Dublin Gig Guide Highlights:
NYE special, Kneecap, Damien Dempsey, Soda Blonde, Maykay, Madra Salach, John Talabot, Optimo, Nialler9’s Indie Disco, Gurriers, Kean Kavanagh, Irish Hash Mafia, Tebi Rex, Klub Sukar, Tara Kumar, D Double E, Jeff Mills, NYF, Melina Malone, Teki Latex, Mano Le Tough, Sleepover Club presents End of Year Ball.
It’s the Nialler9 Dublin gig guide
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Tuesday December 16th
Kneecap pre-party @ Dalymount Park (1pm – 7pm)
DJs, live trad, merch and Kneecap x Bohs jersey. DJs Claire Beck, Dalba, Gurriers, Mango.
Kneecap @ 3Arena
Irish as Gaeilge electronic rap party starters have had a hell of a year.
Inspiral Carpets @ The Academy
Baggy UK band.
Honky Tonk Tuesdays @ Arthur’s
Country two-steppin and cowboy music from Zoe Basha and pals.
Sabbages @ The Cobblestone
Cabbage-clad ceili-core craic connoisseurs.
Plámásing: A conversation with… @ The Sugar Club
A talk show–style live event featuring on stage interviews with a diverse panel of guests, including Ciaran Gaffney (storyteller), Carl Hickey (artist/painter), and Zoé Basha (musician). Plus special guest performance from a Soft Boy man.
Damien Dempsey @ Vicar Street
The Donabate dude’s annual Christmas shows are legendary.
Jerry Fish @ Whelan’s
An Emotional Fish man’s solo show.
RUBARB JAM! @ The Grand Social
featuring; Martina and the Moons, Monday’s Child, Galia Arad
Wednesday December 17th
Kneecap pre-party @ Dalymount Park (1pm – 7pm)
DJs, live trad, merch and Kneecap x Bohs jersey. DJs Fontaines DC, Kojaque, Heavenly DJs.
Groundswell @ The Complex (6pm)
A 3-day lineup of live acts to help raise awareness and #SaveTheComplex.
Bloc Party – Silent Alarm (Listening Party) and Indie Disco @ The Big Romance (7pm)
Join Nialler9 and Dean Van Nguyen for December’s Listen Closely celebrating a classic modern indie record with a chat about the record’s context and importance and a bit of a knees up after.
Kneecap @ 3Arena
Irish as Gaeilge electronic rap party starters have had a hell of a year.
Kean Kavanagh @ The Button Factory
The County Star is in fine form.
Meryl Streek @ The Academy
Dublin electronic punk artist who rails against the ills of society.
Damien Dempsey @ Vicar Street
The Donabate dude.
Rob de Boer @ Grand Social
Watch Rob’s jazz dance music video set in Irish pub for ‘Our Own Way’
Grrrls to the Front! Cozy edition @ The Workman’s Club
Ex Oh Promotions. Ciúnas, SYGH, Neansaí
Mik Pyro and Band @ Whelan’s
Republic of Loose frontman had a solo album last year.
Moke*: Eden Hazard, Seersucker, Katie G O Neill, Éabha, Alice Rekab @ Cleary’s
Amien Street is suddenly the happening new gig spot.
SMO, Amy Michelle, Star Current @ The Sound House
Dublin rock-pop artist.
Kneecap and friends DJs @ Index (11pm)
3Arena afterparty with DJ Provaí Dj set with Moglai Bap from the band with support from Sally Cinnamon, Mango and Dalba.
Thursday December 18th
Cooks But We’re Chefs @ Button Factory
7 piece band drawing from house, funk, jazz, soul and hip-hop. Sei Green and The Wu + afterparty at The Grand Social.
Groundswell @ The Complex (6pm)
A 3-day lineup of live acts to help raise awareness and #SaveTheComplex.
Soda Blonde @ Vicar Street
The Dublin band just released a live album, concert film featuring the National Symphony Orchestra.
The Blades @ The Academy
Annual show from the Irish late 70s new wave band.
MayKay @ Whelan’s
The Irish artist finally released a debut solo album after 20 years playing music and this is the launch gig. Special guests Ailbhe Reddy and Steve ón ‘dings.
Softdrink Millionaire, Barnburner, Emily Beattie, Roisín McKeown @ Whelan’s
Pdych and alt rock, alternative folk duo and Wicklow/ NYC-based Irish singer-songwriters.
Winemom @ Bello Bar
WineMom are two powerful girls and two dynamic boys from Dublin who create music in the spirit of Fleetwood Mac and the Doobie Brothers.
SheSaidSo showcase @ Mish Mash Cafe
Mollery Donnery, Roisín Gowen, Becca Colley. SheSaidSo is a not-for-profit set up to empower women in the music industry
Patrick Topping @ Index (11pm)
English house, tech-house and techno DJ.
Block x Slither €1 party @ block (11pm)
With Very Special Guest
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Friday December 19th
Groundswell @ The Complex (6pm)
A 3-day lineup of live acts to help raise awareness and #SaveTheComplex.
Gurriers @ Button Factory
Two nights from the rip-roaring Dublin rock band.
Skinny Living @ Green Room at The Academy
Three-piece English indie-soul band
The Ocelots @ Bello Bar
Irish folk singer-songwriter brothers.
Damien Dempsey @ Vicar Street
The Donabate dude’s annual Christmas shows are legendary.
Solidarity Sessions for Palestine @ Blas Café
Panels from international members of the Sumud Flotilla and Shannon airport actionists, as well as Palestine Action Éire, facilitated by Rupa Mayra. Accompanied by xmusical acts by The Yearners and Branwen, to be ended with a dance led by the Continuity Céilí Band. All proceeds from tickets will directly go to grassroots Gazan collective Save Gaza and for the Boeing 3 bail fund.
MOIO @ Lost Lane
Chamomile Club Nigerian-Irish artist is on a R&B indie soul songwriter vibe.
STOP THE LIGHTS! @ Hen’s Teeth (7pm – 12.30am)
Kelly-Anne Byrne B2B Ruth Kavanagh.
A Vsevlod Christmas Carol @ Daylight
Vsevlod Plotkin and friends will approximate the classic ‘A Christmas Carol’ live on stage, with live scoring from Rosie Ní Mhurchú, Glibless, and Enola Christ Metalizer. Also on the night there will be a live opening performance from Flesh B. Bugged, a Christmas raffle, and tunes late into the night from DJs Mice Hell, and Bong Gozling.
Late Clubs
Dublin Modular @ Project Arts Centre (7pm – 2am)
Christmas Panto edition with Qbanaa, Marconi’s Mess Mooncup, Mercorn, Aoife Nic Canna, Governess and more. Early and late.
Tara Kumar @ Fidelity Studio (10pm – 1am)
Tara all night long.
Real Talks Records Launch Party @ Pawn Shop (10pm)
A late-night basement session at Pawn Shop from Lukey and Royce Laroca.
Time In Body presents: Willikens & Ivkovic (Extended Set) @ Tengu (11pm)
German and Serbian electronic selectors.
SWEATBOX Christmas Special: Dirty Diaspora @ The Grand Social (11pm)
Upstairs in the Main Room, DJ Karen dishes out sleigh-bell bangers and house heaters. Downstairs in the Ballroom is a rave-ready blizzard of techno and high-energy chaos. Two floors, one mission: seasonal depravity.
Starlight Project ꐕ⋆⁺✧˚ @ Wigwam (11pm)
₊ w/ EMMIE + Surferboy, Donncha {Hybrid Live} & Ben Taylor + Mate Kason
SKETCH W / Neil Flynn + Sara Miller @ Hang Dai Chinese
Berlin-inspired Irish dance selectors.
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Saturday December 20th
Gurriers @ Button Factory
Two nights from the rip-roaring Dublin rock band.
Damien Dempsey @ Vicar Street
The Donabate dude’s annual Christmas shows are legendary.
SLUDGEMAS @ Lost Lane (Noon to late)
Christmas market from mid-day with music from 4pm featuring The Spudguns, Bobby Basil, The Sleaze, Local Boy, Really Good Time DJs and more. Ticket funds raised will go towards ACLAÍ Palestine – a community gym located in the Lajee centre in the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, West Bank Palestine.
Fionn Regan @ Whelans
Irish singer-songwriter.
A Tribute to Amy Winehouse @ The Grand Social Dublin
Tribute band.
Wifeswap, Kapayja @ Thomas House
Fundraiser Night for CATU.
Late Clubs
A Very Lumo Christmas… @ Hen’s Teeth (8pm – 1am)
Mistletoe disco, robot rock, electro-pop selection boxes, mulled pop classics, Italo Santas, 4/4 tinsel boogies, soulful merriment! Our annual Xmas boogie with Lumo Club Residents: Nialler9, Gavin Elsted and Simon Roche.
Giles Armstrong & Maeve O’Neill @ Connolly Books (9pm – 11pm)
House Techno Electro.
Twas the night before SOLSTICE @ Daylight
Rory Sweeney, Doubt, E The Artist, Mathair, Mooncup x JWY, Odd Ned, Mineral Stunting, Katie Geraldine O Neil and many more til very late
SCART presents: Wrong Channel @ Duck Theatre
Live electronic acts and electro-techno-dub-noise. Splitradix, Eliza, Rob Hatchell Long Before Since, Rosanna, Juliana Scodeler, Solasine
Fantazee Christmas Special @ Hang Dai Chinese (11pm)
Billy Scurry, Pat Hyland, Will Dempsey, Liam Dollard
The Brat-mas Xmas Party @ The Grand Social (11pm)
Charli XCX-themed night.
Alba B2B K8OLO @ Tengu (11pm)
2muchbootyinthebooth play afrobeat, bass, breakbeat, latin heat…
Dave Clarke – All Night Long @ Index (11pm)
Techno legend.
Beyhive Beymas Club @ Curveball (11pm)
Beyonce all night long.
Interplanetary Criminal @ Index (11pm)
Two nights from the Manchester electronic producer.
Jack Russell, Rustal @ Pawn Shop (11pm)
Black Cat Records: A night dedicated to refined techno and deep dub influences, with spacious low-end textures and detailed sound design
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Sunday December 21st
Lisa O’Neill, Junior Brother @ Vicar Street
Cavan singer-songwriter. The Wind Doesn’t Blow This Far Right
Alfie Hudson-Taylor @ Whelan’s
As the previous frontman of folk duo Hudson Taylor had a long held tradition of Christmas residencies at the iconic venue.
Mark Geary @ Whelan’s
Irish singer-songwriter.
Jamie D’Arcy, Matilda Rowe, Elishka Lane @ Little Whelan’s
Gig For Palestine.
Daire Patel, Skyless & Veen @ The Sound House
Irish alt-R&B artist Daire Patel’s debut album explores the personal turbulence of early adulthood, and “traces Patel’s journey from confusion and self-doubt to resilience and acceptance.”
Late Clubs
Interplanetary Criminal @ Index (8pm – 1am)
Two nights from the Manchester electronic producer.
Seventh State: Jerome Hill, Belacqua (live), Shiv @ Tengu (9pm – 1:30am)
Bouncy rave techno headliner.
Loose Connection @ Hang Dai Chinese (11pm)
Joshwha All Night Long. House music.
Monday December 22rd
Tebi Rex @ Button Factory
The last ever gig from the Kildare pop and rap duo. Fin.
Damien Dempsey @ Vicar Street
The Donabate dude’s annual Christmas shows are legendary.
KiiKO @ Whelan’s Upstairs
An electronic pop collaboration between Tokyo-born DJ Emmy Shigeta, Irish producer John McDowell and drummer Dave Rogers.
Late Clubs
Irish Hash Mafia Homecoming @ Tengu (9pm – 1:30am)
Ahmed with Love, Curtisy, mooncup, Rory Sweeney, Skagaboo, Yeire13
LOVE FREQUENCY: Audrey Danza @ Wigwam (11pm – 3am)\
Swiss DJ, producer, and label head of Proxima. Plus Eric Brown B2B Suckerfish, Surka, DIEBYVEG, Marina Potion Club, Shutter Selects DJs
Tuesday December 23rd
The Deadlians and Trad Rave @ Whelan’s
Folk rock band and DJ PCP & DJackulate doing mad dance trad stuff.
Papa Romeo Presents: The Winter Games @ The Sugar Club
A live show from SELL EVERYTHING, with support from John Lappin ‘Adventures in Dub’, plus DJ sets from Síofra, Jimmy Rouge and Papa Romeo DJs
Damien Dempsey @ Vicar Street
The Donabate dude’s annual Christmas shows are legendary.
I Draw Slow @ The Workman’s Club
Dublin Roots/Americana band.
Bella Festa’s Annual Christmas Staff Do @ Hen’s Teeth (7pm – 1am)
Disco and Italo with Aidan & David Diamond, Adam Cooke, Parish God B2B Vote4Pedro and Giita
CURFEW @ The Grand Social
Black Doll’s Eyes Album Launch from Dublin hard rock band.
Honky Tonk Tuesdays @ Arthur’s
Country two-steppin and cowboy music from Zoe Basha and pals.
Spraoi Mór Palestine Fundraiser @ Hang Dai Chinese (11pm – 2:30am)
Tr One b2b Aoife Nic Canna, Spraoi Mór, Dar Molloy, Holten. All proceeds from this party will go to Uisce for Gaza, an Irish organisation bringing clean, safe water to the people of Gaza.
Hidden Love @ Pawn Shop (7pm – 3am)
[Free Entry] Sam Greenwood, EMMIE, Familiar Roots, Hidden Love Residents
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
No events
Friday December 26th – Stephen’s Day
Mano Le Tough @ Fidelity Studio (9pm – 1am)
Wicklow electronic producer all-night long.
Reclaim the Mainframe @ Wigwam (11pm)
Basement: Blasha & Allatt, Dylan Fogarty, Aeron XTC b2b Oisinok, Ayolxi.
Main Room: New Jackson – DJ Set, Laine, Phil Long, Pröwl, Tr One.
Rathaus @ The Sound House (10pm – 2am)
MAV666, Shannen Blessing, DJ Get Luc(y), JWY, LPM, Aria Nasty, Climbwallsweird, Gaia.
Saturday December 27th
Sleepover Club presents End of Year Ball @ The Workman’s Club
And he, the fool, Anemoia, Avenue 68, lowkick, Sei Green, Sell Everything, sjaney, Veen, Wobblin Jude x Tomococko, Wodwego + Surprise Guest.
Aslan @ Vicar Street
The band soldier on without Christy, with Lee Tomkins on vocals.
Jungle Movement Dublin @ The Racket Space
Tamen representing Rapture & Samurai Music supported by a strong lineup of local DJs. We’re opening with a live art-jam exhibition from 7pm with jungle breakbeats setting the mood.
Late Clubs
Fuaim X Solace Space @ TBA (11pm)
Becky / Cashper.
KI/KI @ Index (11pm)
Trance, rave and acid techno from the Dutch DJ.
Cream of Dublin Oldskool @ The Grand Social (11pm)
A night of pure nostalgia and oldskool vibes with Mark Kavanagh and more.
Stacked: with MCR-T, Teki Latex @ Wigwam (11pm)
Teki Latex is the big draw here, an amazing Dj.
Last Dance with Replay @ Opium (10:30pm)
Dacosta, Aice Ugbah, Jesse, Ghxst. Afrobeat, Amapiano, R&B, hip-hop, and house
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Sunday December 28th
Palestine Solidarity Night @ The Sugar Club.
An evening of music and solidarity with Palestine, featuring performances from John Francis Flynn, DUG, and Laura Quirke & Joshua Burnside.
Live Forever @ Button Factory
Sold Out Oasis tribute.
Paddy Casey @ Whelan’s
Irish singer-songwriter’s annual show.
The Bionic Rats @ The Grand Social
Irish reggae and ska band.
Bat’s Womb @ Fibber Magees (9pm)
Goth Club Night.
Late Clubs
Tender @ The Complex (7pm – 1:30am)
Puzzy Wrangler, Síofra B2B T-RAIL
Monday December 29th
Melina Malone @ The Sugar Club
Irish-Greek neo-soul artist blending jazz, R&B, and soul.
Roisín Gowen, Elishka Lane & Pippa Molony @ Whelan’s Upstairs
A trio of singer-songwriter lineup.
Something Happens @ Whelan’s
Tom Dunne and pals’ annual Christmas show.
Hotel Danesfield @ Hen’s Teeth (7pm – 12am)
House music with Alex Fish, Judy James, Peggs, Sam Raftery O’Brien
Tuesday December 30th
Based @ Button Factory (4pm)
All-ages day festival with young bands. Featuring:
Juggernaut, Nitrogen, Red Union, Static, The Embers, The Sallywags, Printed Braille, Magazine Cowboy.
NYF Music Trail @ Various venues
Lineup tbc.
Echoes of Ireland @ Dublin Castle (3:30pm – 8pm, Free, Family-Friendly Event)
4 concerts showcasing the best of Ireland including Cliffords, Madra Salach, Simple Things and Chubby Cat
Something Happens @ Whelan’s
Tom Dunne and pals’ annual Christmas show.
Late Clubs
Jeff Mills @ Index (11pm)
The #1 Detroit Techno legend
Locklead @ Index (11pm)
Omni present the Utrecht-based house DJ and producer.
Rub A Dub X inHabit @ Tengu (11pm)
Drum and bass and dubstep with Bobofunk, Misha Freshin, Aisling Zita, JWY, Chonkie and David Oblivian.
Wednesday December 31st – New Year’s Eve
Biird, Florence Road, Shelly Gray @ Dublin Castle (4pm)
NYF Matinee Countdown Concert.
Subject NYE: SYSTEM:5 – Warehouse Edition @ The Complex (7pm – 2am)
Jon Hussey, Mode_1, PageOne, Lunaks, Derv, hellokt, Posterboy.
Real Talks Art NYE @ Bad Bob’s (7pm)
House and more on vinyl in a rooftop in Temple Bar.
The Ritual NYE @ Slane Castle
Becky, Dylan Fogarty, Poser, Surferboy, Surka B2B Boots and Kats, Rhyzine and many more. A bus takes people from Dublin to the Castle.
BASHT. @ The Workman’s Club
Dublin alt-rock band with support Croíthe and Black Nylon.
Madra Salach @ Whelan’s
Alternative folk six-piece are a band on the up. Madra Salach’s top songs of 2025.
Some Dance To Forget @ The Big Romance (9pm)
Donal Dineen’s annual NYE bash. DD & t-woc all night.
Stop The Lights! @ Hen’s Teeth
Kelly-Anne Byrne B2B Get Down Edits.
Inhaler, Biird, Florence Road, Shelly Gray @ Dublin Castle (8pm)
NYF Evening Countdown Concert.
Nialler9’s Indie Disco NYE @ The Circular
An indie sleaze and indie disco vibe in the Other Hand bar and Forma Records’ soul, disco and house in the main bar.
New Year’s Eve @ Fibbers
Thirteenth Step (A Perfect Circle Tribute) + Lads Insane (Tribute to David Bowie) + Disko Volante.
Playback presents Stop Making Sense @ The Sugar Club (9pm)
Talking Heads film tribute live band.
Different Rhythm @ Lucky’s
Beyond the Fence NYE party
Optimo NYE @ Fidelity Studio (9pm – 1am)
JG Wilkes flies the Optimo (Espacio) flag through a tumultuous year marked by the loss of his longtime Optimo partner JD Twitch.
John Talabot & more @ The Pygmalion
The Catalan selector plus DJ Deece and more.
New Year’s Eve: Klub Sukar Takeover @ Tengu (10pm)
with DJ Karmawi, Masha, Moving Still & Sahana.
Sweatbox @ The Grand Social (10pm)
Gay men’s night. In the Main Room, DJ Karen plays house heat. Downstairs in the Ballroom, rave anthems and techno bangers.
Daft Punk Experience @ The Bernard Shaw (10pm)
They are the robots.
D Double E & Cody Wong @ Wigwam (10pm)
Grime MC’s D Double E taking over the main floor while one of Ireland’s burgeoning house and trance producer Cody Wong leads the charge in the basement
Mark Blair @ Index (10pm)
Blair likes the ravey bangers.
Fantazee presents Kormac @ Hang Dai (11pm)
Support from Northside Loft Society (Pat Hyland & Charlie Murnane), delivering the finest house all night.
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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.
