By Ellie O'Byrne

Best live gig:

David Byrne’s American Utopia at the 3Arena in October was the stand-out show of the year. A lifetime of reconstructing what music is and what performing should achieve crammed into one choreographed show with outstanding musicianship and cutting edge, near-invisible high-tech wizardry. Mindblowing.

Small gigs and fresh discoveries are usually more up my street and Laois “Atlantean folk” trio Cua’s beautiful harmonies and subversive brilliance in an afternoon lull at Vantastival in the summer made for a stand-out moment. Another was unsung Irish music hero Jinx Lennon’s set at Body and Soul: Lennon has taken his already fierce song-writing flair to a whole new level with his latest album Grow a Pair and is penning gritty, off-kilter modern ballads that deserve more recognition.