Silver Lining
Microlip's debut shows you can buy a polished production, but you can't buy cool
Flogging Molly
The American-Irish rockers bring a touch of heart to Mandela Hall
Eminem
Odd Future, Kaiser Chiefs and Jimmy Eat World provide support at Tennent's Vital
Beady Eye
Liam Gallagher struts, gobs and gives a shout out to the ladies – 'it'll all make sense in the morning'
Andy Irvine
The folk hero treats Belfast to Planxty classics, solo tunes and stories in between
Shonen Knife
Kurt Cobain's favourite pop-punk trio attract a diverse crowd to the Black Box
Dillinger Escape Plan
The punk heavyweights rip up the Spring & Airbrake – as if we expected anything less
Camerata Ireland
Master pianist Barry Douglas conducts works by Mozart at St Peter's Cathedral
Iron Maiden
The metal legends put memories of a half-empty Maysfield Leisure Centre behind them
Duke Special
One of Northern Ireland's 'most versatile, affable and unorthodox' artists rocks Sandinos
Glasgowbury
A heady mix of the old and the new has the sun shining on the Sperrins
Third Man Theme/Kowalski
Oh ye hipsters of little faith
John D'Arcy/Mojo Fury
Power pop and a visit to Barcelona
Event Horses/Rams' Pocket Radio
Two new releases to soundtrack your summer
Ron Sexsmith
The laidback storyteller's 'lullabies for grown-ups' hit the spot
Bryan Adams
A crowd-pleasing set from the Groover from Vancouver
Chilli Fest
Peter McCaughan gets fired up for naga infused stout, live tunes and... jewellery stalls?!
The Low Anthem
The perfect gig to close the Open House Festival, despite the chattering classes
John Deery and the Heads
The Derry quartet bring their anthemic sound to the Open House Festival
Ulster Orchestra Recital
Belfast-born conductor Courtney Lewis conducts a fine group of soloists
Controlling Your Allegiance
The Japanese Popstars rope in some of their musical friends to create a 'credible' dance album
To the Death of Fun
Cashier No.9 produce an anthem-filled album that isn't to be missed
Journey
Streetlights, people - and a Filipino singer? Belfast's summer of rock continues
Alice Cooper
Sandwiched between Thin Lizzy and Def Leppard, the aging showman leads from the front
GoodWill
A little bit of solidarity goes a long way - Bandwidth Sessions are given a helping hand
The Buddy Holly Story
A 22 year-old musical about a 22 year-old rock legend. Buddy Holly might be gone, but his songs live on
Chris de Burgh
The eccentric Irish crooner gives The Prodigy a run for their money - but doesn't forget the ladies in red
Fighting With Wire
Another hometown gig for the Derry trio, three years on from debut album Man vs Monster
Roger Waters
Prog rock fans rejoice as Pink Floyd's erstwhile leader builds The Wall in Dublin
Karaoke From Hell
Sub as General Fiasco's frontman for a tune of your choice at the Spring & Airbrake? Hell yeah!
Belfast Philharmonic Society
Christopher Bell, outgoing artistic director, signs off in style and leaves a lasting legacy
Rush
After 40 years, the prog rock trio finally arrive in Ireland - and prove that punk had a downside
Kate Rusby
The folk singer-songwriter leads from the front - but James Meredith misses the man with the trumpet
Cashier No.9
Virtual bands, audience cartwheels and ‘stadium stompers’ make this Cashier No. 9 curated evening a golden affair
Drive-By Truckers
The southern soul rockers crank things up a level, but the solitary Josh T Pearson steals the show
Gang Of Four
Stage gimmicks cheapen an otherwise solid performance from the act that put the funk into punk
The Human League
Laughable lyrics and a balding frontman can't put Fionola Meredith off getting lost in 'the joys of pop nostaliga'
Gangs
And So I Watch You From Afar delivering their best yet with an outstanding, slow-burning odyssey
The Great Depression
Robyn G Shiels finally releases some new material - James Meredith thinks it was well worth the wait
Visiting Hours of a Traveling Circus
The long-standing Lisburn quartet's debut album is a departure from their early sound
Spiers and Boden
No matter what you call it, this English folk duo's sound is likely to get you moving
Skip Little Axe McDonald
A blistering set from an aging artist intent on bringing delta blues bang up to date
Barry Kerr/Alisdair Roberts
Two folk musicians, poles apart, bring a taste of water and wine to the Black Box
Billy Bragg
Would you like to swipe your 'loyalist card'? The leftie tunesmith brings the funny to the Empire Music Hall
Sleigh Bells
It will be a while before the ringing stops, with the Brooklyn noise-pop duo pushing the limit at Winter Base
Les McKeown's Legendary Bay City Rollers
They didn't pay to hear his life story - 'a Tesco own-brand Greek tragedy'. He told it anyway
The King of Limbs
Is it possible to review a Radiohead album two days after its unexpected release? Lee Henry thinks not
Thin Lizzy
The rock legends pay tribute to guitarist Gary Moore by going back to basics
The Hold Steady
The Brooklyn rockers aim to reconnect with their audience after a series of lukewarm album reviews
The Rubberbandits
Sectarian chants from a section of the audience mar an otherwise enjoyable gig from the comedy hip-hop duo
Wire
The art-punk rockers keep it real in Belfast's Limelight, and they don't care who likes it or not
CW Stoneking
The Aussie bluesman brings back the addictive rhythms of a bustling 1920s New Orleans saloon
Bronagh Gallagher
Singing and storytelling in full swing as the Commitments star takes to the stage at the Out To Lunch Festival
Celtic Connections
The Glasgow folk, roots and traditional music festival welcomes Dick Gaughan and Giant Sand
JLS
Andrew Johnston gives his 'expert opinion' on Simon Cowell's chart-topping foursome
Meat Loaf
At 63 the Loaf's voice may have gone stale, but on the evidence of this typically theatrical show, crusty he is not
And So I Watch You From Afar
Those lucky enough to get a ticket climb aboard the Dutch barge on the Lagan for a secret gig
Villagers
2011 is set to be a year to remember for Conor O'Brien. Jill Black catches him before the arena tours begin
Frank, Dean and Sammy
Deano should have stayed at home - Ol' Blue Eyes takes the ovation on his own
The Wee Wee Man
An inventive mixture of poetry and song in the Ulster-Scots Irish tradition