Josh Ritter

The Marquee, Cork Sat 7.30pm €38 (sold out) 0818-7919300

Now this is something of a doozie. The nominal headliner is American Josh Ritter, as nice a bloke and as decent a contemporary singer-songwriter as you’re likely to find in this neck of the woods. The support act is fast-rising Irish singer Lisa Hannigan, who, in the space of a couple of years, has graduated from backing singer to centre-stage performer. She’ll be taking somewhat of a back seat on the night – Ritter is a firm favourite with Irish audiences and one of the country’s best loved “adopted” musical sons – but there will surely be times when the pair of them will share the limelight.

Hannigan, however, will have to make way on the stage for Ritter’s musical coup – a 24-piece orchestral ensemble, the addition of which, while no doubt bringing a smooth texture to proceedings, might be seen as gilding the lily ever so slightly.

Can’t see that? Catch this

Lisa Hannigan, Sunday, Tipperary; Tuesday, Waterford; Wednesday, Kilkenny; Thursday, Galway