Stones fans get ticket satisfaction in minutes

THEY’VE been around for decades but The Rolling Stones can still satisfy their eager fans.

Yesterday, the band set a new Irish box office record when more than 16,000 tickets for their Dublin gigs sold within two minutes.

Dedicated Stones fans queued for hours to get their hands on precious tickets for the band’s two Dublin concerts.

The Stones added a second concert due to the overwhelming demand for tickets, but there still wasn’t enough to go around.

They will play at the Point on September 9 and 11, with tickets selling for €55-130.

Ticketmaster also drafted in 300 extra staff yesterday morning when tickets for Christina Aguilera’s debut Irish concerts went on sale.

The American superstar will be in Dublin on Friday, October 31, when she plays the Point and Belfast on Thursday, October 30.

International superstar Aguilera is visiting Ireland as part of her highly-acclaimed Stripped Tour.

And there will be a gathering of music stars in Dublin tonight when the Heineken Green Energy festival kicks off.

Some of the biggest names in world music will play in Dublin Castle, the Ambassador, the Village, Temple Bar Music Centre, the Tivoli and the POD.

The weekend highlight is a concert by the Stereophonics in Dublin Castle on Monday evening. The band will be joined on stage by big name guests such as Mundy and Bell X1.

Craig David, who has sold seven million albums worldwide, plays at the Castle tomorrow and Groove Armada and Moloko perform there tonight.

Numerous other stars performing in Dublin this weekend include: Beck, The Vines, Yo La Tengo, Jaga Jazzist, The Buzzcocks, Electric Six, Evan Dando, Future Kings of Spain, Hell is For Heroes, The Wildhearts, BEANS, Black Dice, Hot Hot Heat, Soledad Brothers, My Computer, Nils Petter Molvær, Krust & Die and Dave Clarke.