Rock and Pop
Highlights
Tune-yards Vs Nicole Scherzinger
tUnE-yArDs: Button Factory, Dublin Sun 7.30pm 18.50 01-6709202
Nicole Scherzinger: Waterfront Hall, Belfast Wed 8pm £35/£31 048-90334455; Olympia, Dublin Thurs 8pm 40.50/ 36.50 0818-719300
It’s a fine fix we’re in and no mistake: in the red corner we have tUnE-yArDs (aka Merrill Garbus), the Miranda July of beautifully odd pop music. In the blue corner we have former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger.Garbus is the type of performer who (sometimes) records herself on a handheld voice recorder and releases her work (sometimes) on recycled cassette tape. She also creates drum loops as she goes and enhances these with her voice (which lies a vague somewhere between Yoko Ono, Aretha Franklin and Björk) and her much-abused tenor ukulele.
Scherzinger, meanwhile, is the polar opposite: a pop star beloved by the populace at large, an X Factor staple (UK and US, although she’s been dropped from the US show) and one of those show-must-go-on types who were born to run and win.
It’s horses for courses, needless to say, but we’ll stick with the oddball here – Garbus wins by a TKO! (That’s a Ticket Knock-Out.)
Can’t See That? Catch This
Popical Island Invasion Sat, Cork
Friday 10
- Belfast
Alabama 3
English funk/acid- country act plug new album, Shoplifting 4 Jesus. Mandela Hall 8pm £20/£18 048-90324803
- Dublin
Ms Dynamite
The peeps at !Kaboogie celebrate their 6th birthday with a performance by this MOBO and Brit Award winner. Twisted Pepper 10.30pm €15/€12
Saturday 11
- Cork
Popical Island Invasion!
Tieranniesaur, Squarehead and Land Lovers bring the good vibes down South. The Pavilion 9pm Adm free 021-4276230 - Ms Dynamite
The peeps at !Kaboogie celebrate their 6th birthday with a performance by this MOBO and Brit Award winner. Cyprus Avenue 9pm €17.50 021-4276165
- Dublin
The Minutes
Rip-roaring Dublin band play a local gig before heading to the UK and Europe for an extensive tour. The Academy 7pm €12.50 0818-719300 - Alabama 3
English funk/acid- country act plug new album, Shoplifting 4 Jesus. Button Factory 7.30pm €24.50 01-6709202 - Michael Kiwanuka
London singer-songwriter and one of the most hotly tipped music acts of 2012. Special guests are the stunning sibling folksy trio The Staves. The best double bill we'll hear this month? Sugar Club 8pm €14.50 01-6787188 - Juliet Turner
Underrated Irish singer-songwriter surfaces for rare public outing. Mill Theatre, Dundrum 8pm €18/€16 01-2969340 - Balam Acab
20-year-old Pennsylvanian Alec Koone, the man behind last year's haunting Wander/Wonder album. The Twisted Pepper 8pm €12 - The Henry Girls
Sibling folk/ pop from Donegal. Workman's Club 9pm €10 0818-719300 - The Urges
Garage punk types showcase their forthcoming album; special guests include Penny Dreadfuls, The Strypes, and ReSoul. Sweeneys Bar, Dame St 9pm €8
- Mayo
Jape
Richie Egan and friends continue their nationwide tour in the lead-up to the Meteor Choice Music Prize bash in March. Clubhouse, Castlebar 9pm €12
Sunday 12
- Cork
The Walpurgis Family
The invasion of Cork by Dublin record label Popical Island, continues with this fine lot. The Pavilion 9pm Adm free 021-4276230 - Alabama 3
English funk/acid- country act plug new album, Shoplifting 4 Jesus. Opera House 8pm €25 021-4270022 - Michael Kiwanuka
London singer-songwriter and one of the most hotly tipped music acts of 2012. Special guests are the stunning sibling folksy trio The Staves. The best double bill we'll hear this month? Special guests are The Staves. Cyprus Avenue 8.30pm €12 021-4276165
- Dublin
Blondes
Brooklyn duo make their Irish debut to promote their first LP, Wine. Think cool beats by which to saunter away a lazy afternoon. Bernard Shaw Noon Adm free - tUnE-yArDs
Merrill Garbus Brings her unfeasibly enjoyable music back to Dublin. Special guests are Thread Pulls. Button Factory 7.30pm €18.50 01-6709202
Monday 13
- Cork
Gavin Friday
More stylish ructions from the man in the know. Opera House 8pm €26 021-4270022 - Fighting With Wire
Hotly tipped Northern Irish act - check 'em out, we say. Cyprus Avenue 9pm €8 021-4276165
- Dublin
Lights
Canadian electro pop act, aka Lights Poxleitner, makes her Irish debut. The Academy 9pm €15 0818-719300
Tuesday 14
- Dublin
Melissa Etheridge
US singer- performer makes a rare enough appearance in this neck of the wood. Olympia 8pm €44.05 0818-719300
Wednesday 15
- Belfast
Nicole Scherzinger
Former frontwoman of Pussycat Dolls turns solo pop star. Waterfront Hall 8pm £35/£31 048-90334455
- Dublin
Nick Lowe
British rock/pop royalty, always a class act. Vicar St 7.30pm €39.05 0818-719390
Thursday 16
- Belfast
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Former Oasis leader back for more solo work celebrations. Odyssey Arena 8pm £38/£33 048-90739074
- Cork
Jape
Richie Egan and friends continue their nationwide tour in the lead-up to the Meteor Choice Music Prize bash in March. Clubhouse, Castlebar 9pm €12 The Pavilion 11pm €10 021-4276230
- Dublin
Nicole Scherzinger
Former frontwoman of Pussycat Dolls turns solo pop star. Olympia 8pm €40.50/€36.50 0818-719300 - Lisa Hannigan
She's back - the forces' sweetheart and her gemtastic collection of songs. Vicar St 7.30pm €25 0818-719390 - Jinx Lennon
Intimate show for diatribe-driven songwriter. Bewley's Café Theatre (Oriental Room), Grafton St 8pm €12 - Cathy Davey
Third and final show of Davey's Thursday residency. This week she tips the hat to her musical heroines. Whelan's 9pm €21.50 01-4780766/1890-200078
- Galway
Siomhra Brock
Co Clare singer- songwriter embarking on dates to promote her recent self-titled EP. King's Head 9pm €8 - The Henry Girls
Sibling folk/ pop from Donegal. Workman's Club 9pm €10 0818-719300 Monroe's 9pm €15
- Louth
Bloodletting
Heavy metal night with new Dundalk act Bloodletting. Special guests include Raw Dawg, and The Holy Ghost Explosion. Spirit Store, Dundalk 9pm €8/€6 042-9352697
