Has LIVEHOUSE finally put Dundee back on the live music map?

LIVEHOUSE opened in May 2025 at the site of the former Green’s Playhouse (Picture: Supplied)

As LIVEHOUSE approaches its first anniversary, it feels like the right moment to take a step back and look at what it has really brought to Dundee.

For years, there was a sense that the city was missing something. The Caird Hall has always held its place as an icon, but there was a growing feeling that Dundee needed a more modern, flexible venue that could attract a wider range of artists and events. LIVEHOUSE has stepped into that gap, and in its first year, it has begun to reshape expectations of what a night out in the city can look like.

The opening weekend set the tone. Craig Charles and Dundee Dance Event created a proper sense of occasion, with crowds eager to see what this new space could offer.

There was a buzz that went beyond just another gig, it felt like Dundee was testing out something new. Even small moments, like strangers coming together on the dance floor or conversations sparked between people who had followed Dundee Culture for years, added to that sense of shared experience. It was not just about the music, it was about the feeling that something had changed.

That feeling has carried through the year in moments that have stood out across the city. One of the clearest examples came just at the weekend when Yungblud played LIVEHOUSE, with queues stretching further and further back, almost to the railway station.

It brought back memories for many of a different era, when major acts would regularly draw crowds like that to Dundee. For some, it echoed stories of queuing outside the Caird Hall decades ago, proving that the appetite for live music at that scale has always been there, it just needed the right venue to unlock it again.

The list of artists who have come through the doors in the first year shows how quickly LIVEHOUSE has built momentum.

Acts like The Last Dinner Party, Franz Ferdinand, Mumford & Sons, Kaiser Chiefs, Idlewild and Doves have all helped to establish credibility. These are not just names filling a schedule, they are artists who signal to others that Dundee is worth including on a tour.

That is how venues grow their reputation, not overnight, but through consistent bookings that gradually build confidence across the industry.

It is important to understand the context behind those bookings as well. Most major tours are planned well over a year in advance, and LIVEHOUSE only secured its opening timeline and licence shortly before launching.

That meant it was never going to land the biggest acts immediately. In many ways, the first year has been about catching up, getting onto the radar of promoters, agents and touring schedules. Now that it is firmly part of that cycle, the signs are already there that bigger opportunities are starting to follow.

Craig Charles was the first act to perform at LIVEHOUSE

What has perhaps been most encouraging is how the venue has expanded beyond music. Events like ProtoPlay Festival have shown that LIVEHOUSE is not limited to one type of audience or experience. The ability to host gaming events, festivals and other large-scale gatherings gives it a flexibility that few venues in Scotland can match.

That kind of adaptability is vital for long-term success, ensuring that the space remains active and relevant throughout the year rather than relying solely on touring acts.

The atmosphere inside the venue has also evolved. Early reactions were mixed in places, with some questioning whether it fully lived up to expectations. Over time, those doubts have largely faded. Feedback now leans strongly positive, with people praising the stage, the sound and the overall experience of a night there.

There are still small details that come up in conversation, like the remnants of its bingo hall past, but these feel like surface-level tweaks rather than deeper issues. The foundation of the venue is clearly working.

There is also something symbolic about the site itself. Built on the foundations of the old Green’s Playhouse, and later Mecca Bingo, LIVEHOUSE connects Dundee’s entertainment history with its future.

Even the name feels like a nod to that legacy, while signalling a shift towards something new. It is a reminder that Dundee has always had an appetite for shared experiences like this, and that LIVEHOUSE is part of a much longer story rather than a completely new chapter.

Is LIVEHOUSE Dundee’s answer to Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom?

Comparisons to Barrowland were inevitable from the start, especially with the ambition set out by those behind the venue.

It is a bold comparison, and one that comes with a lot of weight. Barrowland has decades of history, a reputation built on legendary performances and a place in Scotland’s cultural identity.

LIVEHOUSE is not at that level yet, and it would be unrealistic to expect it to be after a single year. But what it has done is give Dundee a venue that can begin that journey. It has created a platform that, over time, could build its own legacy.

LIVEHOUSE has been compared to Glasgow’s Barrowland in many aspects (Picture: Wikimedia Commons)

There are practical advantages that strengthen that argument as well. LIVEHOUSE is larger, more modern and sits directly across from Dundee’s railway station, making it one of the most accessible venues in the country. For touring artists and promoters, that matters.

Dundee’s position on the east coast, combined with strong transport links, makes it a logical stop between major cities. With the right continued momentum, that could become an increasingly compelling reason for more acts to include the city in their plans.

Looking forward, there is a sense that LIVEHOUSE is only just beginning to realise its potential. The success of large-scale weekends featuring multiple headline acts has shown what is possible, and there is room to build on that model.

The return of Dundee Dance Event’s closing party, along with the expansion of the outdoor Rave Cave in the car park, highlights how the venue can continue to innovate and create experiences that feel unique to Dundee.

‘A strong start’

Ultimately, the first year of LIVEHOUSE has not been about perfection, it has been about progress. It has taken an idea that many in the city had been calling for over a decade and turned it into something real, active and growing.

It has brought crowds back into the city centre, given artists a new stage to play on and given audiences a reason to believe that Dundee can once again be a key stop on the live music map.

So, has LIVEHOUSE become Dundee’s answer to Barrowlands? In truth, that is a question that will be answered over years rather than months.

But after one year, it has done something just as important. It has given Dundee a venue that feels like it belongs in that conversation, and for a city that has waited a long time for exactly that, it is a strong start.