SFX Hall
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File:New Order and crowd at SFX Dublin 1983.jpg
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SFX Hall, sometimes referred to as SFX Theatre or The SFX, was a theatre located on Upper Sherrard Street, in Dublin, Ireland.
History
The venue was named after the St Francis Xavier Hall and constructed in 1957, although a theatre had been located on that site since the middle of the 19th century. The theatre served as the national concert hall, a home to the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra, and on occasion, large-scale performances.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/mystery-of-the-vanishing-venues-1.1000719|title=Mystery of the vanishing venues|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2019-04-19}} The venue had a standing capacity of 1000{{Cite news |title=Property boom to end SFX concerts |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/property-boom-to-end-sfx-concerts-kl2crnzq3jz|last=Butler|first=Kate|date=2005-06-12|work=The Sunday Times|access-date=2019-04-19|language=en|issn=0956-1382}} and hosted pop and rock music concerts until 2001 when the shows were moved to the Ambassador Theatre.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dublinlive.ie/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/ultimate-list-iconic-dublin-music-13506677 |title=Ultimate list of iconic Dublin music venues we wish never closed|last=Arnold|first=Barry|date=2017-09-21 |website=dublinlive|access-date=2019-04-19}}
From the late 1970s through 2001, the hall became renowned for rock and pop concerts. Acts ranged from U2, who played three nights there in December 1982 in support of their album War, to the Pogues, whose 1985 performance was later fondly recalled as “magical nights” in a retrospective on the venue.{{cite news |last=O'Brien |first=Eugene |date=28 March 2021 |title=Dirty old town lit up by magical nights at SFX |url=https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/dirty-old-town-lit-up-by-magical-nights-at-sfx/40246948.html |work=Irish Independent |location= |publisher= |access-date=11 May 2025}}
At one time, the Dublin Theatre Festival was housed at the SFX.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/who-is-dublin-for-who-do-we-want-to-share-it-with-1.3632154|title=Who is Dublin for? Who do we want to share it with?|last=Crawley|first=Peter|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2019-04-19}}
In 2006, SFX Theater was demolished to make way for 41 apartments.
Performances
Acts that played the SFX include:
File:2. New Order playing SFX Dublin 1983.jpg
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- ABC{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/ClassicDublinGigs/photos/a.277275406202/10150174176121203/|title=Classic Dublin Gigs - ABC- SFX 1982 | Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}
- Alanis Morissette{{Cite web|url=https://www.songkick.com/venues/43110-sfx-theatre/gigography |title=SFX Theatre Dublin Gigography, Concert History, Past Events – Songkick |website=www.songkick.com|date=22 October 2010 }}
- Alice in Chains{{Cite web |url=https://www.last.fm/event/1301416+Alice+in+Chains+at+SFX+on+05+March+1993|title=Alice in Chains at SFX (Dublin) on 5 Mar 1993|website=Last.fm}}
- An Emotional Fish{{Cite web|url=http://www.last.fm/music/An+Emotional+Fish?ac=an%20emotional%20fish|title = An Emotional Fish music, videos, stats, and photos| date=10 December 2023 }}
- Ash
- Big Audio Dynamite{{Cite web|url=https://fanningsessions.wordpress.com/2017/02/20/big-audio-dynamite-dave-fanning-interview-1986/|title=Big Audio Dynamite – Dave Fanning Interview (1986)|date=20 February 2017}}
- Billy Bragg{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/dirty-old-town-lit-up-by-magical-nights-at-sfx-40246948.html|title=Dirty old town lit up by magical nights at SFX|website=independent|date=28 March 2021 }}
- Björk
- The Black Crowes{{Cite web|url=https://www.last.fm/event/985204+The+Black+Crowes+at+SFX+on+08+January+1995|title=The Black Crowes at SFX (Dublin) on 8 Jan 1995|website=Last.fm}}
- Bush
- Chumbawamba{{Cite web|url=https://www.hopecollectiveireland.com/gigs.htm|title=Document : A Story of Hope|website=www.hopecollectiveireland.com}}
- The Clash
- Counting Crows
- The Damned
- Def Leppard{{Cite web|url=http://www.deflepparduk.com/hysteria-world-tour-start-dublin-34-years.html|title=34 Years Ago DEF LEPPARD Start HYSTERIA World Tour In Dublin, Ireland|website=Def Leppard Tour History}}
- Deftones
- Depeche Mode{{Cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2022/0607/1303486-behind-the-music-paul-quin/|title=Behind the Music - Paul Quin|date=7 June 2022|via=www.rte.ie}}
- Dio{{Cite web|url=https://www.songkick.com/venues/43110-sfx-theatre|title=SFX Theatre Dublin, Tickets for Concerts & Music Events 2022 – Songkick|website=www.songkick.com|date=22 October 2010 }}
- Dokken{{Cite web|url=https://www.45worlds.com/live/venue/st-francis-xaviers-hall-sfx|title=St. Francis Xaviers Hall - S.F.X, Dublin - Live Music|website=www.45worlds.com}}
- Echo and the Bunnymen{{Cite web|url=https://www.songkick.com/venues/44494-st-francis-xavier-hall/gigography|title=St. Francis Xavier Hall (SFX) Dublin Gigography, Concert History, Past Events – Songkick|website=www.songkick.com|date=25 January 1986 |language=en|access-date=2019-04-19}}
- EMF
- Fear Factory{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/fear-factory/1999/sfx-hall-dublin-ireland-5bd313a8.html|title=Fear Factory Setlist at SFX Hall, Dublin|website=setlist.fm}}
- Foo Fighters{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/foo-fighters/1995/sfx-hall-dublin-ireland-bc78dea.html|title=Foo Fighters Setlist at SFX Hall, Dublin|website=setlist.fm}}
- Fugazi{{Cite web|url=https://www.dischord.com/fugazi_live_series/dublin-ireland-51192|title=Fugazi Live Series: Dublin, Ireland 5/11/92|website=www.dischord.com}}
- Grand Slam{{cite news |title=Personality Test: Musician Mark Dignam |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |location=Pittsburgh |date=6 January 2010 |via=Gale General OneFile |id={{gale|A215878896}}}}
- Green Day{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/rehashing-punk-and-spitting-it-back-at-us-1.126975|title=Rehashing punk and spitting it back at us|newspaper=The Irish Times}}
- Henry Rollins{{Cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/singingStreetsLondon/photos/a.158305852308521/529582218514214/|title=Singing Streets - The SFX was a major rock venue of the '80s and '90s... |website=www.facebook.com}}
- Iron Maiden{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/iron-maiden/1996/sfx-hall-dublin-ireland-7bd39ebc.html|title=Iron Maiden Setlist at SFX Hall, Dublin|website=setlist.fm}}
- James
- The Jesus and Mary Chain{{Cite web |url=https://www.last.fm/event/991554+The+Jesus+and+Mary+Chain+at+SFX+on+04+September+1987|title=The Jesus and Mary Chain at SFX (Dublin) on 4 Sep 1987|website=Last.fm}}
- Jesus Jones
- Judas Priest
- Kerbdog
- Korn
- Madness{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/singingStreetsLondon/photos/a.158305852308521/529582218514214/|title=Singing Streets - The SFX was a major rock venue of the '80s and '90s, with seemingly every indie and hard rock band of note playing here. ... |website=www.facebook.com}}
- Marillion{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqe6iLTvQCc|title=MARILLION * 1985 09 04 * DUBLIN * SFX CENTRE * IRELAND (Audio)|via=www.youtube.com}}
- Megadeth{{Cite web|url=https://www.last.fm/event/1050847+Megadeth+at+SFX+on+10+July+2001|title=Megadeth at SFX (Dublin) on 10 Jul 2001|website=Last.fm}}
- Meat Loaf{{Cite web|url=https://www.45worlds.com/live/listing/meat-loaf-st-francis-xaviers-hall-sfx-1985|title=Live Music - Meat Loaf - St. Francis Xaviers Hall - S.F.X - Ireland|website=www.45worlds.com}}
- Metallica{{Cite web|url=https://www.metallica.com/events/event-9417.html|title=1986-09-14 Dublin, Ireland | Metallica.com|website=www.metallica.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/global5325/4293391516/|title=Cliff Burton at the SFX}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/global5325/4302643956/|title=METALLICA - SFX CENTRE DUBLIN IRELAND 1986|date=24 January 2010|via=Flickr}}
- Moby
- My Bloody Valentine
- New Order
- Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
- Nine Inch Nails
- The Offspring{{Cite web|url=https://www.last.fm/event/1577882+The+Offspring+at+SFX+on+09+January+1999|title=The Offspring at SFX (Dublin) on 9 Jan 1999|website=Last.fm}}
- Ozzy Osbourne{{Cite web |url=https://www.last.fm/event/975599+Ozzy+Osbourne+at+SFX+on+09+February+1986|title=Ozzy Osbourne at SFX (Dublin) on 9 Feb 1986|website=Last.fm}}
- Pantera
- Phish{{Cite web|url=http://phish.net/setlists/phish-june-13-1997-the-sfx-centre-dublin-ireland.html|title=Jun 13, 1997 Setlist - Phish.net|website=phish.net|access-date=2020-01-29}}
- Placebo
- The Pogues
- Portishead
- Pulp{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ClassicDublinGigs/posts/pfbid03iGQqgJujgWR9Lkg5tJvoEeuscsnmcGAYhVK3zFetSJCDk9vYwsAmPLL63CYeVeel|title=Classic Dublin Gigs|website=www.facebook.com}}
- The Pretenders
- Queensrÿche
- Ratt
- R.E.M.{{Cite web|url=https://www.last.fm/event/991569+R.E.M.+at+SFX+on+04+December+1984|title=R.E.M. at SFX (Dublin) on 4 Dec 1984|website=Last.fm}}
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Rory Gallagher
- Sepultura{{Cite web| title=Sepultura | url=https://www.metallipromo.com/sep.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713032653/http://www.metallipromo.com:80/sep.html | archive-date=2015-07-13}}
- Silverfish{{Cite web|url=https://ne-np.facebook.com/ClassicDublinGigs/posts/pfbid03iGQqgJujgWR9Lkg5tJvoEeuscsnmcGAYhVK3zFetSJCDk9vYwsAmPLL63CYeVeel|title=Classic Dublin Gigs|website=ne-np.facebook.com}}
- Simple Minds{{Cite web|url=https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/simple-minds-silent-running-uk-a866f267-42d8-4729-b62c-a3cef02e5b48|title=Feb 20, 1984: Simple Minds / Silent Running UK at SFX Theatre Dublin, Leinster, Ireland | Concert Archives|website=www.concertarchives.org}}
- Sinéad O'Connor
- Siouxsie and the Banshees
- Slayer
- The Smashing Pumpkins{{Cite web |url=https://www.last.fm/event/432866+The+Smashing+Pumpkins+at+SFX+on+23+August+1995|title=The Smashing Pumpkins at SFX (Dublin) on 23 Aug 1995|website=Last.fm}}
- The Smiths
- Stone Temple Pilots{{Cite web|url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/stone-temple-pilots-486401|title=STONE TEMPLE PILOTS|first=Nick|last=Kelly|website=Hotpress}}
- Suede{{Cite web |url=https://www.last.fm/event/1133528+Suede+at+SFX+on+12+January+1995|title=Suede at SFX (Dublin) on 12 Jan 1995|website=Last.fm}}
- The Sugarcubes
- Therapy?
- Thin Lizzy
- Tool
- Type O Negative{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/krafty-work-1.54412|title=Krafty work|newspaper=The Irish Times}}
- U2
- The Verve
- Virgin Prunes{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishrock.org/irodb/bands/virginprunesbootsk7.html|title=Irish Rock Discography: The Virgin Prunes|website=www.irishrock.org}}
- The Waterboys
- Whipping Boy{{Cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/whipping-boy/1992/sfx-hall-dublin-ireland-b9a011a.html|title=Whipping Boy Setlist at SFX Hall, Dublin|website=setlist.fm}}
- Whitesnake
- The Wonder Stuff
- ZZ Top{{Cite web|url=https://jenifershop.com/product/zz-top-vintage-eliminator-tour-sfx-concert-hall-dublin-ireland-1983-poster-canvas-wall-art-print/|title=Zz Top Vintage Eliminator Tour Sfx Concert Hall Dublin Ireland 1983 – Poster | Canvas Wall Art Print}}
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References
{{Reflist}}
{{Theatres in Ireland}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord missing|County Dublin}}
Category:1953 establishments in Ireland
Category:2001 disestablishments in Ireland
Category:Buildings and structures in Dublin (city)
Category:Concert halls in the Republic of Ireland
Category:Theatres in Dublin (city)
Category:Music in Dublin (city)
Category:Former music venues in Ireland