Music fans in the bigger Irish cities won’t be short of gigs to usher in the new year. In Dublin, And So I Watch You From Afar will cap a busy 2010 at Whelan’s, where they’ll be joined by Jogging and Hunter-Gatherer.

Next door in the Village, Fight Like Apes will play Phantom FM’s New Year’s Eve party, RSAG plays the Workman’s Club, Japanese Popstars play Tripod, while US band Les Savy Fav headline the Button Factory with The Redneck Manifesto and Not Squares – who will then rush back to their native Belfast for another gig.

“I wrote a list of party bands from around the world and Les Savy Fav were number one,” said promoter Paul Timoney. Meanwhile, Vicar Street’s Turning Pirate Mixed Tape Party has an impressive line-up: Cathy Davey, Neil Hannon, Lisa Hannigan, Our Little Secrets, Richie Egan, The Ambience Affair, Jerry Fish, comedian David O’Doherty and more. Organiser Una Molloy promises a “unique” night. The Cast of Cheers and others will play Galway’s Róisín Dubh, while Hope is Noise play The Quad in Cork.