Whelans

The thumping heart of the Irish indie-music scene, Whelan’s is the first stop for any musician visiting the city. The sacred stage has welcomed numerous musical legends­—Nick Cave, Jeff Buckley, and Damien Rice have all performed, and many more have sneaked in at the back to watch a gig. There’s live music here seven nights a week, and you can be sure you’ll see someone good: the small stage is a well-established stop for international alt-country, folk, and indie acts. The sight lines are limited here, though—so it pays to show up early.