ROGER WATERS, 3Arena, Dublin, Tuesday (only €131 tickets left) & Wednesday,€76-131
Former Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters’ 2013 visit to Dublin to perform The Wall was one of the most visually stunning gigs in recent memory, with the Wall being built during the show, some of Floyd’s iconic characters coming to life as enormous puppets, and a Spitfire crashing into the stage.
This Us + Them show doesn’t have the singular vision of The Wall, but it’s more of a career overview, featuring classic Pink Floyd, selected solo work and predictably brilliant psychedelic visuals.
JENNY GREENE & THE RTE CONCERT ORCHESTRA, Live at the Marquee, Cork, tonight & tomorrow, €49.50
2FM DJ Jenny Greene’s team-up with the RTE Concert Orchestra won’t be running out of steam any time soon, after their triumphant debut at Electric Picnic in 2016.
The trip down 90s dance memory lane was supposed to be a one-off, but since then the strings-attached rave has brought a joyous nostalgia buzz to the 3Arena, Galway Arts Festival and Live at the Marquee, among other huge parties, and she also played Energia Park in Donnybrook last night
Here’s another chance to hear lush orchestral versions of Snap’s Rhythm Is a Dancer, Robert Miles’ Children and Grace’s Not Over Yet, just for starters.
THE CHAINSMOKERS, RDS Arena, Dublin, tomorrow, €49.90
One of the biggest EDM acts in the US, Chainsmokers are sprinkling some glow stick magic rave dust over the RDS tomorrow, after the more reserved Picture This open the Summer In the City series of gigs.
The New York duo shot to fame/notoriety in 2014 with their single #selfie, with further EPs aimed squarely at the festivals scene. Their debut album Memories… Do Not Open changed the script with mid-tempo pop with a few EDM build-ups, and gave Coldplay one of their biggest hits in recent years with the collaboration Something Just Like This.
THE SCRIPT, Ormeau Park, Belfast, Sunday, £38; Live at the Marquee, Cork, Monday & Tuesday, €65.45
Dubliners The Script already played three dates at the 3Arena and one at Belfast’s SSE Arena in February, but they’re not done yet, with another round of heavy-hitters.
Danny O’Donoghue and co got political on their 2017 album Freedom Child, with songs like Divided States of America – but with the catchy tropical house vibes on Rain, they prove they’ve still got the hooks to fill arenas, parks and big top tents.
THE KILLERS, RDS Arena, Dublin, Tuesday, €69.50-79.50
It’s been well over a decade since the Killers’ domination of the singles charts, indie discos, TV ads and sports montages, but they’re still good for a 35,000 outdoor gig.
The Las Vegas act are following Picture This and The Chainsmokers for another Summer in the City gig at the RDS – a ‘festival’ idea that’s been booked with guaranteed tickets sold rather than curated by style of music or overlapping fans.
The Killers played the 3Arena last November on the back of their fifth album Wonderful Wonderful, which came after a break of five years.
The long wait meant Wonderful Wonderful was the band’s first album to top the US Billboard 200, even if singles The Man, Run For Cover and Rut didn’t make much of a dent compared with their indie-electro blockbusters Mr Brightside, Somebody Told Me, When You Were Young and Human.
The new album hints at their former hits, but most of the casuals and even the diehards will be holding out for the trail of big songs.
LITTLE STEVEN & THE DISCIPLES OF SOUL, Vicar Street, Dublin, Thursday, €49.65
Bruce Springsteen’s right-hand man Steve Van Zandt has been the coolest cat on E Street for decades, and he’s taking his 15-strong Disciples of Soul back to Dublin to dip into the music that inspired him.
Van Zandt’s 2017 album Soulfire – his first in 18 years – is a joyous celebration of straight-up rock’n’roll, blues rock, doo-wop and heroic widescreen Morricone flourishes.
As E Street band leader and arranger, he knows how to wrangle a big group to deliver the magic, so expect a night of transcendent rock’n’roll.
Moo Kid 