The 50 Hottest Tickets This Summer! Part 3: 20-1

*Ideally this woulda been in 5 entries, each with ten gigs but the bank holiday knocked me out. I woke up today convinced it was Thursday...*

Below are the top 20 Hottest Tickets of the Summer [in my opinion at least!]. Check back further down the blog for parts 1 and 2 if you missed them, while a completed list will be posted over the weekend. Anyway...

20. The Prodigy.
Where? Oxegen, Punchestown from July 9th to 11th.
Why? I caught these guys at Slane and was blown away. They have been at their very best lately, with their most recent album their best since their 1990s heyday. An energetic and incredible live show that is supposed to be even better at night. Not to be missed.

19. Indiependence Music Festival
Where? Mitchelstown, Co. Cork from July 31st to August 1st.
Why? Similarly to Castlepalooze, Indiependence is rapidly gathering a fantastic reputation for all the right reasons. Relaxed and intimate, it's a great [and pretty cheap] way to catch some of the best working bands doing the rounds this summer. This year, the line-up includes White Lies, Alabama 3, the Coronas, Reverend & the Makers, Duke Special, Delorentos, Jape, FRED, The Chapters, Codes and O Emperor, amongst others.

18. Kasabian
Where? Oxegen, Punchestown from July 9th to 11th.
Why? Also caught these guys at Slane and, as good as the Prodigy were, Kasabian blew them out of the water. These guys have grown into an exceptional live band - energy fuelled and anthemic. They have really grown into the bravado and swagger they've exuded since day one with album number 3, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, a surprise hit last year.

17. Paul McCartney
Where? RDS, Dublin on June 12th.
Why? How many Beatles are still doing the rounds? A set filled with Beatles, Wings and solo hits - this one should be fantastic. But hey, if I have to sell PAUL MCCARTNEY to you then there's no hope is there?

16. Eminem
Where? Oxegen, Punchestown from July 9th to 11th.
Why? Because, love him or loath him [I am certainly in the latter bracket] this will be the most talked about show of the summer. A controversial choice to headline Ireland's rock & roll festival, Marshall Mathers has had dozens of hits and is a megastar the world over. If he actually shows up, this could be a huge coup for Oxegen. Or a complete disaster.

15. Gil Scott-Heron
Where? Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Co. Laois from September 3rd to 5th.
Why? The legendary poet and musician is one of the stand out acts in a stunning Electric Picnic bill. A hugely influential and unique artist. Not to be missed.

14. The Tallest Man on Earth
Where? Whelan's, Dublin on June 10th.
Why? His sophomore album was one of the most beautiful record released in recent years. A folk album with the most intricate and stunning song-writing I have heard in a long time. Be prepared to fall in love...

13. Hot Chip
Where? Oxegen, Punchestown from July 9th to 11th & Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Co. Laois from September 3rd to 5th.
Why? Because they are the best electronic act in the world today. One Life Stand confirmed this status - with appearances at BOTH major festivals, they are not to be missed.

12. James Vincent McMorrow
Where? The Pavillion, Cork on June 9th, The Spirit Store, Dundalk on June 10th, Roisin Dubh in Galway on June 11th, Whelan's, Dublin on June 17th, Sky & Ground, Wexford on June 19th, Sea Sessions in Bundoran on June 27th and Castlepalooza on July 31st or August 1st.
Why? Because he's playing everywhere besides your front room. His debut Early in the Morning is my most played record in a long time and the best thing I've heard this year so far and his live shows are improving as the days go by. It's surely only a matter of time before we lose him to the mainstream so catch him in an intimate setting now - before it's too late.

11. Modest Mouse
Where? Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Co. Laois from September 3rd to 5th.
Why? Because they are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the release of the seminal album The Moon & Antarctica. With 2 fantastic albums released in the interim also, they are not to be missed if you make it to the Picnic.

10. Muse
Where? Oxegen, Punchestown from July 9th to 11th.
Why? Because despite sounding like a ridiculous alien obsessed prog act, they are probably the most popular live band in the world. The spectacle they put is insane in all the right ways - the perfect festival band?

9. Iron Maiden
Where? The O2, Dublin on July 30th.
Why? Because they are rock legends. They seem to be going on forever, but surely they'll take a break at some point. They are well known as a fantastic live band too, always playing the classics and crowd pleasers. For die-hard rock fans, there is no better show.

8. Broken Social Scene
Where? Oxegen, Punchestown from July 9th to 11th.
Why? In You Forgot It In People, Broken Social Scene and Forgiveness Rock Record, BSS have released three of the best albums put to record in the last 10 years (or more...). The spectacle of their live shows are well known among indie fans as being unmissable, and in comparison to the rest of the Oxegen line-up they are a definite "must see". I've rarely been more excited to see any band live.

7. LCD Soundsystem
Where? Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Co. Laois from September 3rd to 5th.
Why? Because you might never get another chance. James Murphy has said that he will retire the LCD Soundsystem banner at the end of this tour and concentrate on other projects. Album number three, This Is Happening, has been one of the hits of the year so far - no mean feat considering the plethora of great records released so far.

6. Grizzly Bear, Midlake, Camera Obscura & Villagers [Harmonic Music Festival]
Where? Live at the Marquee Cork on June 25th.
Why? Because this is a valiant attempt by the organisers of the Marquee to bring mainstream alternative acts together on one stage without demanding a big fee. Grizzly Bear and Midlake are among the best alternative acts in the world at the moment, both releasing great records in recent years and neither will be playing in Ireland aside from this show. If nothing else, it would be a shame to see this great idea die out at the first attempt - I would love to see the "Harmonic" festival became an annual tradition in Cork, bringing fantastic alternative acts to Cork.

5. Rage Against The Machine
Where? The O2 on June 8th.
Why? This gig was promised due to the attempt made to get RATM to Christmas number one in Ireland. Granted that failed, but the band have followed through by announcing this gig. The sound in the O2 is phenomenal so Zach De La Rocha and co. should be crystal clear. Rage are an amazing live act - ask anyone who saw them at Oxegen 2008.

4. Stevie Wonder
Where? The O2 on June 24th.
Why? Because Stevie Wonder is a stunning live act. One of the greatest living musicians, the man is an institution and to miss this opportunity to see him live should be deemed a criminal offence. He's as good now as he has ever been. 2Fm DJ Rick O'Shea maintains that Wonder is the best live act he has ever seen.

3. The Frames
Where? Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Co. Laois from September 3rd to 5th.
Why? Glen and co. are celebrating their 20th anniversary (that band are as old as me...) with this show at the Picnic. They haven't done too much as a group in recent years with Glen busy winning Oscars, so this is a long overdue reward for Frames fans.

2. Arcade Fire
Where? Oxegen, Punchestown from July 9th to 11th.
Why? Because we have been promised new music at this show. The band are readying their third album for us at the moment, and this will be the first time many of these songs will be played. A stunning live band, Arcade Fire are not to be missed.

1. The National
Where? Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Co. Laois from September 3rd to 5th.
Why? Because High Violet is among the best albums I have ever heard. Following on from Boxer and Alligator was a near impossible task but they managed it in exceptional fashion. These guys provide a very rare thing - anthemic tunes that don't stray into U2 fashion. Perfect for the Picnic and at the peak of their powers. Do whatever you can to see these guys.

So there we have it! Thanks for reading if you have stuck with it.

Please comment below and let me know what you think, what you would have done differently and anyone I missed out on!