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
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