Extra shows - for 1979!
Today, we have added more than just extra European 360° Tour concerts to our U2 live database. We have also added some gigs from the very other end of U2's history - the Early Days.
In 1979, U2 played a number of concerts at the Dandelion Market in Dublin. Although these concerts are well-known for solidifying U2's reputation in Ireland as a passionate live band, the precise details have been a bit mysterious. Pimm Jal de la Parra's fantastic U2 Live: A Concert Documentary reports that there were six weekend gigs, the first in May. Furthermore, we believed the last was in August. However, that was it. All other information seemed lost to the mists of time.
Thankfully, this is no longer the case. John Fisher, one of the organisers of the Dandelion Market concerts, has kindly furnished us with details of the concerts. On his website, he has posted an excellent article about the Dandelion Market concerts with interesting information not just about U2, but also the concerts and music scene of the time more generally. It is well worth reading and contains a list of all the bands that played at the Dandelion Market from April 1979 to March 1980.
Importantly, John has clarified that U2 played at the Dandelion Market eight times in 1979, not six as previously believed, with the first concert in May and the last in December. Read on for the dates of the concerts and other details below.
1. 12 May 1979, after Edge and Larry asked about getting a gig.
2. 28 July 1979, with The Strougers as support act.
3. 11 August 1979, the only show for which any of the setlist is known.
4. 9 September 1979, the first of three shows on consecutive weekends.
5. 15 September 1979
6. 22 September 1979
7. 17 November 1979, supported by The Epidemics, this was a farewell concert before U2 went to play the U2:3 Tour in London.
8. 23 December 1979, supported by The Threat, after U2 had returned from England.
The seventh gig was the largest held at the Dandelion Market, with the approximate attendance being almost 600. Admission was usually 50p; for the seventh show, it was £1. In the article on his site, John adds that the takings went to the band - the organisers only ever took out small sums of money if they needed to buy anything for the staging or lighting.
There have also been some other additions and changes to the early Irish shows section. Most notable is the addition of 14 November 1979 at Claddach Hall, Cork; a promotional poster for the concert calls the band "U-2", as do many other contemporaneous posters. Other shows have had dates and notes clarified; for instance, see the Baggot Inn gigs in August and October 1979.
In case you are disappointed that none of these shows have full setlists, below is a list of all pre-Boy concerts with full setlists (excluding TV and studio sessions):
· 1976-10-00 - Dublin, Ireland - Mount Temple Comprehensive School (U2's first concert, as Feedback)
· 1979-10-05 - Cork, Ireland - Cork Opera House
· 1980-02-26 - Dublin, Ireland - National Stadium
· 1980-03-02 - Tullamore, Ireland - Garden Of Eden Club
· 1980-05-11 - Tullamore, Ireland - Garden Of Eden Club
· 1980-07-13 - London, England - Marquee Club
A number of other shows have incomplete setlists; see the Early Days section for more details. There are also some early TV and studio sessions in Various Dates 1978-1989. If you have any additional details, please do not hesitate to contact us. All submissions are gratefully accepted. We would like to take this moment to extend particular thanks again to John Fisher for compiling the Dandelion Market information and making it available to the wider fan community.
In 1979, U2 played a number of concerts at the Dandelion Market in Dublin. Although these concerts are well-known for solidifying U2's reputation in Ireland as a passionate live band, the precise details have been a bit mysterious. Pimm Jal de la Parra's fantastic U2 Live: A Concert Documentary reports that there were six weekend gigs, the first in May. Furthermore, we believed the last was in August. However, that was it. All other information seemed lost to the mists of time.
Thankfully, this is no longer the case. John Fisher, one of the organisers of the Dandelion Market concerts, has kindly furnished us with details of the concerts. On his website, he has posted an excellent article about the Dandelion Market concerts with interesting information not just about U2, but also the concerts and music scene of the time more generally. It is well worth reading and contains a list of all the bands that played at the Dandelion Market from April 1979 to March 1980.
Importantly, John has clarified that U2 played at the Dandelion Market eight times in 1979, not six as previously believed, with the first concert in May and the last in December. Read on for the dates of the concerts and other details below.
1. 12 May 1979, after Edge and Larry asked about getting a gig.
2. 28 July 1979, with The Strougers as support act.
3. 11 August 1979, the only show for which any of the setlist is known.
4. 9 September 1979, the first of three shows on consecutive weekends.
5. 15 September 1979
6. 22 September 1979
7. 17 November 1979, supported by The Epidemics, this was a farewell concert before U2 went to play the U2:3 Tour in London.
8. 23 December 1979, supported by The Threat, after U2 had returned from England.
The seventh gig was the largest held at the Dandelion Market, with the approximate attendance being almost 600. Admission was usually 50p; for the seventh show, it was £1. In the article on his site, John adds that the takings went to the band - the organisers only ever took out small sums of money if they needed to buy anything for the staging or lighting.
There have also been some other additions and changes to the early Irish shows section. Most notable is the addition of 14 November 1979 at Claddach Hall, Cork; a promotional poster for the concert calls the band "U-2", as do many other contemporaneous posters. Other shows have had dates and notes clarified; for instance, see the Baggot Inn gigs in August and October 1979.
In case you are disappointed that none of these shows have full setlists, below is a list of all pre-Boy concerts with full setlists (excluding TV and studio sessions):
· 1976-10-00 - Dublin, Ireland - Mount Temple Comprehensive School (U2's first concert, as Feedback)
· 1979-10-05 - Cork, Ireland - Cork Opera House
· 1980-02-26 - Dublin, Ireland - National Stadium
· 1980-03-02 - Tullamore, Ireland - Garden Of Eden Club
· 1980-05-11 - Tullamore, Ireland - Garden Of Eden Club
· 1980-07-13 - London, England - Marquee Club
A number of other shows have incomplete setlists; see the Early Days section for more details. There are also some early TV and studio sessions in Various Dates 1978-1989. If you have any additional details, please do not hesitate to contact us. All submissions are gratefully accepted. We would like to take this moment to extend particular thanks again to John Fisher for compiling the Dandelion Market information and making it available to the wider fan community.
Posted on by Axver