| Sombr covering “linger” by The Cranberries in Dublin pic.twitter.com/g8uO2ih36z

— Sombr Ireland (@sombrireland) March 17, 2026

‘Linger’ from The Cranberries’ debut album ‘Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We’ peaked at number 3 in Ireland and number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Initially made up of Mike and Noel Hogan, Fergal Lawler, Niall Quinn and Dolores O’Riordan, The Cranberries were formed in 1989 but officially broke up September 2018 following the death of lead vocalist Dolores O’Riordan. The band released their final album ‘In The End’ in March 2019 which was subsequently nominated for Best Rock Album at 2020 Grammy Awards.

Sombr is no stranger to guest appearances during his performances, earlier this year the young singer was in the headlines following his Brit’s performance where he was seemingly attacked during his performance of ‘Back To Friends’ although it was later confirmed to be a staged interruption as part of promotion for his latest single ‘Homewrecker’.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by sombr (@sombr)

Fans can regularly expect to see guests on tour with Sombr as ‘The Late Nights & Young Romance Tour’ has had support from Anna Leah, Blu De Tiger and Devon Gabriella as well as guest appearances from Foster the People, Laufey, Sam Smith.

The tour which began in May 2025 also started in Dublin. He then visited London, Amsterdam and Cologne before embarking on the North American leg of the tour and then visiting New Zealand and Australia. Sombr then returned to Europe in February continuing the tour before its last date in Dublin on March 16th. This string of performances with end with Sombr’s first appearances at the US’s famed music festival Coachella in April.

Otherwise on the night, fans were treated to the live renditions of Sombr’s debut album ‘I Barely Know Her’ which was released in August 2025 and was popularised by singles such as ‘Back To Friends’, ‘Undressed’ and ’12 to 12’. The intimate self written album peaked at number 14 on the Billboard 200 chart and was eventually selected as part of the 50 Best Albums of 2025 by Billboard and The 100 Best Albums of 2025 by Rolling Stone.

KNEECAP’s forthcoming show at 3Arena in Dublin will take place on December 17. It follows a busy year for the group, who not only have an Australian tour this spring but are opening for Fontaines D.C. at their Finsbury Park show this July alongside their numerous festival appearances awaiting them this summer, including California’s Coachella.

Dublin….we are in your 3Arena on December 17th.

Pre-sale 10am Wednesday 29th Jan for heads on our mailing list.

General sale 10am Friday 31st Jan.

: https://t.co/7EjizV9mjY

Mailing list sign up: https://t.co/tS11gqC42C pic.twitter.com/94zD6UyG7e

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) January 24, 2025

The ‘Get Your Brits Out’ performers are riding the momentum of their recent success, following a triumphant win against the UK government in a discrimination case and 7 monumental wins at the 2024 British Independent Film Awards for their semi-fictionalised film, Kneecap.

Despite the success of Kneecap, the film was snubbed during the announcement of this year’s Oscars nominations, after the comedy-drama was a contender within the Best Original Song and Best International Feature Film categories, but failed to enter both categories’ shortlists. In response to their lack of nominations, the group commented on social media: “Fuck the Oscars. Free Palestine.”

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by KNEECAP (@kneecap32)

The trio are renowned for being outspoken on socio-political issues, rapping in both English and Irish they exhibit socially-conscious lyricism which remains loved by fans but criticised and misunderstood by their opponents. So much so, their activism and artistry has seen them garner a huge backing for notable figures within the industry, including: Noel Gallagher, and Paul Weller who participated alongside KNEECAP in the ‘Gig For Gaza’, (raising money for Palestinian aid), with Primal Scream and Liam Bailey.

Their previous tour saw them conclude on their home turf in Belfast’s SSE Arena. The gig last December gained considerable attention online as they concluded the tour with the special appearance of Fontaines D.C. frontman, Grian Chatten, bringing a legendary cross-over in Irish culture marking the biggest Irish-language gig in Belfast history, as both Chatten and KNEECAP performed their hit track (with over 7 million streams on Spotify) ‘Better Way To Live’ live. As both groups have gained a considerable reputation for their socio-political commentaries and love for Ireland, the event was something for the history books.

KNEECAP’s upcoming show in Belfast in December will no doubt be an unforgettable experience for attendees. Pre-sale will commence on Wednesday 29 January at 10am GMT, and general sale at the same time on Friday 31. Tickets are said to sell out quickly, sign up to pre-sale here.

Meloy’s musical career has been defined by a unique blend of indie-folk and alternative country, marked by a voice reminiscent of a throaty Johnny Flynn. His artistic journey began in Montana with the indie outfit Tarkio, before he moved to Portland, Oregon, and co-founded The Decemberists in 2000. Over the past two decades, the band has released nine albums, blending historical and literary references with rich instrumentation. Their most recent work, ‘As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again,‘ showcases a culmination of their sonic evolution—an ambitious double album that weaves intricate narratives with progressive folk-rock influences.

Despite his success with The Decemberists, Meloy’s solo endeavours have always provided a more intimate glimpse into his artistry. His solo tours, dating back to 2005, have seen him reinterpreting the works of musical legends such as Morrissey and Shirley Collins. With a penchant for storytelling, Meloy’s solo performances strip down the grand theatrics of The Decemberists, offering audiences a raw and heartfelt experience.

Meloy’s songwriting, often deadly serious yet laced with humour, has a rare ability to touch the soul. Whether delving into historical tragedies or whimsical fables, his music strikes a chord with listeners who appreciate a deft blend of melancholy and wit. His recent post on Instagram—where he jokingly emerged from his “Instagram slumber” to announce his first-ever UK and Ireland solo dates—reflects his characteristic blend of self-deprecating charm and earnest enthusiasm.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Colin Meloy (@dullandwitlessboy)

London’s Union Chapel, an architectural marvel steeped in history, provides the perfect setting for Meloy’s lyrical introspection. With its soaring acoustics and intimate atmosphere, the venue is no stranger to hosting folk luminaries, and Meloy’s performance is poised to be a highlight of the spring music calendar.

For those who have followed Meloy’s career—from the early days of open mic nights in Portland pizza parlours to sold-out festival stages—his solo shows promise an evening of storytelling, humour, and the timeless allure of folk music. Tickets for the London and Dublin performances are expected to sell quickly, as fans eagerly await the opportunity to witness Meloy’s solo artistry in such an intimate setting.

Meloy’s return to the UK comes off the back of a successful performance with The Decemberists at All Points East in Victoria Park during the summer of 2024. That show reaffirmed his place as one of indie-folk’s most compelling voices, and his solo appearances will undoubtedly serve as an extension of his rich musical legacy.

For more details and ticket information, visit Meloy’s website where tickets are available for £37.50.

The artist grew up in Illinois and states that a lot of the influences for the music she writes, which she labels as country, came from her midwestern-based childhood growing up on her “daddy and grandaddy’s farm.” She says “I spent my time in the woods, fields and rivers of Illinois. I grew up around cattle, horses, tractors, and radios that played old country, gospel, and classic rock and roll. I relate a lot to Loretta Lynn, even though I’m not from the South. She grew up in a rural area as well. She also had babies before she got her start. I may not be from the south, but I am country.”

The ‘Change of Heart’ singer earned nominations for Artist of The Year, Album of The Year and Song of The Year at the Americana Honors and Awards and tied for the most nominations of any single artist in 2023. 

Price held an enthralling performance at Lafayette back in August 2023. The Kings Cross, London venue opened and closed in 2020 due to the pandemic before reopening for good in 2021. It has a capacity of 600 and even though just two years old, has hosted big names such as The Pretenders, Loyle Carner and Charli XCX. 

Watch the official music video for ‘Change of Heart’

The singer Kicks off the tour in Manchester on the 26th of January at Gorilla before heading further north to Scotland. Carrying on to Vicar Street in Dublin, before playing her final date at KOKO in London on January 30th.

You may hear songs from the artist’s third studio album ‘That’s How Rumors Get Started’ which features collaborations with Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton but definitely on the cards are songs from the fourth album ‘Strays’, released on January 13th 2023 and the singers’ latest suit =‘Strays II’, released on the 20th October 2023. 

Watch Margo Live 

26/01/2024 – Gorilla, Manchester

27/01/01/2024 – Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow

28/01/2024  – Vicar Street, Dublin

30/01/2024  – Koko, London

Tickets are on sale November 3rd HERE.

Mitski has been playing acoustic shows across North America, United Kingdom and Europe to support the album already. However, this upcoming tour will incorporate a full band, closer resembling the lush and layered studio recordings found on the album.

The venues chosen are exclusively seated venues as described by Mitski herself as she said: “All of these are seated venues, and some of the best seats are reserved for the fan presale.” The choice of venue reflects the laid-back sonic aesthetic of the new album especially in comparison to previous works like Puberty 2 in 2016.

Mitski is going on tour next year with her full band across Europe with multi-night stops in the UK, Berlin, and Amsterdam. Richard Dawson, Miya Folick, and Iceage will be opening up. Fan presale tickets are available starting at 10AM local time tomorrow, October 18th pic.twitter.com/otRylOx53I

— mitski (@mitskileaks) October 17, 2023

The tour starts on April 27^th of next year in Edinburgh, for two nights at Usher Hall, before heading into Manchester’s 02 Apollo for two nights on May 1^st and 2^nd and then Dublin’s 3Arena on May 4th. Mitski then heads into Wolverhampton at The Civic At The Halls on May 6^th, before heading to the Eventim Apollo in London on the 8^th-10^th of May. Mitski then ventures into mainland Europe on May 14^th, playing the Cirque Royal in Brussels, then heading into France, Netherlands, Germany before rounding out the whole portion of the tour playing Theatre 11 in Zurich.

Support for the UK dates will be provided by Newcastle-based folk artist, Richard Dawson, who has released acclaimed albums such as 2020 and Peasant and Miya Follick for the shows in London and Wolverhampton.

Talking about the new album, Mitski has called it her most American, as she said: “I’m always trying to figure out what it means to be American. But especially with this album, I think I’m trying to reconcile all my various identities with being American today. I feel like I’ve always been seeing my own identities through the eyes of other people who haven’t lived my identities. And I kind of think maybe that’s also very uniquely American. I’m Asian American. I’m half white, half Asian. And so I don’t really fit into either community very well. I am another in America, even though I am American.”

Tickets for Mitski’s upcoming 17-date run will be available on general sale on Friday 20^th October at 10am. Tickets can be found and purchased here.

Tour Dates

27/04/2024 – Usher Hall – Edinburgh, United Kingdom
28/04 – Usher Hall – Edinburgh, United Kingdom
01/05 – 02 Apollo – Manchester, United Kingdom
02/05 – 02 Apollo – Manchester, United Kingdom
04/05 – 3Arena – Dublin, Republic of Ireland
06/05 – The Civic At The Halls – Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
08/05 – Eventim Apollo – London, United Kingdom
09/05 – Eventim Apollo – London, United Kingdom
14/05 – Cirque Royal – Brussels, Belgium
17/05 – Le Grand Rex – Paris, France
20/05 – Royal Theatre Carre – Amsterdam, Netherlands
21/05 – Royal Theatre Carre – Amsterdam, Netherlands
24/05 – Tempodrom – Berlin, Germany
25/05 – Tempodrom – Berlin, Germany
28/05 – Jahrhunderthalle – Frankfurt, Germany

Taking to Instagram, the Fontaines revealed the official artwork alongside the caption:

“We’ve got a new version of Skinty Fia coming out called Skinty Fia Go Deo, which translates to ‘Skinty Fia Forever’. The name memorialises a moment in time for us and brings together live sessions, covers and reworks from the Skinty Fia era.”

So far, however, fans have been deprived of a specific release date. Check out the post below:

Skinty Fia, Fontaines D.C.’s third studio album, was universally praised by critics upon its release last year. The LP became the group’s first number-one album in both Ireland and the UK and earned them a win at the 2023 Brit Awards, as well as a nomination for Album of the Year at the 2022 Choice Music Prizes.

Check out lead single “Jackie Down The Line” here:

Since Skinty Fia’s release, frontman Grian Chatten has embarked on a solo career, treating fans to a debut album in Chaos For The Fly. The project, which has been out since late June, marks a subtle departure from the electric guitar-based sound the Fontaines have cultivated over the years, favouring crooning vocals and acoustic finger-picking over driving bass-lines and snappy drums.

Listen to “Last Time Every Time Forever” from Chaos For The Fly: 

Meanwhile, a tireless Chatten has confirmed he and the band have been plotting their next move, and already have some rough ideas for their next record. Furthermore, he has admitted to becoming “increasingly bored and unsatisfied with writing for just a bassline and a drum kit”, and has even suggested that the future of Fontaines D.C. may see the band moving away from using guitars completely. 

“Whenever I have an idea for a tune, it doesn’t necessarily exist in a world of guitars and drums, even though those are the tools that we have to express ourselves with,” Chatten explained, going on to cite 808s & Heartbreak by Kanye West and ATliens-era OutKast as music that he currently finds himself coming back to the most.

Pre-order Skinty Fia Go Deo here.

Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor – whose hit Nothing Compares 2 U propelled her to worldwide fame – dies aged 56https://t.co/Y5fylNGpq4

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 26, 2023

O’Connor, perhaps best known for her cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” struggled with the loss of her son, who died while on suicide watch at Tallaght Hospital. O’Connor was publicly vocal about the mental health struggles that she suffered due to the loss of custody of her son and in her last tweet, expressed how lost she felt without him.

In a statement given to the media, her family said, “it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.” O’Connor is survived by her three children. O’Connor’s fellow artists took to social media to share their condolences and pay tribute to the singer.

pic.twitter.com/6iscpvpjzJ — Massive Attack (@MassiveAttackUK) July 26, 2023

Heavy hearted at the loss of Sinead O’Connor. Wanted to reach out to her often but didn’t.I remember her launch. Astounding presence.Voice that cracked stone with force & by increment. As beautiful as any girl around & never traded on that card. I Loved that about her. Iconoclast

— Alison Moyet (@AlisonMoyet) July 26, 2023

RIP Sinéad O’Connor, I loved working with you making photos, doing gigs in Ireland together and chats, all my love to your family. pic.twitter.com/49ryuIhGTQ — Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) July 26, 2023

Respect to Sinead….. She stood for something… Unlike most people…. Rest Easy.. https://t.co/3nbO3w22zv

— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) July 26, 2023

RiP SiNEAD O’CONNOR A Beautiful Soul. Hearin Collaborating with and hearing Sinead sing my songs in the studio in Dublin was magical and a highlight of my musical life. A Beautiful soul LOVE TO HER FAMILY X — Ian Brown (@ianbrown) July 26, 2023

I am gutted by the loss of #SineadOConnor .

She was the warrior poet I expected her to be — wise and visionary, but also hilarious. She and I laughed a lot. We were writing new songs together, which will now never be complete.

We’ve all lost an icon. I’ve lost a friend. #RIP

— Bear McCreary (@bearmccreary) July 26, 2023

When her second cup was taking on the night air, she rose, embraced us all and strode away into the fog-dimmed streetlights. We sat there the four of us and variously expressed the same thing. What an amazing woman. Peace be with your courageous heart Sinéad. — Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) July 26, 2023

You were so loved by so many #SineadOConnor

This video was taken just 4 months ago at the @choiceprize awards in Dublin and the atmosphere in the room when Sinéad took to the stage was just electric

I’m sorry the world was so cruel to you.
Rest in Power Irish Princess pic.twitter.com/TfnKMl9Q2f

— Siobhán McAndrew (@Shiv_Mc_A) July 26, 2023

Born in Dublin, Ireland, O’Connor released her debut album The Lion And The Cobra in 1987 to popular acclaim but it was her follow up, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got that made her a household name- propelling her into superstardom. The album contained her version of “Nothing Compares 2 U.” The song, written by Prince, was the second single to feature from the album and became a worldwide smash hit.

The album also highlighted O’Connor ‘s ability as a singer, garnering praise for her vocal approach and style. Many publications and commentators also noted her rebellious appearance of shaved head, serious expression and loose fitting clothes. Throughout the late 90s and 2000s, O’Connor continued to release music and contribute as a guest artist on various records although O’Connor’s appeal waned somewhat, despite releasing new albums- much of which also won critical praise.

Known for her brazen and unreserved honesty about her spirituality, activism and mental health struggles-the singer never shied away from controversy, famously tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II during a performance on the TV show Saturday Night Live. A member of Sinn Fein, O’Connor was a supporter of a united Ireland.

By 2014, O’Connor had released ten studio albums and was reportedly working on a new record, No Veteran Dies Alone. In 2021, O’Connor released a memoir called Rememberings to high critical acclaim with the BBC naming it one of the best books of the year.

In 2017, O’Connor officially changed her name to Magda Davitt, citing her wish to break with patriarchal traditions. She also went on to convert to Islam one year later, changing her name a second time to Shuhada Sadaqat and stating that it was a natural progression for an intelligent theologian.

The band announced the stretch of dates on social media with the caption, “For the first time ever – playing #Bossanova & #TrompeLeMonde in their entireties + others from the catalogue, 3 night residencies in intimate venues.”

The noisy American alt-rock band will be taking their classic 90s albums on the road in March next year. The band will start with a three-day residency at the Olympia in Dublin on the 8^th March, then play three shows at the Albert Hall in Manchester starting on the 12^th March, and before playing three consecutive dates at the O2 Forum Kentish Forum in London starting on the 16^th March.

They will then travel to Amsterdam playing three shows at the Paradiso and conclude the tour in Paris with a residency at the L’Olympia.

Tickets will be on sale from Friday 9^th June at 9 am BST / 10 am CET. For tickets see here.

Nearly 33 years ago, Pixies released their third studio album Bossanova on 4AD featuring the two energetic singles “Velouria” and “Dig for Fire”. The record reached number 3 in the UK and 70 on the US Billboard 200. Listen to the single “Velouria” below:

The following year the band released Trompe de Monde also produced by Gil Norton and released via 4AD. The critically adored album is the last Pixies record to feature bassist Kim Deal and the last album recorded before the band’s decade-long hiatus. Stand-out tracks include “Alec Eiffel” about the engineer who designed the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty, “Letter to Memphis” Black Francis’ take on Chuck Berry’s song “Memphis, Tennessee”, and the band’s upbeat cover of the Jesus and Mary Chain’s “Head On”. Listen to the cheeky single “Alec Eiffel” below:

Currently, Black Francis and the gang are embarking on the second leg of their North America in support of their latest and eighth studio album Doggerel. This March the band completed the European and UK leg of the tour at The Roundhouse in London. Released last year, the album was recorded during the pandemic in an eco-friendly studio in Gulliford and produced by English producer Tom Dalgety. The album included the three singles “There’s a Moon On“, “Vault of Heaven“, and “Dregs of Wine“. Listen to the album’s lead single “There’s a Moon On” below:

Pixies now consists of lead singer Black Francis, Joey Santiago on lead guitar, David Lovering on drums, and Paz Lenchantin on bass. In March last year, the band broke their 2 year long hiatus to drop the non-album single “Human Crime“.

See below for Pixies’ upcoming UK and Europe tour dates:

08/03/23 – Olympia – Dublin
09/03 – Olympia – Dublin
10/03 – Olympia – Dublin
12/03 – Albert Hall – Manchester
13/03 – Albert Hall – Manchester
14/03 – Albert Hall – Manchester
16/03 – O2 Forum Kentish Forum – London
17/03 – O2 Forum Kentish Forum – London
18/03 – O2 Forum Kentish Forum – London
20/03 – Paradiso – Amsterdam
21/03 – Paradiso – Amsterdam
22/03 – Paradiso – Amsterdam
25/03 – L’Olympia – Paris
26/03 – L’Olympia – Paris
27/03 – L’Olympia – Paris

Capaldi and Horan used their time in Dublin to visit the Guinness brewery and museum, they are rumoured to be starring in an upcoming advert for the brand. In recent years, they have become good friends with the One Direction star inviting Capaldi to support him on his Nice to Meet Ya world tour.

Niall initially reached out to Lewis on social media, “My cousin introduced me to his music when he had this thing with Vevo and less than 1,000 views on this song called ‘Bruises’ and I just heard his voice and was like ‘Oh my God, this guy is unbelievable’ … And I just wrote to him,” he said in an interview with SiriusXM from October 2019. The pair also did a friendship test with Glamour in the same year with Lewis praising Niall saying, “All joking aside, before any of my music was doing f–k all, he was one of the first to reach out and say he loved my music and that meant a lot to me.”

After stopping to watch Jacob’s performance, Niall, 28, and Lewis, 25, took to the mic themselves performing Niall’s 2017 single ‘Slow Hands’ and their own rendition of Coldplay’s song ‘Yellow’. They played for 13-minutes and wowed fans with Koopman taking to social media to say “This was UNREAL. @lewiscapaldi @niallhoran thanks for showing up and singing with me.”

The local busker is no stranger to famous faces turning up during his busking sets. A week prior, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk came along to one of the Grafton Street sets and tipped him with Jacob posting on social media “Yep, this happened! Got tipped by this legend of a dude, my childhood hero. Says I do a good Hallelujah.”

Koopman is a 30-year-old singer/songwriter from Bali in Indonesia, who lives in Ireland. He found initial success busking on Grafton Street and has since toured around the country, and played festivals including Castlepalooza and Electric Picnic. If you don’t catch him busking on Grafton Street, his next show is on 19th August at The SoundHouse in Dublin.

The festival will host a mixture of Irish and international stars. Belfast-born duo BICEP, which consists of musicians Matt McBriar and Andy Ferguson, will be making an appearance, having recently released their acclaimed hit album Isles in January which made #2 in the Official UK Albums Charts. The pair seems especially ready to get festival-goers rocking after their other enthusiastic gigs in the likes of Glastonbury, Coachella and Primavery.

Other artists returning to their homeland include Gemma Dunleavy, Malaki and Kojaque, all from Dublin. English synthpop group Hot Chip will also be making this their first Irish gig since 2013. However, the festival has names from all over the world coming along, with the likes of Australian electronic group The Avalanches, American rapper Princess Nokia, Australian singer Chet Faker, South Korean DJ Peggy Gou and more, with many others just waiting to be announced. For more names, you can see this post from their Instagram here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Forbidden Fruit Festival (@forbiddenfruitfestival)

However, the buck doesn’t stop there, with international New Zealand songwriter Lorde making her debut Irish performance. Famous for her record-breaking 2013 single “Royals”, the singer is hot off her latest album release, Solar Power, back in August, as well as two new songs from earlier this month (“Hold No Grudge” and “Helen of Troy”). Having sold over 12 million albums and over 10 billion streams, it seems safe to say festival enthusiasts might have a good incentive to pick up some tickets here.

For those interested, tickets will be on general sale from 8 am GMT on December 2^nd, costing €129.50, and can be gotten here. For those a bit strapped for cash at the moment, instalments will be permissible, with €35 payments spread across four intervals (on first purchase, in February, March and finally in April). However, the festival is a no-go for under-18s, so make sure you’re of age first before trying to get yourself some tickets.