Max HeyraudGeorge’s Street dance music space Izakaya, part of the Yamamori restaurant group, is celebrating three decades as a bastion of underground and grassroots culture.
While other spots disappeared, casualties of rising rents, bad timing, or just the grind of running a club, Izakaya stayed. Right there in the middle of Dublin, no cover charge, no bullshit. Just music, and a room full of people who came to lose themselves. Thirty years on, it’s still standing. It has weathered a recession, a global pandemic, and countless shifts in the nightlife landscape, all while remaining steadfast in its commitment to curation.
Nearly every night of the week, local DJs take to the decks for a single, four-hour set, a format that has allowed artists to learn, experiment, and hone their craft without the pressure of ticket sales or time constraints.
Often flying under the radar, its consistency has made Izakaya one of Dublin’s most vital cultural hubs. The walls of the venue tell their own story, a space etched with history, where generations of dancers and music lovers have come to lose themselves in uncompromisingly good music from midweek through to the weekend.
Marking the milestone on Instagram, the venue wrote: “For three decades, you, our friends, regulars, industry family, music lovers, dancers, dreamers have filled these walls with energy, culture, and unforgettable nights.”
To commemorate the 30th anniversary, Izakaya has invited Dublin legend Billy Scurry back to the booth, a DJ whose decades of knowledge and influence make him the perfect figure to honour the occasion.
