music in dubai

Sip a cocktail and savor the sounds at Q’s Bar and Lounge in Dubai. (Photo: Q’s Bar and Lounge)

Dubai

Get Your Groove On: Where to Hear Live Music in Dubai

Dubai’s truly cosmopolitan nature and cultural coming of age means that music lovers are spoiled for choice when it’s time to jam to live tunes around the city.

Whether it’s 1920s boogie-woogie swing, country or R&B and soul that gets your feet tapping and heart singing, you’re never far away from a great music venue. While many clubs and bars host up-and-coming artists, open-mic nights and international bands, there are plenty of family-friendly venues that welcome live music fans of all ages.

Tribeca Kitchen & Bar

music in dubai
Mingle with the creative set at Tribeca Kitchen & Bar. (Photo: Courtesy of Tribeca Kitchen & Bar)

With edgy industrial-loft-style décor, eclectic art and a relaxed vibe that attracts the city’s after-work crowd, as well as creative types and artists, this New York–inspired lounge bar is one of the best places for live music in Dubai.

Whether you want to listen to local up-and-coming artists on weekly open-mic nights, dance the salsa to Latin music, or sing along to old-school and hip-hop, Tribeca Dubai does not disappoint.

Not ready to put your dancing shoes on? Kick back with the bar’s organic wines, spirits and cocktails, and choose from a menu serving creative pub fare, pizza and seasonal mains.

Jazz at Pizza Express

Jazz lovers in the know flock to Jazz at Pizza Express, a cool, casual and family-friendly venue quietly tucked away in Jumeirah Lakes Towers that serves up great pizza, wine and jazz and swing melodies to get you grooving.

The UAE’s much-loved swing band the Swing Revue (with members from five different countries) performs weekly, and the dance floor comes alive with dancing by swing dance group Lindy Hop Dubai. Pizza Express offers live music seven nights a week in an upbeat atmosphere where it’s absolutely alright to break into dance while you dine.

Q’s Bar and Lounge

music in dubai
Set the mood at Q. (Photo: Courtesy of Q’s Bar and Lounge)

The first and only jazz club by legendary music producer Quincy Jones, Q’s Bar and Lounge remains something of a secret. Plush seating, minimalist décor and dark leather interiors lend the place an intimate, relaxed vibe, as if you were in the living room of your best friend, smoking cigars over slow jazz.

The cocktail list is extensive and inspired by Jones’ prolific music career. Q’s plays host to up-and-coming resident artists carefully handpicked by Jones himself. Past residencies included the likes of British drummer and instrumentalist Ollie Howell and American Idol runner-up Clark Beckham.

There is live music every night, minimum spend applies and reservations are recommended.

The Irish Village

Relax with chilled beers and live music at The Irish Village Dubai and choose to sit in the wood-furnished interior or make friends with the resident ducks that live in the lake by the terrace.

The venue hosts fantastic live music by various local and international artists most evenings, especially during winter when it’s decidedly more pleasant in the outdoor area. The Irish Village also hosts events and concerts throughout the year such as Hopfest, a three-day celebration that brings lesser-known beers and international bands to Dubai.

Past live acts include the Grammy award–winning Billy Ocean, the Scottish pop-rock band Texas, and the Liverpool soul band the Christians.

Hard Rock Café

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A lively vibe, great cocktails, legendary burgers and electrifying live music, the Hard Rock Café Dubai delivers on all counts, just like the original London institution. The space is chock-full of rock memorabilia, including Cher’s “Believe” outfit from 1998, Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” jacket and a Washburn Damen Idol guitar donated by Mike Kennerty of the All American Rejects.

Local and international bands perform various genres through the week, including modern blues-rock, pop and classics.

Blue Bar

A classic jazz and blues bar, the stylish Blue Bar opened its doors in 2003 and is perhaps the oldest jazz bar in Dubai. The award-winning jazz bar keeps the focus on the music with mostly local bands playing everything from jazz, soul and Motown to Latin music. Come here for the cocktails and music, and you’ll find yourself singing along to covers of famous classics and pop hits.

Wake Up Call

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