Coldplay took just 30 minutes today to sellout their July 8, 2017 A Head Full Of Dreams tour stop-off in Croke Park.
With Bono confirming an album and tour next year, we wouldn’t bet against the hallowed turf also being trodden by U2 next year.
Brian Johnson saying that thanks to revolutionary new in-ear monitors he’s ready to start rocking again means that Lord Henry’s AC/DC at Slane dream could finally come true. Or might we see The Rolling Stones, making their Meath return? With an album of classic covers, Blue & Lonesome, due in December Mick and the gang will definitely be in promo mode.
As for who else might be Ireland-bound in 2017, Ed Sheeran made a semi-pledge before his own Croker shows last year that he was going to come back and play Cork, Limerick and Kilkenny.
Depeche Mode are holding a press conference on Tuesday in Milan, at which they’re expected to announce details of a world tour. If that's the case, one imagines that Belfast and Dublin will both be on the itinerary. There’s also a Video Singles Collection to look forward to, with four hours of footage and two hours of audio commentary across three discs.
“Videos have always played an essential part in how we wanted to present Depeche Mode's music to the world," the band say. "It's been amazing to go back and relive all the experiences and memories these videos evoke after all these years. It's incredible to have all our videos finally together in one place and we're hoping our fans enjoy this journey through time as much as we did."
You’ll be able to feast on all 55 clips on November 11.
Definitely hitting the stadium trail next year are Metallica who previewed their Hardwired… To Self-Destruct double-album last week at a fan club bash in New York, and Bon Jovi who also treated diehards to a preview of their This House Is Not For Sale LP across the state-line in New Jersey.
Kings Of Leon, Muse, Guns N’ Roses, Green Day, System Of A Down, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, Foo Fighters, Robin Thicke, Radiohead, Bruno Mars and The Weeknd have all confirmed that they’ll be spending a goodly part of 2017 on a tour bus, as will be Snow Patrol who’ve made no secret of the fact that they want to play Bangor’s Ward Park again.
Hot Press is told that there’s a “strong likelihood” of Leonard Cohen returning to these shores, with Sheryl Crow, Arcade Fire, Gorillaz, 30 Seconds To Mars and Bros – yep, Matt and Luke are on the comeback trail - also rumoured to be on their way.
Could 2017 be the year when Daft Punk finally return to live duty? They certainly reckon so in the States where Monsieurs Bangalter and Homem-Christo are being mooted as Coachella headliners.