Music lovers of all kinds have an exciting year ahead, with no shortage of musicians from all over flocking to the Emerald Isle to perform on different stages. Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, and Post Malone are just a few of many due to play in Ireland soon. Beginning this month, Ed Sheeran will perform at Dublin’s 3Arena before the release of his new album in May. For those looking for a smaller venue, The National Concert Hall kicks off its spring international concert series this month. Lizzo will also bring her Special Tour to the 3Arena, guaranteeing attendees a night of feel-good anthems and pops of colour.
Leading us into summer and sticking with the theme of colour, Harry Styles will play at the Slane Festival in Meath to support his second and third studio albums, Fine Line and Grammy Album of The Year winner, Harry’s House. At this point, Styles has been performing on this tour for almost two years, with 169 shows, earning an estimated $2.25 million per show. Safe to say that large numbers of the crowd at Slane will be there specifically for Styles, the former One Direction superstar headlining the festival and marking its return after a four-year hiatus. As a once devoted One Direction fan, with that devotion now translating into Harry’s solo career, I’m most excited about his performance on June 10th. Dublin-based rock band, Inhaler, will open for Styles promoting their album Cuts and Bruises. Lead Singer Elijah Hewson will surely be making a name for himself as a musician separate from his father, U2 legend Bono.
Ireland’s own Dermot Kennedy concludes the North American leg of his Sonder tour on June 20th and returns home to Marlay Park on the 23rd.
Electric Picnic brings an exciting conclusion to the summer, with Billie Eilish, Lewis Capaldi, and The Killers headlining the three-day festival in September. Many loyal fans of these artists were left devastated, with tickets selling out in just 24 hours for Ireland’s biggest music festival of the year. However, those lucky enough to score tickets can expect to see Niall Horan, Tom Odell, and even Gen X’s own Rick Astley alongside the main acts.
Whether it’s a large music festival, an arena concert, or a local gig, there is plenty of music to be heard and performers to be seen. With such a wide variety of artists spanning all genres, music lovers of every kind can be sure to find an event fitting their taste. Who are you most excited to see?
Hayley York