Iconic Canadian crooner Michael Bublé shocked a small crowd of Dublin punters with an unannounced acoustic performance at a local pub, ahead of his massive weekend stadium shows in Ireland. The intimate gig took place upstairs at Doyle’s on College Green as part of the venue’s long-running Ruby Sessions. The weekly acoustic night has built a formidable reputation across more than two decades, routinely attracting high-profile artists who wish to test material or perform stripped-back sets away from the glare of arena lights.
For 26 years, the Dublin venue has hosted these sessions every Tuesday night, operating as a cherished fixture within the Irish live music scene. The platform has previously seen unannounced and early-career appearances from internationally acclaimed musicians, including the likes of Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi, and Irish rock band Kodaline. Bublé’s appearance added another high-profile chapter to the venue’s history, marking his official debut on the intimate stage.
The Haven’t Met You Yet singer belted out a selection of his most popular tunes to an audience of around 100 astonished spectators. The Canadian star, universally known for his jazz and blues-infused covers, particularly delighted the crowd with a dazzling rendition of Van Morrison’s classic track Moondance, paying homage to Irish musical royalty in the process.
The surprise appearance serves as a warm-up to Bublé’s significant outdoor performances scheduled across Ireland. The singer is slated to take to the stage at the historic Malahide Castle in North Dublin this Saturday, with gates opening at 4pm for thousands of ticket holders. Following his capital performance, he will travel to the west coast to perform the subsequent night in Limerick.
Addressing the stunned crowd as he took the mic at Doyle’s, Bublé opened with a simple, “Well hello,” which prompted disbelieving shouts from the floor. He jokingly replied to one shocked fan: “I can’t believe I’m here either. I’m not saying that it’s true, but I was hoping for Lewis Capaldi.”
Reflecting on the evening, Bublé shared a short video of his performance online, stating that half the time he is just as surprised as everyone else by where he ends up, noting he was incredibly happy it happened to be the Ruby Sessions. Irish fans and attendees flooded social media to praise the intimate show, with many labelling the evening as an unforgettable and historic night for the Dublin pub.