Tom Dunne: Zach Bryan v Metallica — this weekend's Battle of the Music Titans

Both US acts might feel like they hail from different planets, but a closer look at the upcoming visitors to Ireland reveals they have more in common than you might expect

Zach Bryan is in Cork this weekend, while Metallica play in Dublin.

Wed, 17 Jun, 2026 - 21:00

Tom Dunne

Tom Dunne is a music-lover extraordinaire who, as well as presenting radio and TV shows, can also be seen in the wild as the lead singer with Something Happens.

As Messi and Ronaldo line up at the World Cup, both providing a masterclass for the ages, here in Ireland we have our own battle of the Titans this weekend. At the Aviva, in what geography pedants call “the capital”, we have Metallica; at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, in what locals call “the real capital”, we have Zach Bryan.

Let’s hope no one gets confused. Turn up at Metallica in a Stetson, cowboy boots, a check shirt and your Norn Iron girlfriend and things won’t end well for you. On paper at least, Metallica and Zach Bryan are matter and anti-matter. If they collided, both acts would disappear. But in the real world, things are never that simple.