the blend of traditional Columbian music (salsa, cumbia) with electro-dance beats is enough to make the use of zimmer frames redundant. Along with being a support act for a few Arcade Fire shows, last year's major label album release, Ayo – the group's fifth studio outing – firmly upped the ante with its (according to Billboard) "irresistible dance roots and beats." You have been duly advised. TCL
Tremonti
Academy Dublin 7pm €22.50 ticketmaster.ie
You have to love a heavy metal band that once featured a member by the name of Wolfgang Van Halen, but then that is one of several reasons to view Tremonti as a much better metal proposition than most. Formed in 2011 by Mark Tremonti, former guitarist/vocalist of Creed, the titular band fuse what HM fans might describe as "full-throttle crusher" instrumentation and "thrashy, pit-ready" tunes. The band's fourth studio album, A Dying Machine, caused something of a marketing stir when it was released earlier this month – its dystopian concept was expanded upon by, no less, an accompanying novel, co-written by Tremonti and award-winning cyber-punk/sci-fi author, John Shirley. TCL
Wednesday, July 4
Alanis Morissette
Live at the Marquee, Cork 6.30pm (sold out) ticketmaster.ie; Also Thursday, July 5th, Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 6.30pm (sold out) ticketmaster.ie
There are few enough songwriters out there that have the same level of emotional intelligence, empathy and competency as Alanis Morissette. Although best known for her multimillion selling breakthrough album, Jagged Little Pill (1995), the US-Canadian performer has, arguably, better albums such as Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998) and Flavours of Entanglement (2008). With a new album mooted for release this year, you can expect these sold-out shows to deliver body blows and mind melts, especially for those tunes from Jagged Little Pill - Hand in my Pocket, You Learn, Head over Feet, and (the killer swipe) You Oughta Know. TCL
Lalah Hathaway
Whelan's Dublin 8pm €39.05 whelanslive.com
It's in the blood, people – Lalah Hathaway is the daughter of acclaimed soul singer Donny Hathaway (who died tragically young in 1979 at the age of 33), so she knows the score, and the fact that if you don't put in the work then the goodies won't come your way. She signed to a major label almost 30 years ago, releasing her self-titled debut in 1990, and between then and now has established herself as a classy ASCAP and Grammy-winning singer and songwriter, adept at rolling with life's ups and downs, aware of her father's legacy ("I am his daughter and that's the truth of who I am, every day"), but also standing her own ground. As far as we can determine, this is Hathaway's Irish debut, so make the woman feel welcome, y'hear, on this most American of days. TCL
The Cadillac Three
Academy Dublin 7pm €30 ticketmaster.ie
American Southern rock, with its body based in Nashville, Tennessee, has immediate connotations of Lynyrd Skynyrd and early Kings of Leon, but Cadillac Three has more in common with their home city's country roots than anything else. Lead singer Jaren Johnston has co-written songs for the likes of Keith Urban and Tim McGraw, and with album titles such as Bury Me in My Boots, and guest appearances on the hit TV show, Nashville, here is as unpretentious a contemporary roots act as you can get. TCL
Thursday, July 5
I heart The Cranberries
Dolan's Limerick 8pm €12 (sold out) dolans.ie
This is – as its title signifies – a tribute to the deceased singer of The Cranberries and solo artist, Dolores O'Riordan, who died so tragically young at the start of the year. Over 20 artists from all over Ireland will descend on O'Riordan's home city to perform distinctive renderings of some of the best-known Cranberries' songs. Prepare for a rake of Limerick musicians and singers, as well as some very special guests. Presented as part of Limerick Pride, with all profits going to Adapt House, and Limerick Mental Health. TCL
Sing Along Social : Jagged Little Pill
The Sugar Club, Dublin €6.90 facebook.com/singalongsocial
If there's any air left in your lungs after the Alanis Morissette gig in Iveagh Gardens, make your way over to the Sugar Club to sing your heart out to Jagged Little Pill, from start to finish, and other associated songs with the Sing Along Social. Jagged Little Pill is the very album that inspired Aoife McElwain to start the Sing Along Social two years ago. Doors open at 11pm and singing commences at midnight. LB
Wood Quay Summer Sessions: Music Network Presents…
Wood Quay Amphitheatre, Dublin FREE dublincity.ie
Making its return for a third year, The Wood Quay Summer Sessions is a series of free concerts from 1pm to 2pm every Thursday in July. Founded by Dublin City Council, the first of these outdoor events is in association with Music Network and they've called in trumpet player Niall O'Sullivan, accordion player Dermot Dunne, Mark Redmond on uilleann pipes, Eilís Lavelle on harp and Paul O'Driscoll on double bass to kick things off. LB
Percolator and The Bonk
Bello Bar, Dublin €12 bellobardublin.com
This co-headlining Irish tour sees two Waterford outfits hit the road, stopping off in Dublin's Bello Bar for a visit. O Emperor vocalist and BIMM tutor Phil Christie will be taking his own project The Bonk out for an airing and the experimental rock trio Percolator, who have been making music together since 2007, will flaunt their krautrock leanings and shoe-gazing wears. Doors are at 8pm and to buy tickets for this show, contact emma@merakindie.com. LB
Friday, July 6
Eels
Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 7.30pm €45 ticketmaster.ie
Mark E Everett, the man who is Eels, surfaces every few years or so with a new album that – like previous releases – flies relatively low under the commercial radar but which offers, as usual, more than several insights into the human condition. Everett has a knack for coming up with insidious melodies, too, which means that those lucky enough to have a ticket for this open-air gig can expect to blissfully hum along while thinking deeply about life, the universe, death, taxes, and other serious issues. Every cloud, etc.
BARE in the Woods
Borris House, Carlow, €15 - 100 barefestival.com
The BARE in the Woods Festival is making its big return this summer after they had to pull the plug on last year's event with just weeks to go. With Detroit rapper and friend of Eminem Obie Trice on the bill alongside Wicklow's God is an Astronaut, singer songwriter Seamus Fogarty and Kíla and appearance from fashion stylist Gok Wan, BARE has something for everyone. Camping tickets, day passes and kids passes for €15 are all available to buy. LB
