2008: Alive and kicking

The live story of 2008 may well be the return of Led Zeppelin. Rumours that the reformed rockers will play Slane are already circulating. Of course, Messrs Page, Plant and Bonham’s services won’t come cheaply – expect a furious scramble among promoters should Zep announce a reunion tour.
The festival scene will kick off for real in May, with the annual Heineken Green Energy extravaganza taking place at Dublin Castle. The three-night bills for this event have been getting better each year (2007 saw Kasabian, David Gray and Sinéad O’Connor deliver the goods) so expect 2008 to be a classic.
July’s Oxegen Festival is, for the first time in its illustrious history, taking place over three days, so expect it to feature a whole host of top-quality acts. The Kings Of Leon’s presence has already been confirmed, and rumour has it that the likes of Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy and Franz Ferdinand may not be far behind.
The Electric Picnic returns in late August: the reformation of My Bloody Valentine has caused a huge stir among Irish alternative heads, so their presence at the Picnic would be a match made in heaven. We can but hope…
In addition, a second Garden Party event should materialise in June, while September’s Cois Fharraige festival will wrap the summer up nicely.
Festivals aside, there are also a number of monster gigs to relish this coming year. Bruce Springsteen’s three nights at the RDS Arena in May should deliver tons of sweat-drenched brilliance, while Radiohead’s two June dates at Malahide Castle will provide more thoughtful delights.
Prepare yourself for a mammoth year of gigging!

DATES FOR THE DIARY:
Smashing Pumpkins – Saturday February 9 – RDS Arena
Rihanna – Saturday February 26 – RDS Arena
Heineken Green Energy – May 2008 (Dates TBC) – Dublin Castle
Mark Knopfler – Monday May 19 – RDS Arena
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band – Thursday May 22, Friday May 23 and Sunday May 25 – RDS Arena
Celine Dion – Friday May 30 – Croke Park
Westlife – Sunday June 1 – Croke Park
Radiohead – Friday June 6 and Saturday 7 – Malahide Castle
Avril Lavigne – Friday June 6 – RDS Arena
Neil Diamond – Saturday June 14 – Croke Park
Boyzone – Saturday June 28 – RDS Arena
Midlands Music Festival – July 2008 (Dates TBC) – Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Bon Jovi – Monday July 7 – Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Co. Kildare
Slane – August/September 2008 (Date TBC) – Slane Castle, Co. Meath
Oxegen 2008 – Friday July 11 to Sunday July 13 – Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Co. Kildare
Castlepalooza – Saturday August 2 & Sunday August 3 – Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Co. Tullamore
Electric Picnic – Friday August 29 to Sunday August 31 – Stradbally Estate, Co. Laois
Cois Fharraige Music Festival – September 2008 (Dates TBC) – Kilkee, Co. Clare