Blondie Raptured at VISUAL Carlow

Blondie Raptured is a two-hour tribute to the New Wave band Blondie and its frontwoman Debbie Harry, built around a live band rather than backing tracks. It’s one of a run of tribute and legacy-act concerts VISUAL programmes through the autumn, sitting alongside shows built around Leonard Cohen, Dire Straits and classic rock more broadly.

What to Expect

The show works through Blondie’s best-known songs across a career that ran from punk-adjacent New York club roots into disco and pop crossover hits, with the production leaning on “strong visuals” and “excellent musicianship from the live band” rather than a note-for-note tribute act standing still on stage. The lead performer is built around channelling Harry’s distinctive stage presence and attitude as much as her voice. Expect a full-band lineup rather than a duo or backing-track show, playing the singles that carried Blondie from CBGB’s to the top of the charts.

Good to Know

• Friday 16 October 2026, 8pm.
• Tickets €30 including booking fee, online, in person or by phone through the box office (059 917 2400).
• The George Bernard Shaw Theatre, VISUAL Carlow, Old Dublin Road, Carlow Town.
• Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable; groups of more than 8 or wheelchair users should contact the box office directly.

Getting There

VISUAL is on the Old Dublin Road on the northern edge of Carlow Town, with its own car park. It’s roughly a 20-minute walk from Carlow railway station on the Dublin Heuston to Waterford line, or a short taxi ride.

About the Venue

VISUAL opened in 2009 on land donated by Carlow College, built after an international design competition won by British architect Terry Pawson. The complex pairs the 330-seat George Bernard Shaw Theatre with gallery space that stages around 15 exhibitions a year, and admission to the galleries is free, Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 5:30pm and Sunday 2pm to 5pm. It’s worth building in time before or after a show to see what’s currently on display.