Music

Bruce Springsteen at the RDS: stage times, set list, weather and more for The Boss’s Dublin concerts

Everything you need to know about the singer’s Dublin gigs on May 5th, 7th and 9th

The Boss is back: Bruce Springsteen is playing three sold-out gigs at the RDS in Dublin. Photograph: Mike Coppola/Getty

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Conor Capplis
Wed May 3 2023 - 08:43

The Boss is back. After a seven-year hiatus since his last performance in Dublin in 2016, Bruce Springsteen is in town this weekend and into next week for what promises to be three memorable gigs from one of the founding fathers of American stadium rock music. Known for long, energetic concerts, Springsteen is expected to treat fans to a three-hour performance. So what do you need to know?

When will he play?

Springsteen is expected to kick things off on time at 7pm at the RDS Arena, Dublin 4, on Friday, May 5th, Sunday, May 7th and Tuesday, May 9th.

What time should I arrive?

Gates open at 5pm.

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How do I get there – and home again?

Public transport is the best way to get to the RDS. Leave plenty of time to get to and from the venue.

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By Dart Lansdowne Road and Sandymount Dart stations are a 10 to 15 minute walk away, depending which entrance of the arena your gig ticket is for. If you’re coming by train from outside Dublin, change from your intercity service at Connolly or Pearse stations. The last Darts of the night leave shortly after 11.30pm.

By bus Take Dublin Bus route 4, 7, 7a or 120 to stop 415, on Pembroke Road, opposite the US embassy. You can also take route 4, 7 or 7a to stop 483, outside 90 Merrion Road, opposite the British embassy.

By car Parking is extremely limited around the RDS, which is in a residential area. Concert promoters have strongly encouraged fans to use public transport. If driving is your only option, there are car parks around the city centre near transport links that can take you the rest of the way. An Garda Síochána will also be operating a traffic-management plan, which will be available on the Garda website closer to the time. AA Roadwatch will provide reports on traffic, road works and delays on its website.

Stay up to date The gig organiser, Aiken Promotions, has asked fans to keep an eye on its website and socials for any updates.

Approach routes Follow the red route, and enter the RDS via Simmonscourt Road, if your ticket is for Gold Circle, Anglesea Stand blocks C-E or Grandstand blocks F-J. Follow the yellow route, and enter via Merrion Road, if you have an accessible ticket or pitch ticket. Follow the blue route, and enter via Anglesea Road, if your ticket is for pitch, Anglesea Stand blocks A-C or Grandstand blocks K-N.

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Will there be a support act?

While concert goers won’t see a warm up act, Springsteen will be backed up by his long-time collaborators, The E Street Band, who’ve been as central to his shows as the Boss himself since the 1970s.

What will they play?

While we don’t know exactly what’s on the agenda, at a Springsteen gig in Barcelona last Sunday (where Michelle Obama surprised fans by getting up on stage and singing backing vocals during one song) the rock idol played hit after hit:

  • My Love Will Not Let You Down
  • No Surrender
  • Ghosts
  • Prove It All Night
  • Letter to You
  • The Promised Land
  • Out in the Street
  • Kitty’s Back
  • Nightshift
  • Trapped
  • Mary’s Place
  • Johnny 99
  • The E Street Shuffle
  • Last Man Standing
  • Backstreets
  • Because the Night
  • She’s the One
  • Wrecking Ball
  • The Rising
  • Badlands
  • Thunder Road

And that’s not even including the encore:

  • Born in the U.S.A.
  • Born to Run
  • Ramrod
  • Glory Days
  • Bobby Jean
  • Dancing in the Dark
  • Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
  • I’ll See You in My Dreams

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Are there any tickets left?

For those hoping to nab a last-minute ticket, it’s bad news. All three gigs are sold out and have been for some time. Ticketmaster, the official seller for the event, has asked fans to beware of bogus ticket sellers and tour operators. Fans have been advised that screenshots or printouts of digital tickets will not be accepted as entry and should show a live barcode on the Ticketmaster app to gain entry. Concert goers should also make sure their phones are fully charged before leaving the house and ensure their phone brightness is set at maximum when entering the scanning area.

What’s will security be like?

Allow time for security checks on the way in. Don’t bring a bag unless totally necessary, and even then remember that bags larger than A4 size will not be permitted. There will be no cloakroom or storage facilities. You will not be allowed to bring umbrellas, alcohol (or other food and drink), garden furniture, selfie sticks, flares, glasses or cans into the venue.

Bruce Springsteen paid a visit to The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan on Wednesday ahead of his series of RDS gigs, which start this Friday. Phtoograph: Victoria Mary Clarke via Twitter

Can I take photographs at the concert?

Yes, but not with a professional cameras, or a camera with a detachable lens. So stick to your smartphone. Video cameras and audio recorders, iPads and GoPros are also banned.

What’s the weather forecast?

Friday is shaping up to be a dry evening, with highs of 17 degrees in the afternoon expected to cool to a mild 16 degrees or a little less when the gig kicks off at 7pm. Met Éireann have predicted mild temperatures and cloud cover over Dublin for Sunday’s gig, with rain expected to arrive for the latter part of the concert - a light raincoat wouldn’t go amiss. Tuesday, will also see scattered showers throughout the evening.

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