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.