So what’s to like in Neil Hegarty’s compact guide to music in Dublin, Ireland Waking up in Dublin? Pretty much everything as far as I’m concerned. Its subtitle of ‘A Musical Tour of the Celtic Capital’ states exactly what it is.
The first thing the publisher did right was put the maps of where venues are in the front of the guide followed by a list of seventy six of the venues and on what page you can find a look at a specific venue. Keep in mind that some of the descriptions are brief, just giving you a quick taste of what the bar (as most of them are) is like, but usually that’ll suffice.
Hegarty wisely didn’t limit his venues to rock or traditional music as some writers do (again that’s the main focus but other places are included as need be) too. He covers traditional, rock, folk, jazz, classical and more. He looks at bands ranging from the Afro-Celt Sound System to (naturally) U2. And it’s just not bands still active, you’ll find bands such as Moving Hearts and Thin Lizzy here too.
There’s a lot of contextual material as well, discussing the Dublin music scene from an insider’s viewpoint, such as pointing out which performers are popular in that city but also known in London. Though Neil Hegarty was born in Northern Ireland, he had been resident in Dublin for quite some time when he wrote Waking Up in Dublin.
The language here is breezy, informal and quite readable. And Hegarty helpfully adds such useful features as a guide to traditional music terminology, the top five venues for rock music, and foodie Dublin. (I did say it’s written in informal language.) My only caution is make sure that you get the 2011 edition from Bobcat Books.
(Sanctuary Publications, 2004)
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