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Robbie Williams hits The Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday June 14th 2013 – click here for full details.

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Following the release of his stunning second studio album release entitled ‘Kaleidoscope Dream‘, Music Scene is delighted to reveal that Miguel (AKA Miguel Jontel Pimentel) will be stepping on stage within some arenas in Ireland too this Summer 2013. Yes, it’s true, Aiken Promotions have officially confirmed that Miguel will be joining Alicia Keys as her main support act / special guest when she returns to Dublin and Belfast this month.

The official stage times for Alicia Keys plus special guest Miguel live at The O2 Dublin on Wednesday May 22nd are as follows:

18:30 – Doors Open

19:30 – Miguel

20:45 – Alicia Keys

*Please note: Times may be subject to change.

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It wasn’t until after the 15 minute interval that this show kicked ass. Performing the Bat Out of Hell album in its entirety, the way it appeared on the record, he opened with the title track, and the place came to life as a giant bat with glowing red eyes hovered above the stage.

During each track we were treated to some video inserts on the big screen, with contributions from Max Weinberg, Todd Rundgren, and of course Jim Steinman, on the making of the classic album which were very informative, while Meatloaf himself would add to this with fascinating stories on how the tracks came about. You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth was next, while he sat on a stool at the front of the stage for the beautiful Heaven Can Wait.

He told us that “Dublin is my favourite city in the whole world. It’s the only city I’ve taken my family on three vacations to” and promised to return here for a break at a later date. Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad was next, as he once again explained how the song was composed. Along with legendary backing singer Patti Russo they performed a raunchy version of Paradise by the Dashboard Light together and weren’t shy with the fondling, while some blown up dolls stood side stage to add to the performance.

Before he sang the closing track from the album, he spoke about how lucky he was to have met Jim Steinman. “Jim is a master, and every master has his masterpiece” was how he introduced For Crying Out Loud. He went on to say “I’ve spent the last 40 years looking for a better love song and I haven’t found it yet”. He also informed us that he’s going back into the studio with Jim, Patti and Ellen Foley to record a new song that’s 14 minutes long “but Jim won’t let me tell you the name of it” he added.

For the encore he delivered I Would Do Anything For Love and while some felt they’d seen enough, and started to head for the exits, he finished with a medley of Boneyard / Freebird and All Revved Up With No Place To Go.

It was my first time to see him, and I felt it was a terrific gig, and justified the venue being full, for what was an emotional performance by the big man. Not a dry eye in the house.

7.5/10
Mick Lynch

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The layout has remained mostly unchanged since last year. To get the clichés out of the way early, it really does resemble a very young, shrunk down Electric Picnic. The gorgeous, DoneDeal Stage, secluded by forest and made entirely of wood and trees, still offers the best acoustics of the festival, as well as a seating area encircling the accurately named “Garlic Hill,” the aromatic scent of wild garlic only adding to the already surreal ambience. This year, the stage hosted many acts familiar to the Louth, and especially Dundalk, music scene, notably Dundalk-based outfits Third Smoke and The Trampz, both of whom offered lively sets to enthusiastic, dancing crowds. A huge treat on the Friday night were seven-piece drum band Torann, whose unique sound, reminiscent of the Ibiza club scene with an hearty streak of Celtic rhythm, coupled with the spectacle of seven energetic men drumming in sync, complete with whistles, UV and one more bare chest every time one looked at the stage, had the crowd going wild. The Music Maker Stage, which was the venue of last year’s Open Mic stage, again a beautiful wooden structure, overlooked by bonfires attracting mixed crowds who came for the heat but stayed for the music, also offered slots for budding musicians to play. Those seeking shelter could also wander over to the Melomania stage, a small tent perfect for acoustic sets, which like the DoneDeal stage played host to a number of local acts. Notable among these was an impressive performance by six-piece trad/folk outfit The Seasons, who presented not only the impressive sight of six musicians and their instruments crammed onto the tiny stage, but also some rousing songs about the plight of the working man and woman in these recessionary times, reminiscent of a young Christy Moore.

The Main Stage, meanwhile, although lacking the glamour of the others, hosted the big names of the festival, among them Belfast rockers And So I Watch You From Afar, Jerry Fish, bluegrass quartet Tupelo, and Damien Dempsey, who closed proceedings on Sunday night. Among these, it was undoubtedly Saturday evening’s performance by The Barley Mob that comprised the weekend’s highlight for the Main Stage, with their energetic songs about life’s struggles and finding hope and an enthusiastic performance with loads of crowd interaction and participation. If you enjoy reggae music with an Irish twist, then these are definitely your lads!

If the entertainment at the stages still left you somehow unsatisfied, you always have the option of browsing the clothing and food stalls. Although it takes barely seven minutes to walk from one end of the festival site to the other, including the campsite, such a small festival still manages to have something for everybody. This year’s best offerings included the Eco Bus – a double-decker bus converted, downstairs, into a kitchen and, upstairs, into a fully-seated dining area with a great view of the festival below – and the Hall of Heroes, a small tent serving tea and coffee, and if you were there at the right time, entertainment in the form of karaoke, Lovely Girls competitions, or Blind Date hosted by the very glamorous and hilarious Ms. Feral Mole, who coincidently looked and sounded very like the guy who hosted the Karaoke night! There are also plenty of kids’ activities throughout the daytime, while DJ sets played well into the wee hours of the morning.

Whether you’re a parent bringing the kids and dog to camp in the family area, or a hardcore raver who doesn’t return to their tent until 6AM, or just a music fan who loves a great, reasonably priced weekend, then, come 2014, pack up the van/car/tent – (this is a BYOB event) – and drop off your emotional baggage for the weekend at the Emotional Baggage tent, because this intimate little festival will not disappoint!

8.5/10
Caoimhe O’Malley

Click here to view images of Jerry Fish performing live at Vantastival 2013.
Click here to view images of Damien Dempsey performing live at Vantastival 2013.

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Tickets for Leonard Cohen live at The O2 Dublin may also be purchased via the following telephone numbers:

0818 719 300 – Republic of Ireland customers
0844 277 4455 – Northern Ireland customers
00353 1 456 9569 – International customers

A Leonard Cohen show in Ireland has become something of legend. Since his initial comeback shows in 2008 at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, up to the more recent shows within the same venue last year, his performances have continued to be received with nothing short of reverence and awe from all who attend. Leonard Cohen has continuously sold out venues in record time, garnering more and more 5 star reviews and accolades each time, including winning ‘Best International Live Performance’ two years in a row at the Irish Meteor Awards in 2009 and 2010.

Leonard Cohen is arguably the greatest singer / songwriter of our time and a magnetically charismatic live performer. A major and influential talent in the early 60′s he produced albums such as Songs Of Leonard Cohen (1967), Songs Of Love And Hate (1970) and I’m Your Man (1990), right up to 1992’s The Future, 2001’s Ten New Songs and 2004’s Dear Heather …all are rightly considered classics today. His songs have been famously covered by the great and the good; from Judy Collins’ “Suzanne” to Jeff Buckley’s seminal rendition of “Hallelujah,” Leonard Cohen’s songs have travelled as far and wide as their author. U2, REM, Sting, Nick Cave, Rufus Wainwright and the late Johnny Cash are among other famous devotees.

In his fifth decade of producing critically acclaimed music Leonard Cohen remains at the top of his game with the release of his twelfth studio album ‘Old Ideas’, for which he received worldwide praise for the collection of new material with The Telegraph declaring it a “work of genius.”

Leonard Cohen is beyond comparison, a true original, providing some of music and literature’s most illuminating writing on love, sex, death and religion. His live performance is hypnotic, enthralling and captivating…and yet it is something even more than that. Something ineffable yet palpable. As anyone who has seen him over the last number of years will testify to.

Don’t miss Leonard Cohen performing live on stage at The O2 Dublin on Wednesday the 11th & Thursday the 12th of September 2013.

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Tickets for One Direction live at Croke Park in Dublin may also be purchased via the following telephone numbers:

0818 719 300 – Republic of Ireland customers
0844 277 4455 – Northern Ireland customers
00353 1 456 9569 – International customers

One Direction Hits on MUZU.TV

Record-breakers across the globe and stars of their own forthcoming 3D concert movie, the world’s biggest pop band, One Direction, have officially announced the first legs of an incredible stadium tour which is scheduled for 2014, including a concert at Dublin’s Croke Park on Saturday May 24th. Fans all over the world have patiently been waiting for the #1BigAnnouncement website countdown to end, and now the time is here!

Set to stop in stadiums all around the world, One Direction kick off in Latin America this coming April 2014, before returning home to the UK and Ireland.

Standing tickets for One Direction live at Croke Park in Dublin are only available to persons aged 16 and over. No under 16’s will be allowed on the pitch unless accompanied by an adult. All under 16’s within the stadium must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

With their two globe conquering studio albums, ‘Up All Night’ and ‘Take Me Home’, One Direction – Niall, Louis, Harry, Liam and Zayn, have established themselves as the biggest, most exciting and in-demand boyband in pop music worldwide. Their current ‘Take Me Home’ tour has so far taken them to arenas across Europe, and this summer will head to the US before ending in Australia and Japan in November 2013. Their highly anticipated 3D concert film ‘This Is Us’, directed by Morgan Spurlock, will be released in August 2013.

More dates and cities for the 2014 stadium tour will be announced later this year.

Don’t miss One Direction performing live at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday the 24th of May 2014.

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1. Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke Feat. T.I & Pharrell
2. Get Lucky – Daft Punk Feat. Pharrell Williams
3. Heart Attack – Demi Lovato
4. Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
5. Waiting All Night – Rudimental
6. Let Her Go – Passenger
7. Pompeii – Bastille
8. Just Give Me A Reason – Pink
9. I Need Your Love – Calvin Harris Feat. Ellie Goulding
10. So Good To Me – Chris Malinchak
11. Play Hard – David Guetta Feat. Ne-Yo & Akon
12. Still Into You – Paramore
13. High Hopes – Kodaline
14. Mirrors – Justin Timberlake
15. Thrift Shop – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
16. Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
17. Chocolate – 1975
18. When I Was Your Man – Bruno Mars
19. #That Power – Will.I.Am Feat. Justin Bieber
20. Hey Porsche – Nelly

*The Official Irish Charts are compiled by ChartTrack for IRMA and © IRMA 2013

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1. Absolute Zero – Little Green Cars
2. Modern Vampires Of The City – Vampire Weekend
3. Time – Rod Stewart
4. To Be Loved – Michael Bublé
5. The Truth About Love – Pink
6. All The Little Lights – Passenger
7. Our Version Of Events – Emeli Sande
8. The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
9. The 20/20 Experience – Justin Timberlake
10. Les Miserables – Original Motion Picture Cast
11. English Rain – Gabrielle Aplin
12. Home – Rudimental
13. Bad Blood – Bastille
14. Take Me Home – One Direction
15. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
16. More Light – Primal Scream
17. 18 Months – Calvin Harris
18. A – Agnetha Faltskog
19. Unorthodox Jukebox – Bruno Mars
20. Up All Night – One Direction

*The Official Irish Charts are compiled by ChartTrack for IRMA and © IRMA 2013

If this is your first time visiting Music Scene, why not become a fan of our Facebook and Twitter pages through the icons at the top of the page. Also, check out some of our great competitions by clicking here!

Tickets for One Direction live at Croke Park in Dublin will be on sale from 10 am on Saturday May 25th 2013 through Ticketmaster and usual outlets nationwide.

Click here to buy tickets for One Direction live at Croke Park in Dublin on 2014.

One Direction Hits on MUZU.TV

If this is your first time visiting Music Scene, why not become a fan of our Facebook and Twitter pages through the icons at the top of the page. Also, check out some of our great competitions by clicking here!