New Year's round-up

It’s a telling sign of the times that most New Year’s Eve events feature homegrown acts. Gone, thankfully, are the days of big-name foreign DJs jetting in for a fat fee.

Instead, pulling in the crowds will be the likes of Japanese Popstars (above) at Shine in Belfast; MMOTHS and Forrests at Dublin’s Twisted Pepper; and Ships, I Am the Cosmos and New Jackson at Dublin’s Grand Social.

But it’s also not all about December 3st either. One of the most intriguing nights on the schedule this week is a live show from Andy Stott (Sat, Cork). Those who have thrilled to his fantastic Luxury Problems album will want to catch this.

Other highlights include Rustie’s bass delights from his Glass Swords album (Fri, Dublin), old-skool clash between Mark Kavanagh and Francois (Sat, Dublin); and original Kitchen resident DJ Paul Dakeyne back on his old stomping ground (Fri, Dublin).

Can't see those? Catch these:Dive gets its club-in-a-basement-pub freak on (Fri, Dublin); the sounds of Berghain with Prosumer and Steffi (Sat, Dublin); and Italo disco, giallo and calcio with Forza Italo (Sun, Dublin)

JIM CARROLL