Dublin Concerts’ December Gig Recommendations

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… And it’s a pretty good month for gigs in Dublin as well. These are Dublin Concerts’ December recommendations and I’ll do my best to inject a bit of Christmas cheer.

Nothing says Christmas quite like a dark, sweaty dance floor. Daniel Avery kicks off this month’s picks with a mammoth three hour set at District 8 on Friday 2 December. Avery will be delving into 2013’s Drone Logic for material, as well as looking ahead to an upcoming release next year.

The inimitable Beardyman will be accompanied by his ‘Dream Team’ for a performance at The Sugar Club on Sunday 4 December. The freestyle maestro, alongside the likes of Rob Lewis and MC LeeN will draw inspiration from the audience for a night of improvised goodness.

Now in the third decade of their existence, veteran Brummie rockers Ocean Colour Scene will play two sold out shows at The Olympia Theatre on both Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 December. A constant presence amidst the shape-shifting backdrop of British pop culture, the group will revisit some of their extensive back-catalogue.

From old stalwarts of British rock, to up-and-coming Irish proponents of the genre, The Strypes will play a headline show at The Olympia Theatre on Thursday 8 December. With support from Dublin’s BARQ, the Cavan four-piece will look to see out the year with another high-octane show.

Another of Cavan’s finest exports up next, with Lisa O’Neill seeing out an impressive 2016 by playing two shows at the National Concert Hall, on Thursday 8 and Friday 9 December. Currently in the midst of a lengthy European tour, O’Neill established herself as one of the country’s most exciting song-writing talents this year, releasing the cosmic Pothole in the Sky.

Another Irish act with cause to celebrate are post-rockers Overhead, The Albatross. Having seen their stock rise considerably with the release of beautiful debut Learning to Growl earlier this year, the six-piece play their biggest headline show to date at Vicar Street on Friday 9 December. Generously, profits from merch sales at the show will go to homelessness charity Hope in the Darkness.

From an Irish group at the start of their career, to one sadly nearing the end, Fight Like Apes recently announced their decision to call it quits. Fittingly, they’ll be saying goodbye at the very venue where it all began ten years ago, playing their farewell gig at Whelan’s on Friday 9 December. Don’t miss your last chance to catch them in action and say thanks.

Celebrating twenty years of alt-rock anthems, Placebo will mark two decades since the release of their self-titled debut with a show at the 3Arena on Saturday 10 December. Having just recently relented on their long-time refusal to play some of their more commercial hits, fans can look forward to hearing the likes of ‘Pure Morning’ and ‘Nancy Boy’ on this tour.

Currently working her way through an Irish tour, Lisa Hannigan will stop off in Dublin for two shows on both Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December at Vicar Street. Hannigan is another Irish artist capping off a successful 2016, touring in support of her dreamy third album At Swim.

For something a bit different to your standard Christmas carol, get down to The Mezz on Friday 16 December where New Valley Wolves will be celebrating the Yuletide season in traditionally raucous fashion. The duo are one of the most scintillating pairings in Irish rock music at the moment and they’ll be joined on the bill by Fiction Peaks, The Stoles and Glass Gears. It’s even free in. A nice early present.

If you favour synthesisers over choirs, then you can find a very electronic Christmas celebration at The Sugar Club on Saturday 17 December, where Le Galaxie will be making their last appearance of the year. The group will be performing a DJ set and we can expect hearty doses of electro-pop goodness.

Another Irish act sadly saying goodbye too soon are Enemies, the post-rockers will play their final show as a band on Sunday 18 December at Vicar Street. A night for both celebration and commiseration, the group will be playing material from their third and final album Valuables.

One of the biggest rock bands in recent memory, Red Hot Chili Peppers will play two sold out dates at the 3 Arena on both Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 December. Anthony Kiedis and co. are touring in support of their eleventh studio album The Getaway, but they’ll undoubtedly be breaking out all their past hits as well.

Pioneering hip-hop ensemble The Sugarhill Gang seem awfully fond of Ireland recently, having recently performed at Metropolis Festival. On Friday 23 December they’re back again, this time at The Button Factory, for a late-night show kicking off at 11.59pm.

Rounding out the December recommendations, we’ve got another Irish act, a bit longer in the tooth than the others, with Aslan performing their classic album Made in Dublin on three occasions at the end of the month. The lads will be live at Vicar Street on Tuesday 27, Thursday 29 and Friday 30 December.

That’s it for December, and for 2016. Another cracking month for Irish music, packed with homegrown stocking fillers.