If The Concert Never Comes… Five Gigs You Should Really See This Summer

So a huge question mark hangs over the Garth Brooks Irish comeback tour, and we'll admit, we're included in those some 400,000 devastated fans. However, setting speculation aside, we thought we'd put together a list of truly incredible alternative gigs for music lovers to enjoy. Here are our top five replacements... Be nice Garth fanatics, there's something in here for every musical palate.

Arctic Monkeys

We've been looking forward to the Arctic Monkeys gig since the day and hour it was announced. The love we have here in the Her Towers for Alex Turner and crew is simply immeasurable and so we'll leave it there. Although their debut record, 'Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not', became the fastest selling British album of all time their autumn album release simply titled, 'AM', is quite possibly their finest work to date. The Arctic Monkeys' play Dublin's Marlay Park Saturday July 12th, here they are on Live With Jools Holland performing track 'RU Mine' taken from their latest record. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HJG8TPhwfI It's not just the headlining act that has us going slightly weak at the knees, we'll 'Snap Out Of It' eventually, dare we say it, the Arctic Monkeys' support is quite possibly the greatest supporting line up of the year. 20-year-old 'Lightning Bolt' singer Jake Bugg, who recently admitted to hating musical festivals, will take to the stage alongside co-frontman of The Last Shadow Puppets, Miles Kane and breakthrough rock duo, Royal Blood. Royal Bloods' stomping performance of 'Out Of The Back' on The Jimmy Kimmel Show in May. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNtpNVx_FNc

Longitude

Saturday tickets for this year's Longitude Festival may have already sold out as the masses flock to see headliners Haim, Disclosure, Irish breakout sensation Hozier and new guys on the block, 1975, but if we're honest, there's one standout act amongst the entire festivals line up that we will certainly not be missing. 21-year-old George Ezra released his debut album 'Wanted On Voyage' only last week and there is no doubt that this Hertford native will clean up come awards season. After his first headline Irish gig in the Sugar Club on February 19th, Ezra cemented his name as one of the most exciting acts of the year, (in many years). With vocals talent and songwriting ability beyond his years, we encourage you to see Ezra perform now before he's back headlining Marlay Park solo. Ezra plays at Longitude Festival Friday July 18th, take a listen to Ezra's 'Angry Hill'... simply hair-standing-on-the-top-of-your-neck stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMrDBzeAr18

Christy Moore

Christy Moore has just finished ten consecutive years at Cork’s Live at the Marquee event on Saturday, making him the only act to play every single show since it commenced. However on Friday July 11^th, the Irish music legend will make his Iveagh Gardens debut and it promises to be one for everyone to remember. Moore’s career has spanned almost five decades with his first album, ‘Paddy on the Road’ making its release in 1969. If you haven’t been to a Christy Moore gig then you should do so now as the 69-year-old is marking the occasion with a very special four-piece band with whom he has been tentatively arranging his songs with. If not to hear Moore’s new material, go and enjoy an eclectic mix of classics that will include high-energy rebel-rousers and no doubt the famous pin-drop performance of hit, ‘Ride On’. Speaking of pin-drop performances, here is Christy in action. Truly emotional stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J-X0TBZ0sM

The National

The National are fond of the emerald isle and thankfully continue to frequent our shores for shows that are mind-numbingly brilliant… Don’t believe us? They you should probably check them out for yourself. The American indie rockers are here this month for a short Irish tour making stops in cities Cork, Dublin and Galway. Watch the band's Live At The Marquee in Cork performance of hit 'Fake Empire'. We constantly have this on on repeat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2qUlWrbPJY

Electric Picnic

Veteran performers such as Blondie, Sinead O’Connor, Mogwai, Kelis, LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy and Neneh Cherry have been confirmed to perform at this year’s Electric Picnic music festival. The event in Stradbally in Co. Laois has quickly become the country's favourite festival with unrivalled line ups catering for every genre in recent years. Electric Picnic is not so much a festival as it is an experience and this year we'll be in the crowd for three acts in particular. St Vincent's Annie Clark is a captivating musical force that is hard to explain. From her rocky edge, seductive and theatrical performances to her loveable don’t-give-a-shit attitude, she is one lady that we admire greatly. Her indie-art-pop is infectious and St.Vincent's is without doubt a band to watch in coming years. If her performance on Jools Holland is anything to go by, we’re in for a treat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmnhY9Smj3M Laura Mvula a serial music award nominee and soul singing force to be reckoned with is due to take to the stage at the August festival. The 28-year-old just received the 'Best Newcomer' accolade at this year’s Nordoff Robbins Silver Clef Awards. Listen here to Laura perform a beautiful acoustic set for NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT5DJ33-Fbg Earlier in the year Paolo Nutini made his return to the music scene with his third studio album, 'Caustic Love', the long-awaited follow-up to the 27-year-old’s 'Sunny Side Up', which was released back in 2009. ‘Scream (Funk My Life Up)’ was the first release from the album and proved the perfect comeback track, delivering exactly what it says in the title. It has been four years since we last drooled over Nutini and had the chance to catch the Scottish crooner live in Dublin's Olympia in March and trust us, he is one act that everyone needs to see live. Here is Nutini's perfect performance on the RTÉ's Late Late Show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_UBaPkwX7g