LIMERICK is set for an extraordinary year of live music in 2026, with an eclectic lineup spanning intimate club gigs to stadium spectaculars. From synth-pop pioneers to indie legends, the city’s venues are hosting some of the most exciting names in music, cementing Limerick’s reputation as a vital destination on the touring circuit. Here are some of our recommendations:-
Imelda May plays University Concert Hall on Saturday, February 4 with her ‘Raised on Songs & Stories’ tour—an intimate evening featuring stripped-back versions of her catalogue, interwoven with poetry and storytelling. Fresh from her show-stopping New Year’s Eve performance on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny, May describes this 18-date Irish tour as a departure from her usual meticulously planned performances, embracing spontaneity and connection with audiences.
Electronic artist Maria Somerville brings her atmospheric dream pop to Dolan’s Kasbah on Wednesday, February 11, fresh from supporting shoegaze pioneers My Bloody Valentine at Dublin’s 3Arena in 2025. Her landmark label debut for prestigious indie label 4AD, Luster, showcases the evolution of her distinctive sound—blending ambient textures with experimental pop sensibilities to create immersive sonic worlds. Somerville has earned critical praise internationally, and her live performances offer audiences the chance to experience her meticulously crafted atmospheres in an intimate setting. Her set promises to be a mesmerising journey through layered soundscapes and evocative production.
Avant-pop innovators Stereolab play Dolan’s Warehouse on Friday, February 20, bringing their hypnotic blend of motorik krautrock rhythms, vintage analogue synthesizers, and breezy French yé-yé pop to Limerick. Led by Tim Gane and the late Laetitia Sadier, the band emerged from London in the early 1990s as one of indie rock’s most innovative acts, crafting landmark albums like Emperor Tomato Ketchup and Dots and Loops that balanced experimental ambition with infectious grooves. After disbanding in 2009, Stereolab reunited in 2019, reminding audiences why their singular sonic universe remains so captivating.
Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith & Band arrive at Dolan’s Warehouse on Wednesday, March 4 for an evening of heartfelt folk-pop and timeless songwriting. Known for his crystalline voice and bittersweet melodies, Sexsmith has earned devoted fans and critical acclaim over three decades, despite remaining somewhat under the radar commercially.
His live performances showcase the tender craftsmanship of songs from albums like Grand Opera Lane and Hermitage, with audiences expecting an intimate show perfectly suited to Dolan’s warm atmosphere.
Mike Joyce, legendary drummer for The Smiths, appears on Thursday, April 2 at Dolan’s Warehouse in conversation with Professor Eoin Devereux from the University of Limerick.
This special evening offers Joyce’s open-hearted story of what it was like to play drums in one of Britain’s most influential bands.
Throughout his honest and witty reflections, Joyce answers the question “where did it all go right?”—a question he and bassist Andy Rourke, with whom he shared a deep and special relationship, often asked themselves. For anyone interested in the story behind the music that defined a generation.
Post-punk experimentalists Dry Cleaning take the stage at Dolan’s Warehouse on Saturday, April 18. Dry Cleaning’s new album ‘Secret Love’, produced by Cate Le Bon will be released this Friday January 9 on 4AD.
Florence Shaw, guitarist Tom Dowse, drummer Nick Buxton and bassist Lewis Maynard have carved out a distinctive place in rock’s avant-garde, catalysing the Reaganite paranoia of early 1980s US punk with the dry strut of Keith Richards, stoner rock and dystopian degradation.
Florence’s deadpan delivery, meticulously calibrated to her bandmates’ soundscapes, asserts her in a lineage of spoken-word artists stretching from Laurie Anderson to Limerick’s Sinead O’Brien. Their live shows are compelling, hypnotic experiences. Watch their videos on YouTube to learn all the dance moves created for their recent singles such as Cruise Ship Designer and Joy.
Indie legends Pixies mark 40 years since their 1986 formation with two nights at King John’s Castle on May 30 & 31.
Founding members Black Francis, Joey Santiago and David Lovering, joined by bassist Emma Richardson, will deliver career-spanning sets reflecting four decades of groundbreaking music. These shows sold out in hours, (Waitlist available)testament to the band’s enduring influence and the anticipation surrounding this milestone celebration.
Florence + The Machine brings her transcendent live performance to Thomond Park on Saturday, June 27, celebrating her chart-topping sixth album Everybody Scream. Florence and the Machine concerts are transformative events—marked by haunting yet fierce vocals, raw physicality, and profound communion with audiences that often resembles spiritual ceremony.
After undergoing critical surgery during the Dance Fever Tour, her healing journey deepened her exploration of mysticism, with the new record examining themes of femininity, love, growing older, and facing death.
Kings of Leon play Thomond Park on Wednesday, July 1. Recognised as one of the world’s biggest alternative rock bands of the last 20 years, the Followill brothers—Caleb, Nathan, Jared and Matthew—bring their electrifying live show to Limerick. Since their 2003 debut, they’ve released nine albums, sold over 20 million albums and nearly 40 million singles worldwide, collecting three Grammy wins amongst numerous other accolades.
Block Rockin Beats returns to Docklands on Saturday, August 15, as Dec Pierce’s Today FM radio show becomes a full live band experience. “The show is all about energy—it’s a concert, but we want you to lose yourself for a few hours,” says Pierce, celebrating 30 years as a DJ.