Having the itch to rock out to your favorite bands and singers? Dublin is definitely a city packed with a lot of energetic events to satisfy your cravings for live music.
In this article, we check out the best places for live music here in Dublin for anyone who enjoys a fun night rocking out.
If you’re ready, read on!
How much do tickets for live music cost?
The price for tickets largely depends on the act that is performing, of course. Other factors include the cost of concert production and the venue itself.
Below is a table of different estimated ticket prices for different venues around the Dublin area.
Top Live Music Venues in Dublin
We assessed the venues based on the following criteria:
1. Vicar Street
| Facilities | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Ambiance and atmosphere | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Additional amenities | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| Contact and communication | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Previous performances | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| Viewer experience | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Purchasing process | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Overall satisfaction | ★★★★★(5/5) |
An award winning live music venue that features impressive facilities and capabilities, Vicar Street is an excellent option for those looking to attend sizable, yet intimate music events.
The space has repeatedly won the Dublin Live Music Venue of the Year assuring customers of their dependability in both customer service and facilities maintenance. Vicar Street itself has a longstanding history since its establishment in 1998.
What we like about this space is that they have a substantial amount of tech features for an immersive music goer’s experience. They have advanced equipment to support overall excellent sound quality throughout the whole area.
We were also very impressed with the lighting capabilities that they have, making for some very exciting and dynamic displays. If you are someone who is looking for a music show with equally thrilling effects, we highly recommend checking them out.
However, we would like to point out that they do not have parking around the area and larger vehicles must have the proper permits. For more details, they have a comprehensive guide available on their site.
In terms of their shows, they have comparatively more regular performers than other venues but they still accommodate the occasional high-tier musical acts that work well with the venue’s technical capabilities.
If you are looking for a music venue with a dependable track record and excellent concert facilities, we highly recommend checking out Vicar Street.
Pros
- Very advanced tech capabilities
- Have bar facilities
- Large venue space
- Available event management for hire
Cons
- Have more consecutive performer dates; not as much variety
- Parking may be difficult
Customer Reviews
Venue is Big but Cozy
One of my fav music venues in Dublin. From Villagers, to Caribou or David O’Doherty. There’s always something good on! The venue itself is relatively big but feels very cozy. The bar service is very quick and never had to queue for very long. – Alicia Llorens
Great Sound and Atmosphere
Been here twice in the last couple of weeks and it’s one of my favourite venues to see my favourite artists in. Great sound and atmosphere and the staff are so friendly. – Linda Hayden
2. The Workman’s Club
| Facilities | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Ambiance and atmosphere | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| • Additional amenities | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Contact and communication | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Previous performances | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Viewer experience | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| • Purchasing process | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| • Overall satisfaction | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
With a variety of different types of spaces to choose from, The Workman’s Club is a versatile place that offers patrons cozy, yet exciting, musical experiences.
Although they opened only in 2010, the amount of musical acts and artists they’ve housed is extensively impressive enough to make them a surefire visit for any music fan.
Some of these acts include Father John Misty, Kodaline and even a Cillian Murphy DJ session. However, they open their doors to all types of acts like comedy events, showcases and personalized reservations.
What really stands out to us about them is their multiple types of spaces customers can choose from. Their main room has a very funky ambience to it with a great PA system.
They also have a brand new venue called the Workman’s cellar which houses two bars and an intimate atmosphere. These are only two spaces out of their six other areas, each with their own distinct atmosphere.
The con for these spaces however is that their capacity for people is quite limited. This wouldn’t be the best venue for larger crowds.
All in all, if you’re looking for a place that has a great atmosphere, varied amenities and an excellent amount of choices, The Workman’s Club should definitely be your top choice.
Pros
- Usually very affordable ticket prices
- Have different spaces with very varied ambiances
- Substantial experience with a great range of performers
- Friendly and knowledgeable staff
Cons
- Smaller venue space
- More limited tech capabilities
Customer Reviews
Very Well Run Place
Very relaxing place, no standing on ceremony here. Very well run place, anybody and everybody would feel comfortable here. Went to a gig here, lovely space, intimate music experience. They have a mix, arthouse, just a good welcoming pub and I believe a nightclub experience. – Edward Humphrey
Had a Brilliant Night
Had a lovely evening here by happenstance. We were in Dublin on a 2 day visit, went here Sunday night. Walked up the quays for a drink. Door supervisor was very friendly and let us know that there was a show on. We went upstairs instead but it was quiet at that stage. So ended up at the downstairs show, which was a Drag comedy show. We had a brilliant night. And everyone we chatted with were super friendly. – Joey Bell
3. 3Olympia Theater
| Facilities | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Ambiance and atmosphere | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Additional amenities | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| Contact and communication | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Previous performances | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| Viewer experience | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Purchasing process | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Overall satisfaction | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
With a good range of shows that can suit a lot of ages, 3Olympia is a grand venue that provides a more formal experience when it comes to live music.
Their roots date all the way back to 1879 housing world famous productions and names like Charlie Chaplin and The Walworth Farce. More modern acts include the legendary David Bowie, so a visit to the theater alone is definitely filled with history.
What stands out to us is definitely the look of the venue. We really like the grandeur of the ambience, from the seats to the balcony designs and carvings.
The venue also has very impressive tech capabilities and acoustics so theatergoers can expect very dynamic and varied effects.
However, we will admit that because the shows they accommodate are more varied, there are usually less choices for purely live music shows.
We also really appreciate that 3Olympia has a lot of information that makes it convenient for everyone visiting. We highly recommend checking out their website for information on parking as well as transportation to get to the venue.
They also have information on recommended hotels and restaurants nearby, making it very convenient for visitors planning a trip.
If you’re looking for a music venue with a rich history and more formal ambience, check out 3Olympia.
Pros
- Have a lot of information on transportation, hotels and restaurants
- Extensive history
- Grandeur atmosphere and ambience
- Ensure accessibility
Cons
- Less purely live music shows
- Prohibit selfie sticks, umbrellas, ipads, large posters etc.
Customer Reviews
Amazing Venue and Staff
Amazing venue. Every member of staff we encountered was approachable, amenable courteous and above all welcoming, ghosts included. I hadn’t set foot in the Olympia since my late father was SM there in the seventies. He painted the safety curtain at that time too. Please God it doesn’t fall to the renovations. – Barry McCormick
Excellent Venue, Knowledgeable Staff
I’ve been here twice, once for a comedy gig and recently for a concert. Lovely venue, staff were very friendly. Only thing was the ladies loo had only 3 cubicles, granted it’s a very old building so this is just part of that, there were several other ladies toilets in the building, for access from the different levels.
Overall a really good venue, sound was excellent, staff were knowledgeable and we had a good time, zero hassle. – Roisin Lawlor
4. The Button Factory
| Facilities | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Ambiance and atmosphere | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Additional amenities | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Contact and communication | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| Previous performances | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Viewer experience | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| • Purchasing process | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| • Overall satisfaction | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
A cool and modern venue for upcoming artists and atmospheric gigs, Button Factory is a place that definitely adapts with the artists’ visions.
We find their venue to be the perfect place for more intimate events because their lighting and decor are very sleek and contemporary. Their main venue can house a capacity of 550 while their Crowbar section can hold 60 people.
Speaking of their Crowbar section, this space houses their Low Light Sessions which are their more intimate sessions featuring more rising artists of different genres. We really like that this gives people the opportunity to explore newer musicians.
Button Factory also has both early shows and late shows, extending the amount of music event options people have per night. We would, however, like to disclose that compared to other music venues they have more 18+ restricted shows.
It would be best to check out their site in advance for these limitations.
Button Factory also has an upstair’s bar called Lizzo’s Bar, which is a perfect place to grab a drink. This is also a great setting for private events and they do accommodate corporate bookings.
For your fix of a more modern and sleek live music experience, we highly recommend checking them out.
Pros
- Modern and sleek atmosphere and ambience
- Have both early and late shows
- Low Light Sessions support up and coming artists
- Excellent bar area
Cons
- Poor customer service reviews for their Centre Point Club
- Have more 18+ restricted shows compared to other venues
Customer Reviews
Great Spot for a Gig
Went to the Skids show here. Great spot for a gig and courteous staff. A pre gig pint can be had in the lovely bar. Paranoid Visions were the back up group. Nice to see them again. All in all, a great gig and a great spot. – Mart G
Best Venue I’ve Been to in Years
Fabulous cozy and intimate venue. Has a bar at the back of the venue and a dance floor for 500 people and seating in the balcony. Best venue I’ve been to in years. – Hamish Niven
5. Whelan’s
| Facilities | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Ambiance and atmosphere | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| • Additional amenities | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Contact and communication | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| Previous performances | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Viewer experience | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| • Purchasing process | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
| • Overall satisfaction | ★★★★☆(4/5) |
Whelan’s dates back to 1772, and since then has seen a slew of well-known musical acts play and pass through their doors.
It’s even the place where Ed Sheeran, then 13 years old in 2004, claims he saw Damien Rice perform, which then sparked his interest in music. Arctic Monkeys and Bloc Party also performed here in 2005.
What we like about Whelan’s is that they have a good amount of space for waiting before performances start. The bars open at 5:00 pm, are available all days of the week and there are even seven spaces to choose from.
Whelan’s also has a private function room called The Parlor which we really like because of its intimate and rustic vibe. It’s a nice space to reserve for different types of events and provides a distinct escape from other areas in the city.
In terms of their live music spaces, we do like the ambiance it creates, really highlighting the performers. However, do take note, that even though the main venue has the capacity for 450 people, it usually is standing room and gets crowded at times.
In the end, Whelan’s definitely has the atmosphere, facilities and lineup of artists that make for an excellent night out if you’re looking for a live music venue.
Pros
- Highly rated by customer testimonials
- Very welcoming staff
- Have streams of past events available on their site
- Cool, intimate and lively vibe
Cons
- Strict ticket cancellation conditions
- Smaller space
Customer Reviews
Really Plugged in Music Venue
Was looking for a plugged in music venue in Dublin and stumbled onto this amazing place. Saw Rowdy Outsider who was killer. Really well made drinks for a fair price. Bar staff was super friendly. Highly recommend! – Michael Swafford
Live Gigs are Great Here
Love this spot, live gigs are great here, very intimate, and they have several bars so you’re never stuck queuing for a drink – Richie
FAQs about Live Music Places
An exciting time enjoying music heavily depends on where you decide to explore. We hope our list helped you out in deciding on where to go next.
We suggest checking out our article on the best burger restaurants in Dublin.