Olympia, Dublin Tonight/ Tomorrow 8pm 35.50/ 32.50 0818-719300
Between Imelda May and Mary Byrne, it's been a good year for Dublin females with broad Dublin accents. In May's case, 2010 has been her best to date: performing with Jeff Beck at the Grammy Awards earlier in the year, supporting one of her idols, Wanda Jackson, and releasing, to huge acclaim pretty much everywhere, her most recent album, Mayhem.
On the latter front, May has thankfully resisted the urge to retread the kind of affable riffabilly tunes that brought her to our attention in the first place (via her 2007 album, Love Tattoo). An album that channels PJ Harvey's ghost-blues with a picaresque, Pogues-like slant, it bodes well for the next album as much as for further gigs.
For now, these concerts represent something of a celebration for one of the best Irish success stories of the year. Prepare for the Christmas cracker to well and truly pop.
Can't see that? Catch this
Tribute to Derek Nally
Wed, Dublin