The Ambassador was a theatre, then a woefully underused cinema. As a rock venue, it keeps many of its old trappings: decor, balcony and a large stage. It's a big stage to fill,...

Formerly one of the few playhouses on Dublin's south side, Andrew's Lane reopened recently as a music venue. Theatre-lovers' loss has been music fans' gain, with Andrew's Lane...

This monthly alternative live music club, taking place in an old man's pub, has showcased talented new indie acts. It's a pick 'n' mix - you could get the searing post-rock of...

Dublin's only year-round venue for lunchtime drama, this café theatre is an elegant and intimate space that has a reputation for staging exciting, innovative productions of...

A new-ish live music venue, with the main floor completely dedicated to jazz, Bleu Note is a welcome addition to the city's live music scene. The second floor plays an eclectic...

The musical quality here can vary, but even so, this is a great pub: you'd do well to pop in for a drink anyway. Local blues acts play upstairs early in the week; there's...

The Button Factory is the rebranded and refurbished version of what was once the Temple Bar Music Centre, a home to hard rock bands where sound quality and atmosphere mattered...

Owned and run by Eamon Doran's - the same crowd that looks after the Dice Bar - Carnival is the top spot on the Camden Street 'strip' if you like your bar music to be a stew...

The musicians' corner downstairs attracts traditional players whom you would pay to see elsewhere, and the paying venue upstairs rarely books a duff band (lo-fi, trad and folk...

Overlooking the vast square at Smithfield, this is an old-fashioned, friendly boozer that hosts trad music in its back bar. Upstairs is a surprisingly comfortable and intimate...

Medium-sized Crawdaddy is an exciting new venue that meets the demand for live music with an impressive roster of contemporary jazz, world music and rock. It can hold about 300...

This well-appointed suburban theatre also has studio space, an art gallery, a handy bar and a brand-new café. Like the Civic, Draiocht acts as a receiving house, playing host...

Eamonn Doran's replaced the once-famous Rock Garden when its star dimmed in the late '90s. Owner Dermott Doran kept the metallic decor in the basement venue and refurbished the...

The Gaiety is a spacious, old-time concert hall whose main trade is opera and theatre, but it has given space to rock performers like the Divine Comedy and Lambchop. A few...