While my more cosetted colleagues head for the likes of Vicar St. and The Academy, I sharpen my elbows and embark on a night of blind gigging which, in time honoured Cilla Black-style, proves to be a lorra, lorra fun.
My 17.59 pint is downed in The Mercantile where the mystery guest is the larger than life Paloma Faith who, fashion fans, is resplendent in a three-quarter length gold lamé number, stripey tights and fuck-off platforms with the biggest blue pom-poms you’ve ever seen. Seriously, compared to the Londoner Roisin Murphy looks like Ann Widdecombe.
To celebrate the return to her pub roots, the Jessica Rabbit lookalike (that’s a compliment by the way) treats us to a deliciously naughty version of Nina Simone’s ‘I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl’, which underlines just how fabulous a singer she is.
Ditto the two ladies stood next to her who turn ‘Upside Down’ into a thing of gospel-y joy.
Other highlights include a bawdy cover of Cee-Lo’s ‘Fuck You’, which finds Paloma lovingly giving the finger to the revelers on the top floor and a mass singalong ‘New York’, which is a match for anything in Adele’s canon.
If Paloma’s a tough act to follow no one’s told Aloe Blacc who’s the star turn an hour later in the Temple Bar where we’re also treated to a frenetic set by Bipolar Empire who get better with every viewing.
Evoking the spirits of James Brown and Marvin Gaye, the American wows everyone in the building with sweet, sweet soul tunes like ‘You Make Me Smile’ and ‘Loving You Is Killing Me’, which would make the aforementioned legends proud.
Despite being corralled onto a postage-stamp sized stage, his geezer-y six-piece band throw some serious shapes and generally make out like the JB Allstars.
My final port(er) of call is The Dubliners’ old home from home O’Donoghue’s where the late night al fresco entertainment is supplied by a semi-acoustic Bell X1. The sound isn’t the Mae West, but Paul Noonan & Co. still make us feel like we’re being spoilt rotten with joyous renditions of ‘Velcro’ and ‘Flame’ whose “toast marshmallows on a cold dark night” refrain seems more pertinent than ever. It was, as all of you who were there know, a very special night.