The best gigs and albums to look forward to in 2022

Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish, The Cure and Tool are among the acts coming to Ireland

Gigs in January 2022

Gilla Band
January 14th/21st/29th, Whelan's, Dublin
One word: earplugs.

Tradfest
January 26th-30th, various venues in Dublin
Top-notch folk/roots/trad fare here, folks. Acts performing include Fairport Convention, Kate Rusby, Peggy Seeger, Martin and Eliza Carthy, and The Lost Brothers.

Gigs in February 2022

Soda Blonde
February 5th-18th, various venues
Quality Irish band playing in Dublin, Listowel, Limerick, Belfast, Galway.

Eddi Reader
February 10th-26th
Comprehensive nationwide tour by acclaimed Scottish singer/songwriter.

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Mary Black
February 18th, INEC, Killarney, Co Kerry; February 19th, Theatre Royal, Waterford; February 24th, Opera House, Cork; February 25th, Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick
Enduring Irish performer embarks on a rare mini-tour.

Denise Chaila
February 25th, 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin
The hottest Irish act right now deservedly ups the game with her biggest show to date.

Gigs in March 2022

Dave
March 3rd, 3Arena, Dublin
Much praised UK rapper delivers tracks from his two albums, 2019's Psychodrama and 2021's We're All Alone in This Together.

CMAT
March 9th, Cyprus Avenue, Cork; March 10th, Dolan's, Limerick; March 11th, The Academy, Dublin; March 12th, Limelight 2, Belfast
Much anticipated live shows from the uber-smart Irish singer and songwriter, who will be performing songs from her debut album, If My Wife New I'd be Dead.

Country To Country
March 11th-13th, 3Arena, Dublin
US country big names come out to play. Acts include Luke Combs, Darius Rucker, and Miranda Lambert.

Randy Newman
March 15th, Vicar Street, Dublin
Satiric, cynical, smart-arse and witty – a songwriter's songwriter comes to town.

Fatboy Slim
March 16th, 3Arena, Dublin; March 18th, SSE Arena, Belfast
Confident club-friendly crowd-pleaser on a St Patrick's two-day bender.

The Mary Wallopers
March 17th, Vicar Street, Dublin (also April 17th)
Dundalk's The Mary Wallopers on St Patrick's Day? Perfect.

Sigrid
March 18th, 3Arena, Dublin
The Norwegian pop singer loves Ireland, and Ireland loves her right back. Simple as.

The Staves
March 23rd, Dolan's, Limerick; March 24th, Helix, Dublin; March 25th, Empire, Belfast; March 26th, Black Box, Galway; March 28th, Cyprus Avenue, Cork
UK folk/pop sibling group finally return to Ireland for a brief if decent-sized tour.

Sam Fender
March 24th, 3Arena, Dublin
UK singer with muscular hints of Springsteen and old-school rock/pop.

Counting Crows
March 27th, 3Arena, Dublin
Adam Duritz returns to the fray with his immensely popular band.

James Arthur
March 28th, Ulster Hall, Belfast; March 29th, 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin
One of X Factor's more credible alumni.

Gigs in April 2022

Bitch Falcon
April 1st, Whelan's, Dublin
Farewell to this Irish band, whose final gig this is.

Gavin James
April 2nd-29th, various venues
Nationwide tour throughout April for one of Ireland's most confessional songwriters. Commencing April 2nd/3rd, Opera House, Cork, and concluding April 29th, Lake Land Session, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

Royal Blood
April 5th, 3Arena, Dublin
Heavy-duty twosome here to make some noise.

War On Drugs
April 14th, 3Arena, Dublin
US musician Adam Granduciel performs songs from his 2021 album, I Don't Live Here Anymore.

Protomartyr
April 22nd, Button Factory, Dublin
US post-punk band for fans of The Fall, Pere Ubu, and Wire.

Ed Sheeran
April 24th, Croke Park, Dublin; April 28th/29th, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
One of the most popular music acts in the world, right here, right now.

Gigs in May 2022

Shawn Mendes
May 1st, 3Arena, Dublin
Canadian mega pop star brings his Wonder: the World Tour to Dublin.

Ed Sheeran
May 5th/6th, Thomond Park, Limerick; May 12th/13th, Boucher Road Playing Fields, Belfast
Here we go again.

Tool
May 6th, 3Arena, Dublin
US metal band you need to experience. Enough said.

Richard Hawley
May 8th, 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin; May 10th, Dolan's Warehouse, Limerick; May 11th, Opera House, Cork; May 13th, Black Box, Galway; May 14th, St Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny
UK crooner par excellence – always welcome in these parts.

Warpaint
May 15th, National Stadium, Dublin
Indie rock all the way from Los Angeles. How cool is this? Very.

Lindsey Buckingham
May 17th, The Helix Dublin
Ex-Fleetwood Mac songwriter/guitarist delivers solo and choice Mac tunes.

My Chemical Romance
May 24th/25th, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin
Gerard Way and friends return. Skeleton costume attire is optional.

Bryan Adams
May 29th, SSE Arena, Belfast; May 30th, 3Arena, Dublin
You're gonna run to him, aren't you?

Idles
May 29th, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin
Blistering UK band reschedule their January shows (x3) at Vicar Street to this open-air venue. Damn – they're good, but we know which venue we'd have preferred to see them in.

Gigs in June 2022

Simply Red
June 1st, Live At The Marquee, Cork; June 2nd, Live At Botanic Gardens, Belfast
Soul/funk/pop as presented by Mick Hucknall.

Billie Eilish
June 3rd, SSE Arena, Belfast; June 4th/5th, 3Arena, Dublin
Welcome home, Billie Eilish O'Connell.

Forbidden Fruit
June 4th/5th, The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin
From Bicep to Hot Chip, and Gemma Dunleavy to Lorde – happy 10th anniversary to this excellent city-centre festival.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
June 5th, Fairview Park, Dublin
Meat? Check. Two veg? Check. Thick gravy? Check.

Public Image Ltd
June 9th, National Stadium, Dublin
John Lydon and co – still a unique presence after all these years.

Peggy Seeger and Calum MacColl
June 9th, Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin
The folk dynasty continues.

Jimmy Webb
June 10th, Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin
Pop classicist – for some, there is no better.

The Script
June 14th/15th, 3Arena, Dublin
Irish favourites here to heat up the summer.

Sea Sessions
June 17th-19th, Bundoran, Co Donegal
Acts featured across this much-loved festival include Kodaline, Basement Jaxx, Tinie, All Tvvins, David Keenan, and Malaki.

Greta Van Fleet
June 23rd, Fairview Park, Dublin
If straight-up rock music is your bag, then grab this one.

The Eagles
June 24th, Aviva Stadium, Dublin
US stalwarts taking it to the limit again as they celebrate their 50th birthday.

Years & Years
June 24th, National Museum Of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin
Fronted by Olly Alexander, Years & Years headline the Mother Pride Opening Party.

St Vincent
June 26th, Fairview Park, Dublin
Smart, stylish, and a quality US songwriter/musician.

Foals
June 27th, Fairview Park, Dublin
Textured UK rock band hit tender and terrifying marks.

Red Hot Chili Peppers
June 29th, Marlay Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin
Anyone for a vigorous bout of Rathfarnication?

Olivia Rodrigo
June 29th, Live At The Marquee; June 30th, Fairview Park, Dublin
US singer and songwriter du jour brings her debut album, Sour, to Ireland.

Gigs in July 2022

Westlife
July 8th, Aviva Stadium, Dublin
And they're off!

Villagers
July 14th, Iveagh Gardens, Dublin
A home from home for one of Ireland's most considered songwriters.

All Together Now
July 29th-31st, Curraghmore Estate, Co Waterford
Confirmed acts so far include Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Underworld, Sinéad O'Connor. Many more TBA.

Gigs in September 2022

Aslan
September 17th, 3Arena, Dublin
Resilient Dublin band celebrate 40 years on the go.

Gigs in October 2022

Swedish House Mafia
October 6th, 3Arena, Dublin
Electro/EDM outfit taking care of dance/house business.

Don McLean
October 7th, 3Arena, Dublin
US songwriter celebrates the 50th anniversary of his classic song, American Pie.

Gigs in November 2022

Pavement
November 10th/11th, Vicar Street, Dublin
US band – more than a cult, less than stadium fillers. Do we love them? Yes, we do.

Gigs in December 2022

The Cure
December 1st, 3Arena, Dublin; December 2nd, SSE Arena, Belfast
Class legacy band perform songs from their 40-odd year career.

Albums released on January 7th, 2022

Years and Years: Night Call

Albums released on January 14th, 2022

Elvis Costello: The Boy Named IF
Cat Power: Covers
Lyndsey Lawlor: Dearest Philistine

Albums released on January 21st, 2022

Janis Ian: The Light at the End of the Line
Silverbacks: Archive Material
Yard Act: The Overload

Albums released on January 28th, 2022

Eels: Extreme Witchcraft
Maverick Sabre: Don't Forget to Look Up
Andy White: This Garden is Only Temporary
Michelle Daly: January Skies

Albums released on February 4th, 2022

Mitski: Laurel Hell
Whozyerman: Blink
Divine Comedy: Charmed Life: the Best of DC
Cate Le Bon: Pompeii

Albums released on February 11th, 2022

Alt-J: The Dream
Eddie Vedder: Earthling
Laurie Shaw: The Great Southern
TelefÍs: a hAon

Albums released on February 18th, 2022

Hurray for the Riff Raff: Life on Earth
Beach House: Once Twice Melody

Albums released on February 25th, 2022

Johnny Marr: Fever Dreams Pts 1-4
Soft Cell: *Happiness Not Included
Tears for Fears: The Tipping Point
CMAT: If My Wife New I'd be Dead
Spiritualised: Everything Was Beautiful

Albums released on March 4th, 2022

Stereophonics: Oochya!
Dolly Parton: Run, Rose, Run

Albums released on March 11th, 2022

The Boo Radleys: Keep on with Falling
Bryan Adams: So Happy it Hurts

Albums released on March 18th, 2022

Charli XCX: Crash
Feeder: Torpedo
Track Dogs: Where to Now?

Albums released on March 25th, 2022

Placebo: Never Let me Go
Bon Iver: Bon Iver 10th Anniversary

Albums released on April 1st, 2022

Mic Christopher: Live At the Lobby (Live At the Lobby)

Albums released on April 8th, 2022

Jack White: Fear of the Dawn
Let's Eat Grandma: Two Ribbons
Wet Leg: Wet Leg

Albums released on April 15th, 2022

HamsandwicH: title tbc

Albums released on April 22nd, 2022

The Waterboys: All Souls Hill

Albums released on April 29th, 2022

Naimee Coleman: The Edges
Neil Dexter: I'll be Ready

Albums released on May 6th, 2022

The Feeling: Loss. Hope. Love.
Rosa Nutty: World Still Blue
Dora Gola: Dance with Danger

Albums released on May 13th, 2022

Craig David: 22
Wallis Bird: title tbc

Albums released on May 27th, 2022

Liam Gallagher: C'mon You Know

Albums released in June, 2022

The Orwells: The World is a Circus Created for the Young/debut

Albums released onJune 17th, 2022

Robocobra Quartet: Living Isn't Easy

Albums released on June 24th, 2022

Col Patterson: Dare you Come to Mind

Albums released on July 8th, 2022

Post Punk Podge: title tbc
Somebody's Child: title tbc

Albums released on July 22nd, 2022

Jack White: Entering Heaven Alive

Incoming albums August-December 2022:

Arctic Monkeys, Avenged Sevenfold, Corner Boy, Counter Intelligence, Ghost, Dora Gola, David Hope, Laura Elizabeth Hughes, Interpol, Keeley, Jesy Nelson, Loah, Machine Gun Kelly, Tolü Makay, Laura Mulcahy, Lorraine Nash, New Pagans, Ken O’Duffy, Molly O’Mahony, Ozzy Osbourne, Rammstein, Ailbhe Reddy, Clare Sands, Selk, Spiritualised, Ye Vagabonds, Zaska.

Tony Clayton-Lea

Tony Clayton-Lea

Tony Clayton-Lea is a contributor to The Irish Times specialising in popular culture