GIVEN her stellar rise to fame in such a short period, it’s no surprise that
EMELI SANDE is coming our way for two mega concerts.
The 24-year-old Scottish-born soul and R&B songbird hits The Olympia Theatre, Dublin on Wednesday, August 15 and then plays Belsonic at Custom House Square, Belfast, the following day.
Tickets are from e25.40 and from £22.50 respectively and go on sale this Friday from Ticketmaster.
Sande became well-known after she featured on rapper Chipmunk’s third single which gained both artists a first top-10 single in the British singles chart.
The talented singer-songwriter has also written compositions for some of the greatest names in modern pop including Tinie Tempah, Professor Green, Cheryl Cole, Susan Boyle, The Saturdays and Wiley. Her heaven single was widely regarded as one of the best tracks of 2011.
However, 2012 is proving to be Emeli’s year.
Confirmed as the winner of the prestigious Brits Critic’s Choice Award, the singer-songwriter released the stunning single, Next To Me, from her hugely anticipated debut album, Our Version of Events, on February 10.
It is currently riding high at No2 in the Irish charts — the same position as her scintillating debut album.
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HAVING recorded the hottest hip-hop tune of the past 12 months in her single 212, rising rapper
AZEALIA BANKS is to release an EP with the ace track and a host of remixes.
The 212 EP will be released on March 23 and will also include the track, Liquorice. Azealia will also perform at this years Electric Picnic 2012.
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THE boys are coming back to town with the news that
THIN LIZZY are set to rock Dublin later this year.
The Irish legends, with
RICKY WARWICK on vocals, will play the Olympia Theatre on August 16. Tickets on sale this Friday.
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IRISH rock legend
BOB GELDOF is to return to Dublin for his first headline gig in Ireland since 2005.
The
BOOMTOWN RATS icon, whose fifth solo album How To Compose Popular Songs That Will Sell dropped last year, is in Vicar St on May 19.
Tickets priced e33 are on sale now.
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X Factor finalists
AMELIA LILY and
MARCUS COLLINS will perform at Strawberry Fest 2012 on June 3.
The event runs from June 1 to 3 at the Enniscorthy Showgrounds in Co Wexford. For more information click
here.
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Melt! Festival in Germany has added more acts for its 15th anniversary this July.
YEASAYER,
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT and
AUSTRA join confirmed acts like
BLOC PARTY and Irish rockers
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB, whose cover of Mumford & Sons' The Cave is below.
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PUNK legend
PAUL WELLER drops his new album later this month.
Sonik Kicks, the follow-up to 2010’s Wake Up The Nation, is out on March 16 and features That Dangerous Age (below).
The record is his 10th solo album, following six with
THE JAM and five with
THE STYLE COUNCIL.
His new single That Dangerous Age drops on March 11 and features remixes by
LADYTRON and
MATT HELDERS of
THE ARCTIC MONKEYS.
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TEENAGE folk sensation
RACHEL SERMANNI wowed crowds in the capital last weekend.
The 19-year-old Scot dropped her debut EP Black Currents in January, showcased her earthy folk melodies and dextrous fingerpicking.
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RETIRING manband
WESTLIFE are set to play the star-studded, Shay Given-organised Fashion Kicks event.
Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane say they will be “delighted” to appear at the May 1 Manchester event in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
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RISING Irish stars
THE ORIGINAL RUDEBOYS have confirmed details of their debut album.
This Life will be released on March 23 and will feature 10 tunes, including Stars In My Eyes (above) and Travelling Man.
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DANCE geniuses
HOT CHIP will release their fifth album on June 8.
In Our Heads will contain 11 tracks including Three Chains and Flutes.
They’ll also play the
ELECTRIC PICNIC on Sunday September 2.
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UPCOMING Dublin band
EAST ISLAND CITY release their debut mini-album Me And What Army? on April 30.
In July 2010, the pop-punk quintet brought out their debut EP for free to critical acclaim.
This year has seen them holed up in the studio to produce the six-track record, which they plan to showcase on a tour of the UK.
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HAVING released one of the albums of the year last year in Last Of The Country Gentlemen,
JOSH T PEARSON returns to Ireland to play Whelan’s, Dublin, on August 17.
Tickets are on sale now priced e16.50.
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ELECTRO night,
NIGHT OF THE MACHINES THREE will return to the National Concert Hall on March 30.
Expect sets from
THE WAZP,
POLYDROID ,
iEUROPEAN and
VERSIVES. Tickets are priced e8 and e6.
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IRISH rapper
NU-CENTZ (aka
ROB BYRNE) releases his album Trying 2 Build a Life on Curse Words in April.
He also headlines a hip-hop bash in Siamsa Tire, Tralee, Co Kerry on March 30.
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SWEDISH synth-pop star
MOLLY NILSSON is bringing her minimalist melodies to Dublin this summer.
The Berlin-based singer will play Upstairs at Whelan’s on May 4. Tickets are e11 and on sale now.
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SOULFUL American singer
RACHAEL YAMAGATA is to play an intimate gig to plug new album Chesapeake.
The star, who has been likened to
PJ HARVEY, plays Whelan’s on May 3. Tickets go on sale tomorrow priced e15.
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LIVERPOOL alt-rockers
SOUND OF GUNS will visit Dublin as part of a tour to plug new album Angels & Enemies, out March 30.
They’ll hit the Academy 2 this Wednesday, March 14, and tickets priced e12.50 are on sale now.
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SPACE rockers
WHITE HILLS promise an out-of-this-world gig when they hit Dublin on St Patrick’s Eve.
The New Yorkers play
BLOCK T in Smithfield next Friday, March 16, and tickets costing e15 are on sale now.
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RISING dance star
SLUGABED will drop his debut album Time Team on May 7.
Fans can download a free remix of the English mash-up artist’s upcoming single Sex by
DAEDELUS here.
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Subversive art collective
BRETON will release their debut album Other People’s Problems on March 26.
The film-makers turned musicians play Dublin’s Academy 2 the following night. Tickets at e12 are on sale now.
These stories were first published in Hotzone, the music news page in the Irish Daily Star