Experiencing Irish music in Dublin is a top priority for some travelers. This tradition has stayed alive in the pubs, clubs, and concert halls of the Irish capital. Throughout your trip you are sure to see the city’s talented musicians during Dublin live music shows, whether you seek them out or not. A good amount of pubs will bring musicians in to play on the weekends, so keep your eye out for a blackboard outside of a pub that says, “Live Music Tonight!” Pull up a stool, order a Guinness, and get ready for some Dublin pub music.

There are many different ways to experience Irish music in Dublin. For a classy night on the town, look at the event schedule for the National Concert Hall and book tickets before your trip. If you like classical music, or even if you aren’t sure if you do, the National Concert Hall promises an entertaining evening. Tickets for the choir balcony are often available for as low as 15 euros, so there’s no excuse not to include some high culture in your trip to Dublin. Other opportunities for a special night on the town include The Abbey Theatre and The Gate Theatre.

When most people think about Dublin live music shows, however, they don’t think about symphonies and orchestras, but about pubs. Some of the best music in the city is found in pubs. From songwriters playing acoustic guitars to bands playing cover songs that everyone sings along with to a few violinists fiddling in the corner, music is just as much a part of pub life in Dublin as Guinness is. Some of the most popular pubs for music are Doyles, O’Donoghue’s (for traditional music), and Whelans. If you’re looking for Dublin pub music, Whelans is probably Dublin’s most famous live music pub. After a live band the partying continues late into the night at this spot on Wexford Street.

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Other venues for Dublin live music shows include the Olympia Theatre and the 02 arena, both which hosts international as well as Irish acts. Other trendy venues for live music include The Button Factory, the Sugar Club, and the Village. With a mix of live music and resident DJs, these nightlife spots are guaranteed to have an upbeat atmosphere on the weekends. If you’re looking for Dublin pub music without the chaos, keep your eye out for Sunday afternoon music. O’Donoghue's for example is known for having traditional musicians in on a Sunday afternoon, which can be a calmer time to in the pub than a rowdy Friday or Saturday night.

Irish music in Dublin can also be found on the streets. All along Grafton Street and in Temple Bar, street performers will be playing guitars, drums, violins, or any other instrument they can set up on the sidewalk. Ranging from one-man shows to entire ensembles of instruments, these performances usually draw quite a crowd. If you’re looking for an Irish music experience outside of Dublin, check out Johnny Fox’s Pub. This pub in the Dublin mountains has live music every Sunday, and it always draws a festive crowd over an afternoon Guinness.