JIM CARROLLon music
Music fans can look forward to the opening of three new venues in the capital in the coming months
Dublin’s gigging infrastructure is about to get a rejig with the arrival of three new venues in the coming months.
The Frank Gleeson-owned Mercantile on Dame Street will open a new 250 capacity live room in the coming weeks, and will be booked by former Button Factory and Whelan’s booker Dave Allen. Meanwhile, Pravda on Liffey Street will house a 350-400 capacity live room from September.
However, the most interesting new arrival on the scene may well be The Workman’s Club on Wellington Quay, next to the Clarence Hotel.
The site used to be home to the City of Dublin Working Men’s Club, until they moved to a new premises on Little Strand Street, which was built for them by Clarence Hotel owners Brushfield Ltd.
Vacant since 2003, the venue will reopen with a 260-capacity live room from September, and will be booked by Karl Geraghty, formerly of Aiken Promotions. Geraghty hopes to book a wide range of acts and nights for the venue.
“Bands are always saying that they want to play somewhere different, and we think the venue is definitely that. We want to be be very inclusive about who plays here and we’ll certainly work with smaller promoters.”
Reaction to the space has been positive. “I’ve been showing bands around, and their imaginations are already running wild about what they can do here.”
However, The Workman’s Club won’t be catering to Irish indie, electronic and hip-hop acts only.
“We’re open to whatever people want to suggest,” says Geraghty. “I want to cater to a broad range of ages and have sixtysomethings coming in and feeling comfortable. Everyone can have a different view of what the venue can do.”
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