Mac DeMarco at Collins Barracks: a guide to the Dublin concert
Mac DeMarco is coming to Collins Barracks in Dublin on Saturday, August 29, 2026, as one of the headline performers in this year's Wider Than Pictures series. Gates open at 18:00, and Australian singer-songwriter and keyboardist Tex Crick has been confirmed as the guest performing before him. The event is for audiences aged 16 and over, while anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
This is a concert that connects two phases of DeMarco's career particularly well. On one side are the songs that turned him into one of the most recognizable names in indie rock and lo-fi pop, such as "Chamber of Reflection", "My Kind of Woman", "Freaking Out the Neighborhood", "For the First Time", "On the Level" and "Heart to Heart". On the other is "Guitar", his current studio album, released on August 22, 2025, on which the sound is stripped back to warmer, more bare-bones arrangements and more introspective songwriting.
For an audience that has followed him for years, Dublin is therefore not just an opportunity for nostalgia. Tickets for this event are in demand, so availability is worth checking before planning the trip.
Why "Guitar" matters for this performance
"Guitar" has 12 songs and runs for just over half an hour. DeMarco wrote and recorded it at home in Los Angeles, almost entirely on his own, and the result is a record that deliberately does not sound big. Instead of layers of synthesizers and studio tricks, the emphasis is on voice, guitar, bass, simple drums and the space between the notes.
The songs include "Shining", "Sweeter", "Phantom", "Nightmare", "Terror", "Rock And Roll", "Home", "Nothing At All", "Punishment", "Knockin", "Holy" and "Rooster". "Home" and "Holy" are specifically highlighted in the announcement for the Dublin concert, while DeMarco himself described the album as the closest representation of where he currently is in his life.
There is no published setlist for Dublin. Reports from the 2025 tour nevertheless show a pattern in which new songs are mixed with older favorites. In Santa Barbara, for example, the audience heard "On the Level", "Still Beating", "Ode to Viceroy", "My Kind of Woman", "Freaking Out the Neighborhood", "Passing Out Pieces" and "Chamber of Reflection", alongside material from "Guitar". That is not an announcement of the repertoire for Dublin, but rather an indication of how DeMarco is currently combining his new and old catalog.
What DeMarco sounds like live today
His concerts have long had a reputation for being relaxed, humorous and occasionally chaotic evenings. The current phase seems more focused on the songs themselves. Reviews of performances from 2025 describe a simpler stage setup, less reliance on spectacle and a band that gives the new, quiet material more weight than it has on the home recordings.
That matters at Collins Barracks. On the album, "Guitar" often sounds almost private, as though the microphone had been left in the room while the song was being created. In a concert setting, the rhythm section and additional instruments can open up those arrangements without sacrificing their intimacy. At the same time, the older songs have sufficiently clear guitar motifs and choruses to quickly spark communal singing.
The audience can therefore expect an evening with a wide dynamic range: from quieter songs and soft vocal passages to recognizable indie-pop choruses. DeMarco still leaves room for humor and spontaneity between songs, but recent performances show that the emphasis is increasingly on the performance itself, the band's chemistry and songs that have survived different phases of his career.
- If you are coming for the early albums, the strongest moments will probably be those in which the audience recognizes the song after just the first few bars.
- If "Guitar" is the most interesting part of his catalog to you, the concert offers an opportunity to hear how those stripped-back songs sound with a fuller band.
- If you are seeing him live for the first time, the program should demonstrate why his style can move between lo-fi rock, soft pop, psychedelic guitars and almost singer-songwriter simplicity.
Tex Crick is not a random choice as guest
Tex Crick is an Australian singer-songwriter, keyboardist and long-time collaborator from DeMarco's wider musical circle. Before his solo career, he played with artists such as Iggy Pop, Weyes Blood, Kirin J. Callinan and Connan Mockasin, while his album "Live In... New York City" was the first release by another artist on Mac's Record Label.
His style draws on melodic piano-pop, softer arrangements and subtle humor, making him a natural introduction to an evening that relies not on aggressive production but on songs and the character of the performers. For visitors who want to hear the entire program, the fact that the gates open at 18:00 is more important than guessing when each performer will take the stage. The exact performance schedule has not been published and should not be assumed.
Collins Barracks changes the character of the concert
Collins Barracks is neither a conventional arena nor an indoor club. The concert takes place in the historic National Museum of Ireland complex, in the Stoneybatter district, along the north bank of the River Liffey. The former barracks was first occupied in 1707, and today its courtyards and stone façades form part of the museum grounds.
Wider Than Pictures uses the historic courtyard itself as a summer concert venue. The series organizers emphasize the way the enclosed geometry of the courtyard retains sound, something also confirmed by reports from previous concerts. RTÉ recorded a full audience of 5,000 people for Father John Misty's 2025 performance, with an atmosphere that felt both large-scale and relatively close to the stage.
Such a setting makes sense for DeMarco's music. His quietest songs need sufficiently defined sound so they do not get lost outdoors, while the older, more rhythmic tracks gain the energy of a larger summer concert. At the same time, the stone courtyard provides a visual setting completely different from a black concert hall, without requiring large-scale stage design.
Wider Than Pictures in Dublin runs from August 25 to 30, 2026. This year, Amyl and the Sniffers, Faye Webster, berlioz, Mac DeMarco and Super Furry Animals are coming to Collins Barracks, with additional performers on individual evenings. DeMarco performs on the penultimate night of the series. After Dublin, his currently announced schedule continues with Belfast, Glasgow and further European dates.
How to get to Collins Barracks
Collins Barracks is located on Benburb Street in Stoneybatter, west of the inner city center, and is served by public transport.
Transport for Ireland lists several practical options for Wider Than Pictures 2026:
- Luas Red Line - Museum station, or Ard-Mhúsaem, is located immediately beside the complex.
- Dublin Bus - routes 124, 39, 39A, 60, 782 and C2 stop nearby.
- Train - Heuston Station is within walking distance of the venue.
If you are coming from another part of Dublin, a combination of the Luas and walking is usually simpler than relying on a car. For visitors arriving by train from other parts of Ireland, Heuston is particularly convenient because it is close to Collins Barracks. Timetables and any changes on the day of the concert should nevertheless be checked shortly before departure.
Parking information specifically for this concert evening has not been published in the sources used for this guide, so it is not reasonable to count on parking beside the entrance itself. Since this is a series of evening events in a historic museum complex, public transport is the safer basis for planning your arrival.
What you need to know before entering
The most important confirmed details are straightforward: the concert is on Saturday, August 29, at Collins Barracks, gates open at 18:00, and the age restriction is 16+. Visitors under 18 must be with an adult. There is no confirmed finishing time, duration of DeMarco's performance or detailed schedule for the evening, so it is better to allow plenty of time and not plan later transport based on an assumed setlist.
Because this is an outdoor summer concert, it is useful to check the forecast before leaving and choose clothing that can handle changing weather. Collins Barracks is not a festival field outside the city but an urban historic venue, so it can be reached without a special transfer, although the high attendance of the series means it is wise to expect busier public transport before and after the program.
It is worth securing a ticket in good time whenever availability appears. A recent announcement about the Wider Than Pictures program stated that DeMarco's evening was sold out, so visitors who do not yet have a ticket should check only the current availability and not plan the trip as though entry were guaranteed.
Which songs have the greatest singalong potential
Without a published setlist, it is impossible to claim what Mac DeMarco will play in Dublin. Nevertheless, his current profile on streaming services and reports from the previous tour indicate which songs audiences recognize most quickly. "Chamber of Reflection" remains one of his best-known recordings, while "For the First Time", "Heart to Heart", "My Kind of Woman", "Moonlight on the River", "No Other Heart", "On the Level" and "Freaking Out the Neighborhood" also regularly stand out.
At concerts in 2025, it was precisely the older songs that often prompted the loudest reactions, while the new material provided a quieter contrast. That relationship could be particularly effective at Collins Barracks: the audience gets space to listen during the quieter moments and then suddenly shifts into collective singing when a familiar guitar motif begins.
DeMarco is also not a performer whose live show comes down to perfectly reproducing the studio versions. His band can expand the arrangements, strengthen the rhythm and leave room for small improvisations. That gives even those who already know the catalog by heart a reason to attend: the songs remain recognizable, but the concert version does not have to be merely a copy of the recording.
Who this concert is best suited for
The audience that will get the most from it is one that enjoys a combination of melodic indie rock, soft psychedelic pop, lo-fi production and a singer-songwriter approach. Long-time fans have enough reason to come for the old catalog, but "Guitar" means this is not a tour driven exclusively by nostalgia.
The concert could also be particularly interesting for audiences who usually prefer smaller venues. Collins Barracks accommodates thousands of visitors, but the configuration of the historic courtyard at previous editions of Wider Than Pictures created the feeling of a larger communal concert without the complete sense of distance produced by stadiums.
For travelers combining the concert with several days in Dublin, the location is practical because it is within the city, close to Heuston and connected by Luas. Stoneybatter, Smithfield and the city center along the Liffey are in the broader immediate area, so the concert does not require a separate trip outside the city. However, the period after the performance should be planned with some extra time because of the large number of people who will be leaving the venue simultaneously.
If you already have a ticket, the most useful thing is to plan your route to Collins Barracks in advance, check transport conditions on the day of the event and arrive early enough for Tex Crick. If you are still trying to get a ticket, check current availability before booking transport or accommodation.
Sources:
- Singular Artists (singularartists.ie) - concert date and venue, Tex Crick, gate opening time, age restriction, context of the album "Guitar" and return to Dublin.
- Mac DeMarco Tour (macdemar.co/tour) - announced dates after Dublin.
- Mac DeMarco Bandcamp (macdemarco.bandcamp.com) - release date, list of 12 songs and information about the album "Guitar".
- Wider Than Pictures (widerthanpictures.ie) - series program and description of the acoustic character of the historic Collins Barracks courtyard.
- Transport for Ireland (transportforireland.ie) - Luas, bus routes and rail access to Collins Barracks during Wider Than Pictures 2026.
- National Museum of Ireland (museum.ie) - history of Collins Barracks and the information that it was first occupied in 1707.
- RTÉ Culture (rte.ie) - report from Wider Than Pictures 2025 and the figure of 5,000 audience members at the Father John Misty concert.
- Santa Barbara Independent (independent.com) - description of DeMarco's 2025 performance, the relationship between newer and older songs and his current approach to performing live.
- Mac DeMarco (macdemarco.com) - Tex Crick, connection with Mac's Record Label and previous collaborations.
- Mc Gig Music (mcgigmusic.com) - current Wider Than Pictures 2026 announcement with information that DeMarco's evening is sold out.