Its a festival fest for May: this week’s rock and pop highlights

 Lime & Fancy Present: Little Boots (DJ Set)

Wigwam, Dublin Saturday April 28th €12 online/€15 on the door wigwamdublin.com

If it's been while since you've had Little Boots stuck on repeat, then now's the time to get reacquainted. With fun at the forefront, she'll be spinning house and disco songs all night, after a warm-up set from the 80s pop-loving, Dublin-based DJ duo Lime & Fancy. From remixes of Grace Jones and Bananarama to Gloria and S Express on full blast, Little Boots and Lime & Fancy have got you covered. LB

Yo La Tengo

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Olympia Theatre, Dublin Saturday April 28th 7pm €35.50 ticketmaster.ie

More than 30 years is a long time for an indie band to survive, let alone continue to deliver quality work, but Hoboken, New Jersey's Yo La Tengo isn't your average music act. Since their 1986 debut album, Ride the Tiger, the band has taken various side roads into experimental areas far removed from indie rock/pop, but always with a wry sense of humour. Latest album There's a Riot Going On (a knowing steal of the title of Sly & the Family Stone's acutely political 1971 album) sees YLT in a moody, contemplative frame of mind, conscious, perhaps, of the changes they are experiencing in their country. Indie bands, it is good to know, don't sing songs about love all of the time. TCL

Drogheda Arts Festival

Various venues, Drogheda, Co Louth Tuesday May 1st-Monday May 7th droghedaartsfestival.ie

You can always trust the people behind this provincial arts festival to deliver one or two really interesting (and festival-exclusive) surprises year on year, and 2018 is no different. Music highlights include Spectrum (Droichead Arts Centre, Friday May 4th, 8pm, €20/€18), which is the umbrella title for Spacemen 3 co-founder Pete Kember. Something of a signature for the festival, DJ sets come from former Smiths drummer Mike Joyce (Sarsfields Pub, Saturday May 5th, 10.30pm, €15/€12) and The Charlatans' Tim Burgess (Fusion Nightclub, Sunday May 6th, 11.30pm, €10). TCL

Together For Yes

Olympia Theatre, Dublin Wednesday May 2nd 7pm €28 (sold out) ticketmaster.ie

Together for Yes is the National Civil Society Campaign to remove the Eighth Amendment from the Constitution and, by the looks of the line-up at this fundraising gig, where there's a will there's a musician. There are no nominal headliners here, but rather music acts/bands (including James Vincent McMorrow, Le Galaxie, The Strypes, Mango, Thanks Brother), speakers (including Tara Flynn, Ailbhe Smyth, Anna Cosgrave), glitzy drag (Veda's Coven) and good old-fashioned hollering (Sing Along Social). Special guests tbc. TCL

Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival

Various venues, Belfast Thursday May 3rd-Sunday May 13th cqaf.com

An authentic highpoint on Ireland arts calendar, Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival has so many bases covered in the music strand alone it's difficult to know where to start. From Irish acts to US acts to UK acts and many geographical points in between, highlights are many. Best bets include Seamus Fogerty (McHugh's, Thursday May 3rd, 8pm), Sarah McQuaid (Sunflower Public House, Thursday May 3rd, 8pm), Asian Dub Foundation (Black Box, Friday May 4th, 8pm), and The Go! Team (Festival Marquee, Friday May 4th, 8pm). The festival runs until May 13th. Visit cqaf.com for further details. TCL

Marlene Enright

Bello Bar, Portobello, Dublin Thursday May 3rd 8pm €10 bellobardublin.com

This time last year, singer and songwriter Marlene Enright was a virtually unknown proposition, but the nomination of her 2017 debut album, Placemats and Second Cuts, on the most recent Choice Music Prize list has changed things somewhat. Bolstered by the reception of the self-released album – a collection of self-assured and personal pop songs that isn't undermined by anything remotely close to lowest common denominators – Enright may not have nabbed the Choice gong, but one of her strengths is not to be presumed second-best. This is a rare Dublin show for the Co Cork-based performer, so make sure the mileage is rewarded, yes? Special guest is spoken word supremo Stephen James Smith. TCL

The Go! Team

The Button Factory, Dublin Thursday, May 3rd €20 ticketmaster.ie

At the start of the year, The Go! Team released Semicircle, their fifth album since 2000. And, as sure as the sun may rise, the Brighton six-piece scramble together schoolyard chants, nostalgic hip-hop sounds and jutting guitars that make you want to dance. If you're of the indie persuasion, it's quite likely that The Go! Team celebrated the hazy days of your youth, so if you want to step back in time then this is the gig for you. LB

Whenyoung

Grand Social, Dublin Thursday May 3rd 7.30pm €12 thegrandsocial.ie

There is a touch of class about Whenyoung, a trio that started out in Limerick a few years ago, then hightailed it to Dublin, and then legged it to London, which is where they are currently based. The wider public first heard of them when they lined up to pay a birthday tribute to Shane MacGowan in January, but their hook-crammed pop songs are perhaps better experienced in a live setting. Certainly, songs such as Actor, Silverchair and latest single Pretty Pure brim with abrasive energy. Recommended. TCL

Oh Pep!

The Workman’s Club, Dublin Thursday May 3rd €10.90 ticketmaster.ie

Australian band Oh Pep! don't lie – they are simply full of pep. Bringing together subtle elements of folk music, rock and great storytelling, they wrap it all up with the pizazz of a bouncing, baroque pop beat. Fronted by Olivia Hally and Pepita Emmerichs (that's where the name really comes from), they come with a full band, including an essential bouzouki player. They'll be airing out songs from their critically acclaimed 2016 debut album, Stadium Cake. LB

Homebeat Presents: Somadrone & Minced Oath  

20 Camden Row, Dublin Thursday May 3rd €8 online/€15 on the door homebeat.ie

In honour of Somadrone's new album Wellpark Avenue, Homebeat are throwing him a launch party. The Dublin producer's new album strips back the synths and drum machines that he used on his previous album and instead draws on fun themes such as dystopia, LSD and psychedelia. This BYOB event will also include a set from Minced Oath, formerly known as Dunk Murphy, and a DJ set from Vital Signs. LB

Ed Sheeran

Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork Friday May 4th, Saturday May 5th and Sunday May 6th €91/€81 (sold out) ticketmaster.ie

And so Ireland has been taken over by a singer-songwriter who has had the misfortune to be admired by virtually everyone, resulting in people's taste being held to ransom. Leaving aside Galway Girl, which really is as bad as everyone says it is, the truth is that Ed Sheeran isn't anywhere near as woeful as many people claim. The majority of the naysayers, we will safely bet, are not at all familiar with his albums, which – quelle surprise! – contain some really solid singer-songwriter tunes. His misfortune (if you care to call it that) is having crossed over from casual mainstream to household favourite, which is hardly something to be denounced for. Sheeran also plays the following Irish venues in May: Boucher Playing Fields, Belfast (May 9th); Pearse Stadium, Galway (May 12th/13th); Phoenix Park, Dublin (May 16th/18th/19th). Special guest on all dates is rising UK pop star Anne-Marie (whose father is Irish, FYI). All shows are sold out. TCL

Girls Rock Dublin

Whelan's, Dublin Friday May 4th €11.50/€6 for students or unwaged whelanslive.com

Girls Rock Dublin is a non-profit group that runs different music camps and events for girls aged 12 to 17, and this gig is a fundraiser event with all proceeds going to its summer camp. Maria Kelly, Sub Motion and Roe are the wonderful performers confirmed so far and they promise a number of surprise guests on the night. Girls Rock Dublin aims to build up the self-esteem of young women while promoting gender equality. LB

May Weekend at the Bowery

The Bowery, Rathmines Friday May 4th-Sunday May 6th thebowery.ie

It's a Bank Holiday buzz-worthy bonanza at the Bowery, and no mistake. If you're not heading to Cork for Ed Sheeran, Belfast for the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Drogheda for its Arts Festival or Kilkenny for its Roots Festival, then Dublin's heartland of Rathmines has enough to keep you busy over the weekend. Friday sees Otherkin attempt to lift the roof off the venue (8pm, €16.50); Saturday has Cork's indie treasures The Frank & Walters (8pm €22.50); and Sunday has dance music pioneer and Faithless member Maxi Jazz take to the decks with a dexterous display of old-school turntable techniques (9pm €22.50). TCL

Kilkenny Roots Festival

Various venues, Kilkenny Friday May 4th-Monday May 7th kilkennyroots.com

When you're a small but perfectly formed music festival that caters to a specific audience, celebrating your 21st birthday is no small matter. Keeping on top of quality, however, has never been a problem to the organisers of the Smithwick's Kilkenny Roots Festival, and this special birthday year is no exception. Over the weekend, Americana and roots/rock acts performing include The Blasters, The Deep Dark Woods, Michael Nau, Darlingside, Birds of Chicago, Peter Oren and Hillbilly Casino. There is also the Smithwick's Music Trail, a new strand to the festival that will showcase new Irish and international Americana/roots music acts. TCL

Scooter

The Telegraph Building, Belfast Friday May 4th £33-£85 ticketmaster.ie

German dance group Scooter are coming to Belfast as part of their Wild & Wicked Tour to celebrate 25 years of Scooter. Pop on by to indulge in fantastic song lyrics like Nessaja's "It's not a bird, it's not a plane. It must be Dave who's on the train", Weekend's "Respect to the man in the ice cream van" and, of course, "Siberia the place to be. The K the L the F and ideology" from Ramp! (The Logical Song). LB