2019 has been recognised as a standout year for Irish music, and the strength of the albums nominated for the RTÉ Choice Music Awards reflect that. Acts like Fontaines DC received recognition from the likes of BBC 6 and NME with their debut album ‘Dogrel’, Kojaque and Soft Boy Records went on a UK tour, solo and in support of Slowthai, and Irish acts received top billings at festivals worldwide, such as Eurosonic, where a broad mix of Irish acts were asked to play. Irish Hip-Hop has grown from strength to strength, with the most releases in one calendar year for the genre coming in 2019, along with the creation of new Spotify playlists custom made for the genre, and an increase in the number of media outlets discussing the genre specifically. 

2019 also saw the first Irish Hip-Hop act to sell out the largest domestic arena, the 3 Arena. Formerly known as the Point Depot, and later the O2, it has a capacity of thirteen thousand. Versatile sold out the venue when they played there in November, but they weren’t the only Irish act to headline there this year. Picture This did five nights in a row in March, and Dermot Kennedy headlined two nights in December. Selling out the 3 Arena and an Irish passport are just about the only things in common between Picture This / Dermot Kennedy and Versatile, with the latter facing wide backlash for the music they produce, as opposed to the radio friendly content of the former acts. 

Looking at these acts provides some sort of outline for predicting who the next Irish act to headline the 3 Arena will be. Picture This and Demot Kennedy point to the necessity for chart-topping music that receive a huge amount of airplay (incessant in some cases. If you listen to the radio at any point during the day, you will be aware of the vice-like grip Dermot Kennedy holds on every radio station in the country). Versatile show the importance of appealing to younger audiences, which leads to the question of if they are a boy band for teenagers with a fade haircut, and based on the audience demographic at their 3 Arena gigs, I’ll be hard-pressed to be convinced otherwise. 

The three acts worked their way up to the largest capacity venue in Ireland, by playing in smaller capacity venues like the Olympia, and at festivals like Electric Picnic and Longitude. In the case of Versatile, we saw deviation from the mean for the first time in a long time, the deviation coming from them receiving very little radio play. This could potentially pave the way for acts that do not receive attention in this traditional format, and could lead to some different acts playing the venue in the future, and without placing too much stress on it this early, an increase in audience numbers who wish to listen to more alternative music. 

Here’s four acts who could be in line to headline the 3 Arena in the next 3 years:

Fontaines D.C. 

Reasons why they could: Fontaines D.C. exploded in 2019 off the back of their debut album ‘Dogrel’. A Golden Plec Pick in 2018, 2019 saw them play to huge crowds at Glastonbury, and support IDLES in the Iveagh Gardens. With their own date in July booked for the same venue selling out in a day, it’s not outlandish to foresee them headlining the 3 Arena as their career progresses. Their chances of a headline slot would be massively increased with the exposure that comes with winning a Choice Music Prize, so they will surely have their fingers-crossed for the announcement in March.

Reasons why they won’t: The music scene they are a part of in Ireland is much smaller than the alternative scene in the U.K. or the U.S., where, given time, they could definitely headline a 10,000 plus capacity. ‘Dogrel’ featured few songs that are openly accessible to all listeners, but if they were to try to create more with audience-friendly music, they would lose the rawness that defines them.

Soft Boy Records

Reasons why they would: Kojaque and Kean Kavanagh’s record label has such a wide number of acts that would appeal to numerous genres. A Night with Soft Boy would be printed on the merch, alongside the traditional logo. Kojaque’s ‘Deli Daydreams’ received a Choice Music Nomination last year, and he has slowly progressed in terms of marketplace value, going from a 1pm show on the Sunday of Electric Picnic in 2017, to two shows across Saturday evening in 2018. He also received international recognition by playing at SXSW, a breeding ground for those with a future in music, and the Soft Boy label was chosen for a Boiler Room documentary and gig listing.

Reasons why they won’t: Kojaque/Soft Boy’s most recent headline gig in Dublin was in the less than one thousand capacity Academy, so trying to sell out a venue as big as the 3 Arena is a challenge that the label is not yet ready for. If they will ever be ready is another question, but with more releases lined up for the group, it can’t be ruled out. Kojaque isn’t going to go anywhere, and the overall journey doesn’t appear to have a defined timeline, or expiry date, so the potential exists for them to achieve the lofty goal of matching Versatile by performing at the 3 Arena.

Kettama

Reasons why they would: Galway-native DJ/Producer Kettama has played at every major hub for his genre of dance music, through relentless festival dates, and other gigs in some incredible venues. He headlined a Boiler Room set, is set to support the Chemical Brothers in Cork this June, and his constant stream of releases stand toe-to-toe with any producer at the moment. Couple this with the biggest crowds during a daytime set that Life Festival has ever seen, and a huge appetite for his specific style of producing, and we could be looking at a Kettama headliner in the 3 Arena. This would be a landmark occasion for Irish dance music, as Kettama would surely bring many other young producers/DJ’s to support him on stage.

Reasons why they won’t; It’s extremely unlikely that Kettama will go from playing tiny Irish clubs to headlining the 3 Arena, but hopefully a more innovative promoter would see the potential of the gig. The venue itself might not be the best equipped to handle a dance music gig, but who knows what the future holds? Kettama is worth taking a punt on, especially if his support of the Chemical Brothers goes well (the duo previously headlined the 3 Arena in 2018). 

Soulé

Reasons why they would: Soulé had a huge 2019 off the back of her hit single ‘Love Tonight’. It ticked the traditional box of radio play, as well as featuring on numerous Spotify playlists, and in an ad for Vavavoom that was played on every episode of Love Island. Every. Single. One. That exposure is hard to buy, and her popularity in Ireland will only be increased when she releases her planned debut album. Her poppy sound and friendly persona could see her return to the 3 Arena where she recently performed at the 2fm Xmas Ball to a full capacity crowd. Soulé may be set for a breakout year, so when 2021 rolls around, that will be a better time to take stock of her standing.

Reasons why they won’t; Lack of discography is hampering Soulé, as well as her biggest headline show to date being in the very small Lost Lane. A festival appearance somewhere like Longitude, and an album release might propel Soulé into the big time, as the star attraction in the Irish pop music scene. 

By: Conor Farrelly

Edited by: Kinga Piotrowski