Cork – A Guide: Music Venues
In Cork, gigs are life. An in-depth look at Cork’s top spots for hearing tunes, live.
You’ll never be lost for a gig to go to when deep down south. Here are the places to be.
Cyprus Avenue
Low, Black Lips, Midlake, Swans, Alessi’s Ark…the list of great international touring bands to visit Caroline Street continues to grow at an exponential rate, especially since a radical overhaul jumped the capacity up a few hundred people. Keep an eye out for smaller sessions downstairs in 115.
The Kino
Cork’s long gone beloved indie cinema reborn as a 200+ capacity music venue, hiding in plain sight at the end of Washington Street. Great coffee too!
Coughlan’s
A gem of a room, tailor-made for folkies but well capable of hosting intimate rock shows. Good folk run this Douglas Street venue and every September they party hard with their annual music festival.
Triskel Christchurch
A refurbished 11th century church that simultaneously acts as a venue, independent cinema, theatre development space and café. Relatively hidden away and suited mostly to quieter bands, they don’t come much more perfect than here. An under-rated mainstay of the Cork Jazz Festival.
Cork Opera House
Cork’s big kahuna. From operas and pantos to Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Efterklang and Magnetic Fields.
Everyman Palace Theatre
Pretty much confined to the jazz weekend for live music, The Everyman is a staggeringly beautiful venue that should be used more for gigs. Such as Iron & Wine, for example.
Crane Lane Theatre
It’s mad how many big international bands play the Crane Lane for absolutely no entry fee. Gigs are mostly late with a midnight show pretty much every night but earlier shows are recommended for those who ply their trade in the quieter genres.
The Roundy
Located right in the heart of Cork City, The Roundy is as cosy as they come and home to Plugd Records, Cork’s longest-running independent record shop who host all sorts of incredible left-field nights on Castle Street.
Fred Zeppelins
Mostly known as a metal head’s haven, Fred’s is open to all types of music from folk to electronica. A great place for new bands to book their first shows as Fred’s are welcoming of all.
Dali
Formerly home to The Pavilion, Dali resurrected this cherished Carey’s Lane venue as a late night electronica and beats base.
Now you’re up to speed with Cork’s live music halls, why not check out what’s happening in the city over on the Cork Gig Guide.