The final days of August are upon us, and after a few days of sunshine and warm temperatures, it’s beginning to look like summer might be over for another year.
As we swap the sunshine and shorts for cooler conditions, this weekend is proving to be another big one for the music lovers in your life. With a host of top-notch gigs taking place nationwide, this weekend’s guide even has a surprise for the Marvel fans in your household!
With 48 hours of flash flooding, high winds, and stormy conditions imminent, we suggest getting out and about this weekend as things settle. What better way to spend it than attending some of the fantastic events Ireland has to offer before the uncertainty of the gloomy weather returns for the end of the month?
Comic-Con 2024 at The Convention Centre, Dublin — August 24-25
Returning to Dublin due to significant demand, Dublin Comic Con takes place in the Dublin Convention Centre this weekend as some of the world’s most prominent comic writers and international Cosplayers take on Dublin for a weekend of all things… well…Comic Con!
Fans and attendees will experience state-of-the-art interactive activities, workshops, and talks while meeting some of their comic heroes—make sure you bring that pen for some autographs! Whether you are coming to find rare collectables, meet some Hollywood actors and local artists, have your portfolio reviewed by industry professionals or cosplay, we will have something to keep you entertained.
Tickets are still on sale for the in-demand event, but they are selling out fast. The event will kick off at 11 am on both mornings, with final entry at 5 pm on Saturday and 4 pm on Sunday. Megafans can also purchase photoshoot tickets for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take selfies with some of their comic idols.
Niall Horan at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham — August 23-24
Niall Horan has gained worldwide fame as a member of the iconic group One Direction, with whom he sold over 80 million records and toured globally. His solo career took off with his debut album, ‘Flicker,’ which debuted at No One on the Billboard 200 in 2017. The album featured hit singles like ‘Slow Hands’ and ‘This Town,’ both of which achieved multi-platinum status. ‘Flicker went on to top the charts in 20 countries and earned Platinum and Gold certifications across multiple regions.
In 2020, Niall released his second album, ‘Heartbreak Weather,’ which topped the UK’s Official Albums Chart and Billboard’s Top Album Sales tally. This success further cemented his place as a prominent solo artist. With his music amassing over eight billion global streams, Niall has proven his ability to captivate audiences worldwide beyond his One Direction fame.
Niall’s third album, ‘The Show,’ released in 2023, delves into themes like mental health and the complexities of love. It is a reflective and emotionally charged work that encourages listeners to follow their hearts. ‘The Show entered the UK Official Album Chart at No.1, making it Niall’s second solo album to achieve this milestone.
Now, the Mullingar native will bring his musical geniuses to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham for two nights only before bringing his tour to the UK, where he will play several shows, including London, Manchester, and Aberdeen.
Jameson Concerts at the Living Room — August 22
Jameson Connects returns to Dublin on August 22nd, bringing Irish artists Monjola, Celaviedmai, and Curtisy together for one night only at The Living Room Dublin. Free tickets are still available for this can’t-be-missed event!
Jameson Connects is dedicated to providing music enthusiasts all over Ireland with life-changing musical experiences. By showcasing the diversity of extraordinary Irish talent on stages nationwide, the organization produces unforgettable live experiences for their audience.
Alternative R&B pioneer Monjola will perform live at The, bringing his timeless music to life and making the audience happy and energetic. He’ll be joined by the versatile Irish musician Celaviedmai, who brings her inventive hip-house and dance hits to the location. Dublin rapper Curtisy, whose new album is causing a stir in the Irish music industry, will also perform.
The Coronas at Galway Airport — August 24
Time Stopped, the seventh album by Coronas, debuted at the top of the Irish album charts, making the trio the first and only self-released Irish band ever to have three consecutive number-one albums.
The album contains singles such as ‘Strive’, ‘If You Let Me’, and ‘Write Our Own Soundtrack’, which all received strong radio airplay in Ireland in the past year. The latest release from the album, ‘Getaway Car,’ is accompanied by a poignant music video starring Laurence and Oren Kinlan.
Time Stopped has received favourable reactions from critics and the band’s fans, propelling it to the top of the charts. It was chosen as Mail On Sunday’s album of the week. Hot Press gave it a 9 out of 10, commenting, ‘…it all hangs beautifully and positively together.’
Fans of the band are set to gather for a once-off show, which is part of several consecutive performances at the Galway location, with the Corna’s predicted to bring the house down with fan favourites, new and old. Tickets are still available, but according to Ticketmaster, they are now in the ‘Low Availability’ stage—get them now so you’re not disappointed.
Emerge 2024 at Boucher Road — August 24-25
EMERGE, Ireland’s largest Electronic Music Festival, returns in 2024 at Boucher Road Playing Fields over Northern Ireland’s August Bank Holiday weekend. After a massive sold-out weekend in 2023, it promises to be the biggest yet, with brand-new, mind-blowing production and some of the biggest names in electronic music worldwide.
Some top-class performers, such as Patrick Topping, Peggy Gou, and an Irish-only b2b set from KETTAMA and Skin On Skin, will play at the 2024 festival. Festival debuts from emerging artists such as DJ Daddy Trance, Hannah Laing, and Ben Hemsley, among many others, will also be featured. With an even bigger focus on the audiovisual experience, the 2024 Emerge Festival will provide the most outstanding audiovisual talent available on the island, featuring more than 50 acts spread over two days and four stages.
Speaking to Ticketmaster, Joe Dougan from Emerge Music Festival commented: ‘We’ve listened closely to our audience feedback – 2023 was a landmark year for Emerge, Ireland’s largest Electronic music festival and 2024 is set to be even bigger. The audio/visual experience is a huge emphasis for us, and we plan to substantially raise the bar with this – the plans look spectacular.’
Unfortunately, tickets for Saturday, August 24, have sold out, but luckily for those wishing to head along, tickets are still available for Sunday’s stellar line-up!
James Blunt Live at Limerick Docklands — August 25
Following the release of his new album ‘Who We Used To Be’ in October of last year, James Blunt will bring a melody of classic hits and new tunes to the Limerick Docklands this weekend in what is set to be a show for the ages, with the Singer and Twitter funnyman performing nostalgic hits from his early career as well as his most recent work!
Shortly after leaving the army in 2002, Blunt released the biggest-selling album of the decade in the UK: ‘Back To Bedlam’, which sold over 12m copies. He also released a further succession of hit albums, every one of them a Top Ten hit and a brace of huge singles, including ‘1973’, ‘Stay The Night’, ‘Bonfire Heart’ and ‘OK’.
Blunt became a national treasure in the UK, and his witty tweets were even collected into a book, 2020’s ‘How To Be A Complete And Utter Blunt: The Diary Of A Reluctant Social Media Sensation’. He became remarkably skilled at social media.
According to Ticketmaster, tickets are almost sold out, and the website shows that they are at the ‘Limited Availability’ stage. This means that if you would like to experience one of Blunt’s amazing shows, you need to act fast.