Seoda Summer Party
Dolan's Warehouse, Limerick Saturday August 11th 6pm €10 dolans.ie
Anyone looking for an easy-peasy guide to what's happening in the more quality areas of the Irish music scene in 2018 could do much worse than grab a ticket to the Seoda Summer Party. Each of the bands playing – Fontaines DC, Pillow Queens, Slow Riot, Melts and PowPig – is distinct, inventive, exciting, and proof positive that homegrown music isn't just for the natives. Note the early start of this event, and also that it's an over-18s-only night. TCL
Paperdoll House
Bello Bar, Portobello, Dublin Saturday August 11th 8pm €13 bellobardublin.com
London-based Astrud Steehouder began Paper Dollhouse (so named after the cult 1988 British horror movie Paperhouse) almost 10 years ago as, initially, a solo project within which to explore electronic music. Multimedia artist Nina Bosnic, however, soon joined and, before you could say "Cocteau Twins", they had formulated a type of music that married old-school synthesised ambience with an earthy/ethereal blend of folk. Steehouder has described the music as "a gnarly version of Enya", which actually isn't too far wide of the mark. Special guest is drone/electronic musician/composer Jon Porras. TCL
Revival Festival
Main Square, Listowel, Co Kerry €32.50 Saturday August 11th revivalfestival.ie
Revival Festival's story began in 2016 when a number of the town's publicans knocked heads and came up with a festival that puts the town and its businesses at the forefront. With Ash, Aslan and Ham Sandwich on the bill, this one-day, non-camping event is community-driven as well as craic-led. Tickets are available to buy online and in a number of the town's pubs, including Brosnan's, Christy's and Con Dillon's. LB
All City x Bodytonic Presents: Jen Ferrer (Far Away)
The Bernard Shaw, Dublin Saturday August 11th 4pm Adm free thebernardshaw.com
Cherishing the last few weeks of summer, the Bernard Shaw are putting on another all-day party with the All City crew. Kicking off at 4pm, music and DJ sets will be courtesy of the Bodytonic DJs, Conor Dean, Helen O'Dea, DC FLSLMAN and Fio 'n' Jio, and Far Away's Jenn Ferrer will wrap everything up at her very first Dublin appearance. Check out the LA-based DJ's Boiler Room house-heavy set. LB
Steven Page
Empire Music Hall, Belfast Monday August 13th 7.30pm £25 thebelfastempire.com
Whelan's, Dublin Tuesday August 14th 8pm €30 whelanslive.com
Perhaps we're missing something, but can Steven Page, founding (and former) member of Canadian band Barenaked Ladies, be a big enough draw as a solo artist to warrant a ticket price of £25 in Belfast and €30 in Dublin? Maybe it's a "Canada" thing but, while we ponder that, let us nonetheless give thanks to Page for a slew of robust, smart pop/rock songs ("Their harmonies are right on," Paul McCartney once said of BNL) and a deserved reputation for live performances that run the gamut from funny to reflective. TCL
Joan As Police Woman
Black Box, Belfast Monday August 13th 7pm £17.50 blackboxbelfast.com
Róisín Dubh, Galway Wednesday August 15th 8pm €22.50/€20 roisindubh.net
Whelan's Dublin Thursday August 16th 8pm €24.50 whelanslive.com
It seems that as Joan Wasser develops as an artist she bares her soul more. This year's Damned Devotion album delves into areas that reference in no uncertain terms her past (notably What Was It Like, an affecting tribute to her late father), love (Tell Me) and bodily autonomy (The Silence, in which the lines "my body, my choice, her body, her choice" firmly ring out). For those that haven't yet experienced Wasser's finely tuned, intensely soulful music in such close surroundings, this brief Irish tour is a perfect start. TCL
There Is a Light that Never Goes Out
St Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny Monday August 13th 7.30pm €25 kilkennyarts.ie
Subtitled "A Celebration of Willie Meighan", this event is a tribute concert to the much-admired and loved Rollercoaster Records owner, who sadly passed away in November of last year. Music acts associated with the record shop perform in what will surely be an emotional night – light a candle and share memories of the man in the company of Malojian, The Lost Brothers, and Yorkston/Thorne/Khan. As part of Kilkenny Arts Festival, in association with Rollercoaster Records and AKA (Alternative Kilkenny Arts). TCL
Richard Thompson Electric Trio
Empire Music Hall, Belfast Wednesday August 15th 8pm £30 thebelfastempire.com
National Concert Hall, Dublin Thursday August 16th 8pm €42.50/€35/€32.50/€30/€25 nch.ie
Live at St Luke's, Cork Friday August 17th 7.30pm €38 liveatstlukes.com
As he approaches his 70th year, UK singer/songwriter/guitarist Richard Thompson doesn't look as if he's contemplating retirement any time soon. Last year alone, he released two albums (Acoustic Classics Vol II and Acoustic Rarities) and helped celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fairport Convention, the genre-fusing group he co-founded. The man's superlative work is continuing, meanwhile, with the release next month of his new album, 13 Rivers. TCL
The Waterboys
Leopardstown Racecourse, Leopardstown, Dublin 18 Thursday August 16th 7pm €20 leopardstown.com
This year's Bulmer's Live at Leopardstown ends on a high note with The Waterboys, whose frontman Mike Scott still commandeers from top to bottom. As always, and with such resilience and firmness, Scott's sole aim is to deliver a well-paced show that pulls tracks from the start of his band's career (1983) to the most recent album, last year's Out of All This Blue, which, noted this paper's reviewer, caught Scott "still on his extraordinary path to self-discovery". TCL
Galway Pride Gig with Katie O'Connor and Steven Sharpe
Róisín Dubh, Galway Thursday August 16th Adm free roisindubh.net
It will come as no surprise that two of Galway's most prolific and wonderful gay musicians are putting on a free gig as part of Galway's Pride Festival. Both are established and strong vocalists, and when they come together, they bring an extra dose of character and pizazz. Comedic, colourful and occasionally off-the-cuff, this is a show within a gig. Just try and name a more iconic duo . . . I'll wait. LB
Ariel Pink
Button Factory, Dublin Thursday August 16th 7.30pm €22 ticketmaster.ie
Describing him as "a weirdo-pop savant" might seem a tad offhand, but California's Ariel Marcus Rosenberg takes such portrayals with a bag of salt on standby. Influenced as much by The Cure as Michael Jackson, and drawn to compulsively composing experimental pop songs, Pink's initial "cult of personality" output has altered to the point where, almost 20 years after his debut album (Underground) was released, he can deliver albums as nuanced as last year's Dedicated to Bobby Jameson. TCL
Dublin Blues, Roots & Brass Festival
Whelan's, Dublin Friday, August 17th-Sunday August 19th 7pm Adm free whelanslive.com
Now in its fourth year, the Dublin Blues, Roots & Brass Festival happily continues its status as one of the most fun music events you can have without worrying about the admission price. Across a full weekend (and three stages hosting acts simultaneously), there's something for anyone with an interest in well-played music and staying on into the night. This year's primary acts include Bronagh Gallagher, Mary Stokes, Mike Brookfield, Catfish Blues Orchestra, The 502s and, from Australia, the not-at-all-scary Ukulele Death Squad. Check the venue website for many more confirmed acts closer to the event taking place. TCL
Mother at Galway Pride
Róisín Dubh, Galway Friday August 17th €20 roisindubh.net
Continuing on with the Pride celebrations, the Róisín Dubh is getting the Mother treatment. Taking over each floor of the pub, the Mother DJs are packing an overnight bag for their first-ever Galway excursion. With DJs Ruth Kavanagh and Ghostboy leading the charge on decks, your dancing shoes will be in the best of hands. It takes place the night before the Galway Pride Parade, so work the lunges into your dance moves so your muscles will be ready to march the following afternoon. LB
Booka Brass (Live) + Special Guests
The Purty Kitchen, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin Friday August 17th €18/€42 ticketweb.ie
As an essential festival band in Ireland, Booka Brass are the lads to call to get everyone revved up and in the party mood with the New Orleans style of ceol – full of brass and packing some sass. You can turn their Purty Kitchen gig into a full evening out with a dinner and gig combo ticket for €42 or keep it to tunes only for €18. Expect to hear some original material and the odd cheeky cover. LB
Another Love Story
Killyon Manor, Co Meath Friday August 17th-Sunday August 19th €40-€215 anotherlovestory.ie
Small in size but full of magic, Another Love Story is a real gem. Festival heads and artists can explore the surroundings of Killyon Manor while treating themselves to some hot-tub time and low-key and intimate performances during the day and some sweaty nighttime dancing that carries on until the wee hours of the morning. I Have A Tribe, Maria Kelly, Wyvern Lingo's Caoí De Barra and DDR DJ's are some of the musical guests. LB
