A new pub and venue space in Dublin offering live music seven nights a week.
The Star Bar is a new pub that has taken over the Thomas Rody Maher at 43 Baggot Street Lower, which was previously known as Larry Murphy’s.
It’s a quiet pint kind of spot with live music programmed by a recognisable name on the Irish music scene – booker Stefan Murphy aka The Mighty Stef / The Sleevens.
The music includes trad, jazz, folk, blues and singer-songwriter with residencies from like Mik Pyro, Conor Lyons & Maitiu O Casaide of The Bonny Men, Stef and Dan Fitzpatrick (Badhands), Deirdre Murphy and Ken Mooney (Mary Wallopers).
The Mayo folk singer based in London Seamus Fogarty plays a gig there in April, and there are plans for more one-off gigs there.
Sunday:Velvet Sundays – Acoustic session with Stefan and Dan (7 pm), playing hits from Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan, and more.
The booker and events co-ordinator Stefan Murphy said of the new spot:
“The intimate size and setting of both Upstairs and Downstairs at The Star Bar allows us to create a truly special connection between the artists and the audience. It’s about more than just the music—it’s about building a community for artists and music lovers. Live music venues like this are crucial in giving homegrown and emerging talent a platform to perform and test their material while also acting as a stepping stone to help get them to an international stage. We’re living in an era of streaming culture, but to be honest, I personally don’t think anything can replicate the energy of a live gig—there’s a power to being in the room where it happens.”
Follow @thestarbardublin on Instagram for updates on happenings there.
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.
