Live & Direct, New Year Gigs

From old favourites to new idols - Jim Carrollon the artists tuning up this New Year.

BRYAN ADAMS

The poor man's Bruce Springsteen continues to recreate "Summer of '69" in front of whoever will have him. Point, Dublin, May 4; Odyssey, Belfast, May 5

AIR TRAFFIC

One of many next big things jostling for position in '07. The Hub, Dublin, Jan 23; Speakeasy, Belfast, Jan 24; Róisín Dubh, Galway, Jan 25; Whelan's, Dublin, Jan 26; Cyprus Avenue, Cork, Jan 27

BADLY DRAWN BOY

Will the excellent Born in the UK album mean an end to ramshackle gigs for Damon Gough? Will pigs fly? Olympia, Dublin, Feb 11; Mandela Hall, Belfast, Feb 12

BARENAKED LADIES

The Canucks are coming, provided they survive January's "Ships and Dip" cruise. Olympia, Dublin, Apr 10

BLOC PARTY

This show is already sold out ,so expect more dates and festival appearances to come as Bloc Party talk up new album Something for the Weekend. Ambassador, Dublin, Feb 16

MICHAEL BOLTON

It's the big, big voice rather than the big, big hair which Michael Bolton hopes people talk about these days. Vicar St, Dublin, Mar 14

BRAND NEW

New York emo showboaters plug their rowdy and raw new album, The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. Tripod, Dublin, Feb 15

JOHN CALE

Velvet Underground founding member and his band hit town ahead of new live album, Circus Live. The Village, Dublin, Jan 19

CHILDLINE

The biggest and loudest pop party of the season is already sold out. The 10th anniversary bash will feature Westlife, Shayne Ward, McFly and dozens more. Point, Dublin, Feb 18

CHOICE MUSIC PRIZE

Last year, outside bet Julie Feeney got the Irish Album of the Year nod for 13 Songs and went on to bigger and better things, including a worldwide deal with Sony-BMG. Vicar St, Dublin, Feb 28

CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH

Touring soon-to-be-released second album, Some Loud Thunder. Make sure you get there early to see the excellent Cold War Kids. Tripod, Dublin, Feb 1

LLOYD COLE

Are you ready to be heartbroken? One of pop music's most articulate craftsmen sets up shop for two nights on Wexford Street. Whelan's, Dublin, Jan 28-29

THE DECEMBERISTS

Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert is a big fan of this lot and their light sabres. New album The Crane Wife comes out over here on Rough Trade in February. The Village, Dublin, Feb 3

DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND

Brassy funk from the New Orleans band whose brave reinterpretation of Marvin Gaye's classic What's Going On album posed plenty of questions about how Hurricane Katrina changed everything in their hometown. Village, Dublin, Mar 12

DUKE SPECIAL

Lengthy Irish spin for the vaudeville superhero. Ulster Hall, Belfast, Feb 28; Nerve Centre, Derry, Mar 1; Spirit Store, Dundalk, Mar 2; Cyprus Avenue, Cork, Mar 3; Róisín Dubh, Galway, Mar 5; Garter Lane, Waterford, Mar 7; Tripod, Dublin, Mar 8

BEN FOLDS

Time to Rock This Bitch with the pianoman. Vicar St, Dublin, Jan 21

BRYAN FERRY

The Marks & Spencer's model returns to the day-job. Vicar St, Dublin, Mar 24

THE 4 OF US

"Mary" and friends welcome. Spirit Store, Dundalk, Feb 16-17; Empire Music Hall, Belfast, Feb 22; Vicar St, Dublin, Feb 24

THE FRAMES

It will be interesting to see how The Cost performs abroad in 2007 for The Frames. Vicar St, Dublin, Jan 14

KERRANG! TOUR 2007

Metal merriment for the discontented members of your family with Biffy Clyro, The Bronx, The Audition and I Am Ghost. Mandela Hall, Belfast, Jan 11; Ambassador, Dublin, Jan 12

THE KILLERS

Let's hope that Brandon Flowers doesn't catch a chill before these two sold-out gigs. RDS, Dublin, Feb 27-28

SETH LAKEMAN

This new-school British folkie won plaudits from the Mercury Music Prize judges for his Kitty Jay album. Spring & Airbrake, Belfast, Mar 30; Whelan's, Dublin, Mar 31

RAY LAMONTAGE

The ex-shoe factory worker from Maine tours his fine new album, Till the Sun Turns Black. National Stadium, Dublin, Jan 17; Opera House, Cork, Jan 18; UCH, Limerick, Jan 19; Waterfront Hall, Belfast, Jan 20

DAVE MATTHEWS

The oddly popular Yankee jam-band man's solo shows are sold out. He returns with his band (The, er, Dave Matthews Band) to the Point on May 23rd. National Stadium, Dublin, Feb 26; The Waterfront, Belfast, Feb 27

SCOTT MATTHEWS

Wolverhampton singer-songwriter with the Jeff Buckley-like voice and Passing Stranger album. Whelan's, Dublin, Jan 17

METEOR AWARDS 2007

Featuring Pussycat Dolls, Director and The Blizzards, comedy MCs Podge, Rodge and Deirdre O'Kane, and gongs for, amongst others, Clannad (Lifetime Achievement Award) and Larry Gogan (All-Round Decent Human Being). Point, Dublin, Feb 1

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

Emo kingpins and their fans bring the noise to Dublin 4. RDS, Dublin, Apr 1

WILLIE NELSON

The country music outlaw with Sharon Shannon, Damien Dempsey and Edie Reader. Point, Dublin, Jan 19 & 20; Odyssey, Belfast, Jan 21

NME AWARDS INDIE RAVE TOUR

Bands shoved into this ridiculous new pigeonhole are Klaxons, the excellent CSS, The Sunshine Underground and New York Pony Club. Ambassador, Dublin, Feb 3; Mandela Hall, Belfast, Feb 4

NME AWARDS ROCK TOUR

The Automatic, The View, The Horrors and Mumm-Ra are the potential next big things flying the flag for the NME. Ulster Hall, Belfast, Jan 29; Ambassador, Dublin, Jan 30

NERINA PALLOT

Go along to see if she's written another Everybody's Gone to War. Spring & Airbrake, Belfast, Feb 3; The Village, Dublin, Feb 4

DOLLY PARTON

Four sell-outs for the rhinestone cowgirl. Odyssey, Belfast, Mar 30 & Apr 3; Greenglens, Millstreet, Co Cork, Mar 31; Point, Dublin, Apr 2

PUSSYCAT DOLLS

Where pop music meets raunch culture. Support from Def Jam's r'n'b princess Rihanna. Odyssey, Belfast, Jan 31; Point, Dublin, Feb 2

THE RAKES

Plucky London indie jingle-janglers play songs from their new album. Vicar St, Dublin, Mar 20

THE RAPTURE

Recently in town for a lame-ass corporate launch thingy, this gig will see less of the brands and more of the band behind House of Jealous Lovers. Tripod, Dublin, Mar 3

LIONEL RICHIE

His daughter may be making more headlines, but there are still people who want to go dancing on the ceiling with Lionel. Odyssey, Belfast, Mar 26-27; Point, Dublin, Mar 28

GRUFF RHYS

Solo tour from the Super Furry Animal. Vicar St, Dublin, March 31

SAXON

Still going strong after 25 years in weather-beaten denim and leather. Spring & Airbrake, Belfast, March 2; Temple Bar Music Centre, Dublin, March 3 S

Heavyweight hip-hop face-off. Snoop has considerable live form, but the Diddyman should really stick to flogging perfume. Point, Dublin, Mar 31

SUGABABES

Pop with pouts aplenty. Point, Dublin, March 27; Waterfront Hall, Belfast, March 28

YANN TIERSEN

Frenchman best known over here for his lovely Amélie soundtrack. The Village, Dublin, Apr 21

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

Surprisingly, there are still tickets on sale for Mr SexyBack's second show in Belfast and for the outdoor show in Dublin. Odyssey, Belfast, Apr 24-25

LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III

The elder lemon of the Wainwright clan shows that Rufus and Martha don't necessarily have all the best songs. Waterfront, Belfast, May 4; UCH, Limerick, May 5; Olympia, Dublin, May 6

SHAYNE WARD

No, we didn't realise he was this popular either. Last year's X Factor winner shows the makers of You're a Star how it's really done. Point, Dublin, Jan 21-23; Arena, Millstreet, Co Cork, Jan 26-27; Odyssey, Belfast, Jan 29

THE WATERBOYS

Mike Scott and friends bring the big music around the land. Point, Dublin, Mar 18; UCH, Limerick, Mar 20; Radisson, Galway, Mar 21; Radisson, Sligo, Mar 23; Waterfront, Belfast, Mar 25

ROGER WATERS

You may well want to hear the Pink Floyder perform Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety, but do you want to shell out silly money for the privilege? Point, Dublin, May 14

WESTLIFE

Another 10-night run at the biggest shed in the capital for the most ruthless pop machine in the business. Odyssey, Belfast, Apr 13-16; Point, Dublin Apr 19-21, 23-24, 26-28, 30, May 1

AMY WINEHOUSE

Sassy, sexy and ever-so-slightly sozzled soul from the lady behind the fantastic Back to Black album. Ulster Hall, Belfast, Mar 1; Ambassador, Dublin, Mar 2

X FACTOR LIVE TOUR

Featuring the X Factor 2006 finalists. You know, the ones you'll have forgotten all about by the time these shows come around. Odyssey, Belfast, Mar 20; Point, Dublin, Mar 21