Thumper – December 2nd – Whelans
A self-described ‘noise-pop sextet, delivering bubble-gum psych through a wall of sonic death.’ Thumper just played in the Workman’s club on Halloween night and now their biggest headline show is taking place in Whelans on the 2nd of December. They are a group made for live shows with their clamorous and vociferous noise. Their top picks ‘Topher Grace’ and ‘Ad Nauseum’ best sum up their unique sound. Their new single ‘The Loser,’ which was released last month, has also been well received and moves us closer to their highly anticipated debut album. The band will hit Belfast and Derry later this November and the Whelans gig in a month’s time will be the final one of their UK and Irish tour. It promises to be a blistering one!
Newdad – November 11th – The Workman’s Club
Currently, in the middle of their national tour, Galway four-piece NewDad have already become very popular following the release of their debut EP, Waves, earlier this year. However, it was their fourth single, ‘I don’t recognise you,’ that has propelled the band into national acclaim. The indie track has a dreamlike and hazy quality and allows the excellent vocals of lead singer Julie Dawson to shine through. Having performed in front of a packed crowd at the Ulster Sports Club in Belfast on Monday, NewDad takes their tour home tonight, the 10th of November, for a set at Roisin Dubh in Galway. The Dublin gig takes place tomorrow the 11th in the Workmans Club.
The Stunning – December 5th – Olympia Theatre
A second Galway outfit to make our list, the Stunning’s iconic song ‘Brewing up a Storm’ has made them a household name and synonymous with Irish rock. Honestly, seeing the hit song live is worth the entry fee alone. However, there is so much more to the Stunning. Their 1992 album is filled with great tunes like ‘Heads are gonna roll’ and ‘Everything That Rises.’ Their smooth and catchy sound mixed with a reputation for electrifying live music makes their upcoming show in the Olympia on the 5th of December, an exciting prospect. Mixing genres and music eras, the Stunning is a show for all ages and tastes and one your dad would love you to bring him to!
Sports Team – November 21st – Whelans
This gig is long overdue for one of the UK’s most highly-rated young bands. Having been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sports Team will finally play their Whelans gig on the 21st of November. I would say this gig is long overdue as Sports Team has really impressed UK audiences and its debut album was shortlisted for the 2020 Mercury Prize, annual music prize awarded for the best album released in the United Kingdom by a British or Irish act. An alternative rock band, Sports Team’s music is complex and brings a fresh modern twist to an otherwise traditional indie rock sound. Their work explores life in middle Britain and a young person’s place in it. The London based bands success at home and their electrifying live style makes their Whelans gig one of the most highly anticipated of the rest of 2021.
Sprints – December 11th – The Grand Social
With missing live music during lockdown, I splashed out on several tickets for gigs that are all now coming thick and fast. Of all my hasty purchases, this gig is probably the one I am looking forward to most. It comes from an unashamedly loud and raw Dublin band, Sprints. You can’t pick a better venue than the Grand Social to allow you to get up close and personal with the post-punk four-piece. Vocalist Karla Chubb spearheads the group’s raucous style and songs packed with emotive lyrics. This can be seen in my personal favourite ‘The Cheek,’ in which Chubb vents her frustration at the way she can be hypersexualised as a bisexual woman. This gig on December the 11th is not to be missed!
Conor Paterson – Co-Editor
