Dublin Gig Guide: September 29th to October 5th. Highlights: Ireland Music Week 50-band showcase and conference take up much of the calendar, MusicTown’s Philip Lynott week, Vaticanjail, the Ollam, DJ Krush, Ólafur Arnalds, Manchán Magan celebration, Miriam Ingram, Mount Kimbie, Lil Skag, Stop The Lights, Alela Diane, Rhiannon Giddens, Nine Inch Nails listening parties.
Ireland Music Week and MusicTown’s Philip Lynott week open followed by Vaticanjail’s EP listening party, DJ Krush’s added late show and Ólafur Arnalds’ two sold-out NCH nights follow, Monday’s Manchán Magan/Slí na Samhlaíochta packed all-star tribute show, the long-coming Miriam Ingram’s album launch, Mount Kimbie DJing and Lil Skag on Saturday, Kelly-Anne Byrne’s Stop The Lights and a Horse Meat Disco jolly, on Friday, Alela Diane and Rhiannon Giddens on Wednesday alongside the two sold-out Nine Inch Nails listening parties this week.
What gigs are on this week in Dublin city?
Dublin venues, clubs and bars – A guide
Skip to day: Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun | Mon
Tuesday September 29th
Philo-Sophy Talks: A Vagabond of the Western World @ National Concert Hall
MusicTown’s Philip Lynott week continues with Thin Lizzy artist Jim Fitzpatrick and Horslips’ Eamon Carr in conversation with Donal Fallon about Philip’s early days in sixties Dublin. Kevin Barry Recital Room, free tickets.
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Ella Mai @ Vicar Street
The British R&B singer brings her Do You Still Love Me? tour to Dublin.
Irish Roulette 1.0 @ The Grand Social
Soft Rules, SAOL, The Psychs, Conor Kinsella, Punter. The lineup running order is set on stage by Raider’s Comedy Club showrunner Sean Fitzgerald as MC with a spinning wheel.
Vaticanjail Listening Party @ The Big Romance
This could have been a EP listening party.
Wednesday September 30th
Ireland Music Week Conference @ Lost Lane, Button Factory (daytime)
Ireland Music Week begins with its industry conference at Lost Lane, running Wednesday to Friday, with delegates including ESNS, The Great Escape, SXSW and Primavera Pro. The artist showcases follow on Thursday and Friday across the Button Factory, the Grand Social and the Workman’s Club.
Rhiannon Giddens @ Vicar Street
The two-time Grammy winner, Pulitzer Prize winner and Carolina Chocolate Drops co-founder plays Dublin.
Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral Album listening party @ The Big Romance (7pm)
Sold out. Trent Reznor’s 1994 classic album in focus. A live vinyl album playback and a discussion. Nialler9 and The Big Romance present Listen Closely, a monthly listening party focusing on one album we love, on the last Wednesday of every month.
Alela Diane @ Whelan’s
The Portland folk singer-songwriter is a Nialler9 favourite.
Lute @ The Grand Social
Foggy Notions present Charlotte-born rapper and Dreamville affiliate.
Natalia Beylis & Eimear Reidy @ Unitarian Church
The experimental musicians and composers perform their collaborative work in the Stephen’s Green church.
Aterciopelados @ Button Factory
The Colombian rock band.
Bowden @ Whelan’s Upstairs
Cork alt-rock band.
Yonaka @ Academy Green Room
UK Alt-rock trio with SNAYX and Knife Bride.
Thursday October 1st
Ireland Music Week Conference @ Lost Lane, , Button Factory (daytime)
Daytime industry conference at Lost Lane, running Wednesday to Friday, with delegates including ESNS, The Great Escape, SXSW and Primavera Pro.
Ireland Music Week Day Showcases @ The Grand Social
From 2.30pm. Ballroom: Miranda Faul, Amy Michelle, GAG REFLEX. Loft: Bullpen, DOG SWIM., Daragh Fleming x Throwing Snow.
Ireland Music Week @ The Grand Social
Ballroom: Róise, mischa and the bear, Blue Niall, Joe Butler. Loft: Charlie Delahunty, Negro Impacto, Jonique, Sarah Crean, Dave Lofts.
Ireland Music Week @ Button Factory
Maicín, Filmore!, Madams Last Discovery, For Nina and Black Nylon.
Ireland Music Week @ The Workman’s Club
Augalai, Burglar, Band 5000, Crying Loser and Shark School.
Metronome: TILT @ NCH
New music night with Annie-Dog, headfooters and Last Apollo.
Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral Album listening party @ The Big Romance (7pm)
Sold out – second night. Trent Reznor’s 1994 classic album in focus. A live vinyl album playback and a discussion.
Glasshouse presents Old Town: The Songs of Philip Lynott @ National Concert Hall
Musical director Naoise Dack leads the contemporary classical group through Lynott’s solo albums Solo in Soho and The Philip Lynott Album, plus selected Thin Lizzy songs. Guest singers include SexyTadhg, Iona Lynch of The Cliffords and Paddy Hanna.
Lost Love of Romeo: A Philip Lynott Exhibition @ Studio 10, Wicklow Street
Opening 5pm to 7pm. A free four-day exhibition featuring Jim Fitzpatrick, Chalkie Davies, Eric Luke and footage of Lynott’s pre-Thin Lizzy band The Black Eagles. Runs until Sunday.
Niall Breslin and the Polaris Quartet @ Vicar Street
Bressie performs his piano instrumentals with a string quartet.
Siúcra @ Whelan’s Upstairs
Siúcra are a Galway six piece blending alt rock with folk and psych edges.
chroma4ever003: Subtle, 2manycolours, Lainxoxo, Murky, Omniscient @ Yamamori Tengu (11pm)
hyperpop, EDM and dubstep.
Friday October 2nd
Ólafur Arnalds & Talos – A Dawning One-Day Choir @ Molesworth Hall
Gaia Music Collective’s One-Day Choir series is an opportunity to sing in a choir for one day only. It’s a celebration of song and the connective power of singing in harmony, and an opportunity to build community, make some new friends, and raise our powerfully diverse voices as one.
Ireland Music Week Conference @ Lost Lane, Button Factory(daytime)
Daytime industry conference at Lost Lane, running Wednesday to Friday, with delegates including ESNS, The Great Escape, SXSW and Primavera Pro.
Ireland Music Week Day Showcases @ The Grand Social
From 2pm. Ballroom: KiiKO, Mickey Chaos, Roisín Gowen, Pebbledash. Loft: Rua Rí, Eppie, McGrath.
Ireland Music Week @ The Grand Social
Ballroom: NO PHOTOS, Kadillac, Alex Gough, and Lil Skag at 10.30pm. Loft: Mount Pyrus, Sei Green, Mirrors, WineMom.
Ireland Music Week @ Button Factory
sell everything, The Wran, Adore and Shamrock Showband.
Ireland Music Week @ The Workman’s Club
d_abdu, rose wallace goldaline, Kissing on Camera, Epilogue, girlfriend. at 11.15pm, and Nerves at 12.15am.
Philo-Sophy Talks: Look What the Wind Just Blew In @ National Concert Hall
Fachtna O’Ceallaigh and Pat Neary play previously unheard Philip Lynott recordings, including four-track home demos of Jailbreak songs. Kevin Barry Recital Room, free tickets.
Robyn Hitchcock @ The Sugar Club
The English psych-pop songwriter plays songs from his 25th studio album, The Confuser.
Heron Red @ The Cobblestone
Debut headline show from the Dublin folk duo of Molly Buchan and Callum Wall, who blend Irish trad with Americana and country.
Spring Cleaning @ Sin É
Irish indie rock band plus Burn Down the House, Blight and Bruiser.
Bash Tru, Runner @ Thomas House
Berlin post-punk / alt-rock band headline.
Sourdure, Deep Triskell @ Bello Bar
Ernest Bergez works within a hybrid sound field, combining raw electronics (modular synths, feedback), acoustic instruments (violin, voice, foot percussion), and non-musical sounds (field recording, spoken voice).
Diveboy @ Whelan’s Upstairs
The Cork trio, formerly The Burma, release their third album In Orbit the same day.
The Blow Monkeys @ Whelan’s
Robert Howard’s eighties soul-pop band.
Clubs and DJs
Stop The Lights @ Hen’s Teeth (7:30pm – Midnight)
Kelly-Anne Byrne and Ruth Kavanagh B2B.
Horse Meat Disco @ Fidelity Studio (10pm – 1am)
All Night Long from the Scottish disco DJ masters.
Resonate x LOST: Main Phase & High Fidelity @ Wigwam
Danish garage producer Main Phase plays Ireland for the first time, with a cross-section of bass, speed garage and dubstep. An RA Pick.
Tengu presents: Cormac’s Residency with Tender @ Yamamori Tengu
Cormac, Bull Horris and Mercorn.
Index x Outset: Black Traffic & Mr. Polska @ Index
Index x Outset with Black Traffic and Mr. Polska.
MYTH x REVERB x EUPHONIC: F2F Full Venue Takeover @ The Sound House
A full venue takeover.
Whelan’s Indie Club with Silent Disco & Karaoke @ Little Whelan’s (10:30pm)
Indie club night, with silent disco and karaoke.
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Saturday October 3rd
Mother & Absolut Daytime Dance Party: The Doll Edition @ The George (3pm – 8pm)
3pm to 8pm. Pay what you can, with every cent going to Transgender Equality Network Ireland. With Glamo, Shrem, Mars Montana, Ruth Kavanagh, Shaqira Knightly, Toni & Tony, Dr Count Evil, Anziety and Queeen Marie.
Ólafur Arnalds: Falling Apart Together @ National Concert Hall
The Icelandic composer brings his most adventurous project to date, a concert hybrid built around dismantling the distance between performer and audience. Presented by Foggy Notions. Sold out. Second show on Sunday, a matinee.
DJ Krush @ The Sugar Club
The Tokyo producer has spent three decades blending hip-hop beats with jazz, ambient textures and traditional Japanese elements, with collaborations including DJ Shadow and Mos Def. Presented by ChoiceCuts. The early show is sold out, and a late show has been added.
Lil Skag, beddyminaj , Babyfacee @ Flux Studios D2
Closing party for the Hechyeomoyeo multidisciplinary art exhibition.
The Amazons @ Whelan’s
The Reading band play an intimate show with new single ‘Blood on the Bone’ out now. Support from Blood Donor.
The Molotovs @ Button Factory
The Britpop band backed by Paul Weller. With Marra. Sold out.
Runthered @ Whelan’s Upstairs
Irish indie-alternative band, inspired by artists such as The Cranberries, The Frames, and boygenius.
aisling @ The Fumbally Stables
Album launch release of third bilingual album ‘An Damhsa’ (the Dance), which explores the complexity and vulnerability of navigating relationships with soft acoustic guitar, gentle cello and vocals.
Dharmacide @ Curveball
Madrid band mixing shoegaze, dream pop and post-punk.
Mac Steady, Avenue 68, Mise @ The Bernard Shaw
Stiky Ryano presents a three-band live bill.
Ingar Zach, Eimear Reidy @ The Space Between
An improvised music night from Reception. Ingar Zach is a Norwegian percussionist, composer and sound artist. Eimear Reidy is a cellist, improvisor, sometimes sound artist.
Nicotine Dolls @ The Workman’s Club
NYC indie alt-rock band. Two nights.
BRSR @ Sin É
BRSR (pronounced Bruiser) are a rising Scottish alt‑rock band.
Clubs and DJs
O’Flynn @ Fidelity Studio (9pm)
DJ set from London producer who makes vivid percussion-led club music spanning house, UK bass and more far-flung rhythmic traditions.
Being Sarah’s Basement @ Sin E (11pm – 3am)
New weekly hardware electronic music club set in the cosy surroundings of Sin e’s basement on Ormond Quay. Each week is curated by Being Sarah and features the best producers Dublin performing. Being Sarah feat: Gint
Mount Kimbie DJ pres. TunnelVision w/ upsammy @ Centre Point (11pm)
Mount Kimbie DJ and invite Amsterdam-based electronic ambient-leaning producer. ‘Upsoil’
Billy Scurry, Liam Dollard and Pat Hyland @ Hang Dai Chinese (11pm)
Three DJs at Hang Dai Chinese.
Tengu presents: Sonic Explorations LIVE with Kessler, Lerosa & Commissions @ Yamamori Tengu (11pm)
Fifth installation of Tengu’s ‘Sonic Explorations LIVE’ series with artists all performing live sets within Scarlet’s ‘The Drape’ installation. Music from Belfast’s Kessler (bass, techno, jungle and broken rhythms) Lerosa (Dublin-based Italian producer who plays dub, electro, industrial, IDM and techno) and Dublin hardware trio Commissions.
Donk It Yourself @ Daylight (9pm)
BYOB. JWY, Bull Horris, Jimbo Jones on the newly completed Daylight soundystem.
Nightcap: Gabrielle Kwarteng @ Pawn Shop (11pm)
+ Sahana,Shannen Blessing, Jamie Behan
Omni presents: Dou Dou MD @ Wigwam (11pm)
A SlapFunk Records resident, Doudou MD has built a reputation for deep, rolling selections made for the club.
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ @ Button Factory (11pm)
A 50 Cent and G-Unit themed club night.
Omni presents: Jake Fitz B2B Eric Brown @ block. (11pm)
Jake Fitz and Eric Brown go back to back.
Racket Space presents: IsGwan @ The Racket Space (11pm)
UKG and bass music from Melbourne.
Throwback Events presents: Call Me Maybe, a 2010s Party @ The Workman’s Club (11:30pm)
A 2010s pop party.
Skip to day: Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun | Mon
Sunday October 4th
Musictown: Songs for While I’m Away @ Irish Film Institute (1:30pm)
A screening of Emer Reynolds’ documentary on Lynott, followed by a live interview with the director and comedian Killian Sunderman. The Lost Love of Romeo exhibition at Studio 10, Wicklow Street, has its final day.
Ólafur Arnalds: Falling Apart Together @ National Concert Hall (matinee)
Second and final Dublin show. Sold out. See Saturday listing.
Miriam Ingram, Legion Of One @ Bello Bar
Mariana Trench Album took shape over nearly two decades gets a launch. Performing with a 12-piece band.
Lisa Murray @ Whelan’s Upstairs
The Dublin singer-songwriter plays upstairs.
World of Hans Zimmer @ 3Arena
A journey through the legendary composer’s most famous works. Matt Dunkley joins some of Hans Zimmer’s top soloists, the world-class Odessa Orchestra & Friends and the Nairobi Chamber Chorus. Zimmer doesn’t feature.
Podge Lane & Kate Dineen @ Little Whelan’s
Free show. New York-based, Irish alt-country artist Podge and Dublin based singer-songwriter Kate.
Nicotine Dolls @ The Workman’s Club
NYC indie alt-rock band. Two nights.
Big Fat Slut @ Pawn Shop (10pm)
Free entry all night 🪩 for t-girls, dykes, queers, gays, fats, femmes, t-boys, theys, sluts, trade & allies 🫦 21+
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Monday October 5th
Slí na Samhlaíochta | The Way of Imagination @ NCH
Slí na Samhlaíochta is a one-off live performance that brings together spoken word, music, and visual art in an exploration of the concept of Tír na nÓg through the work of Manchán Magan. With Lisa O’Neill, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Crash Ensemble, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Méabh McKenna, Myles O’Reilly, Branwen Kavanagh, Neil Ó Lochlainn, Ultan O’Brien and Simon O’Reilly, Musical Director.
the olllam @ 3Olympia Theatre
The trad and jazz-leaning group led by uilleann pipes play the Olympia. The olllam were formed in 2012 as a collaboration between legendary Belfast piper John McSherry (Lunasa, At First Light, Ulaid), fellow piper/whistler and grammy-nominated producer Tyler Duncan (Carly Rae Jepsen, Vulfpeck), Michael Shimmin (May Erlewine, Millish), and Joe Dart (Vulfpeck).
Hazzard Play, The Leeways & Whaleshrk @ Whelan’s Upstairs
Triple bill of new bands.
Song Cycle @ Whelan’s Bar
Whelan’s weekly free singer-songwriter night.
Jazz Jam @ Arthur’s
A dedicated weekly jazz jam. Every week features an opening set by a different band, made up of invited professional musicians from the Irish jazz scene followed by a jam session.
Dublin venues, clubs and bars – A guide
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
