Whelan’s, Dublin Mon 8pm €15 (sold out) 01-4780766/ 1890-200078
There are two female pop stars du jour, and they're both American. Lana Del Ray is dividing opinion, but it seems as though 20-year-old Harlem hip-hop artist Azealia Banks can't put a finger or foot wrong. Banks could arguably sell out the Olympia at this point, so all the more reason to beg, borrow or pretend you're a music journalist's plus one (hey – just throwing it out there) in order to see one of pop's most-talked-about new stars in the compact confines of this venue.
Of course, just because Banks has featured in the likes of BBC's Sound of 2012list and topped NME's Cool Listdoesn't mean to say she's the saviour of pop music. That said, she arrives in Dublin with something of a track record: after giving a kiss-off to the influential label XL was followed by working on tracks for her debut album with Adele producer Paul Epworth. This month Banks was in Paris recording a video for her second single ( Liquorice) with Lady Gaga stylist Nicola Formichetti directing. With just a few songs out there, it'll be very interesting to see if Banks is more than merely flavour of the month.
Can't see that? Catch this:Squarehead Fri, Dublin
