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music · Saturday 18 July 2026 · 9:00pm 
GUNS RELOADED and WHIPLASH Tribute Night
At Set Theatre Kilkenny · Set Theatre, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
At Set Theatre Kilkenny · Set Theatre, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny
Two of rock’s most celebrated tribute acts share a stage for one night at Set Theatre Kilkenny this July. GUNS RELOADED deliver the full Guns N’ Roses experience - the riffs, the swagger, the anthems - while WHIPLASH bring the relentless energy and precision of a Metallica show. Back-to-back, it adds up to a double-header covering two of the biggest names in hard rock and metal, all in one of the southeast’s best live music rooms. If you grew up with Welcome to the Jungle or Master of Puppets, this is an evening worth travelling for.
GUNS RELOADED are an Irish tribute act with a reputation for faithful, high-energy Guns N’ Roses sets - expect Appetite for Destruction classics alongside tracks from Use Your Illusion and beyond. WHIPLASH take on Metallica’s catalogue, from the thrash fury of Kill ‘Em All through to the big-production sound of the Black Album and later records. Tribute nights at Set Theatre tend to draw a mixed crowd - serious fans alongside people who just want a good night out - so the atmosphere is usually warm rather than intense. The venue holds up to 400 and is known for strong sound and sightlines; it was designed specifically as a live music space and opened in 2009 as part of Langtons Hotel on John Street. Doors typically open around an hour before the listed stage time of 9:00pm, though it is worth checking the Set Theatre website for confirmation as the show approaches.
Kilkenny is well connected by road and rail. From Dublin, the M9 takes roughly 90 minutes by car; from Cork, it is a similar distance via the N8 and M8. Bus Eireann runs regular services into Kilkenny from Dublin, Waterford, and Limerick. The train station on Dublin Road is a short walk from the city centre - around 10 to 15 minutes on foot, or a quick taxi ride. Set Theatre sits on John Street Gardens in the city centre, which is walking distance from most of the main car parks. The Ormonde Street multi-storey and the Irishtown Road car park are the nearest larger options.
Kilkenny city repays an overnight stay - the medieval castle, the craft quarter at the Kilkenny Design Centre, and a string of good pubs along Parliament Street and the lanes off it. There is more to see in Kilkenny and across Co. Kilkenny.
Heading to Set Theatre Kilkenny in Kilkenny? Kilkenny has plenty more to see. Read the Kilkenny area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.