The Essential Festival Guide: June

Each day this week, we'll be bringing you our rundown of the best festival throughout each of the summer months, including where to go and what to expect when you get there.

Rory Gallagher International Festival

June 1-4, Big Top, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
Band Of Friends, Ten Years After, Eric Bell Band, Sinnerboy, Bernie Marsden Band and more
Camping and ticket €79, three nights concert tickets €60.
rorygallagherfestival.com
Since its inauguration in 2002, this tribute festival has celebrated the music and life of Rory Gallagher in fantastic fashion, with over 10,000 fans being drawn to the festival each year from all corners of the globe. Among the bill-toppers are Band Of Friends whose ranks include former Rory bassist Gerry McAvoy. AC/DC’s Angus Young says it’s on his bucket-list to attend, so you never know who might be rocking out next to you!

The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival
June 1-5, Kilkenny.
Dara O’Briain, Tommy Tiernan, TJ Miller, Aisling Bea, Kevin Bridges, Limmy, Adam Hills, Nina Conti, Panti, Al Porter, Deirdre O’Kane, Des Bishop, Zoe Lyons, Rubberbandits, Jason Byrne, Phill Jupitus, Neil Delamere, David O’Doherty and more.
thecatlaughs.com
Firmly established as one of the world’s leading comedy festivals, Cat Laughs makes its June Bank Holiday return with its usual array of visiting Americans, top Irish and UK funnypersons, and some of the stand-up circuit’s hottest emerging talent. From seated theatre gigs to rawkus pub improv, all forms of comedic life will be here.

AVA Festival
June 2-3, T13 Queens Road, Titanic Quarter, Belfast.
Jeff Mills, Marcel Dettmann, Ben UFO, Denis Sulta, Fatima Yamaha, Rebekah, Job Jobse, Midland, Bicep and more.
Day tickets £35, weekend tickets £60
avafestival.com
For the third year running, the AVA (Audio Visual Arts) Festival and Conference is set to return to its Belfast home at T13 Titanic Quarter, this time taking place across two days. For its first full-weekend outing, AVA will have conferences, talks, music and arts from a wealth of global and local artists. You’ll find a rare Jeff Mills and Guillaume Marmin collaboration, Marcel Dettmann, Bicep, Fatima Yamaha Live, and a host of local artists ready to descend on the vast Belfast warehouse space. On top of this, there’s the return of the almighty Boiler Room, plus AVA’s all-important conference on the Friday.

K-FEST
June 2-5, Killorglin, Co. Kerry.
Farah Elle, R.S.A.G., Super Silly, Dashka, New Valley Wolves, Tebi Rex, Sean X, Three Underneath, Jade Roxanne and more.
kfest.ie
This far-reaching arts festival promotes culture in all its forms and includes galleries, live music, film, spoken word and children’s workshops. Since 2013, K-Fest has been using unoccupied spaces in Killorglin, transforming vacant retail outlets, deserted buildings, and even domestic homes into bespoke pop-up galleries. A true arts extravaganza, it’s manna from heaven for those with a creative streak.

Ireland Bike Fest 2017
June 2-4, Killarney, Kerry.
Knights Of Leon, JoanovArc, Dep Leppard, Bowtie, Track Dogs, Live Lizzy, Hells Bells and more. irelandbikefest.com
Now a supremely well-oiled machine having celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, the Bike Fest attracts enthusiasts in their tens of thousands from all over the world. The real attraction is the opportunity for bikers to ride the twisting tracks on world-famous routes such as the Ring of Kerry and the Wild Atlantic Way. This year, there will be daily ride-outs along the latter - marshalled by Celtic Thunder Chapter Ireland and Gaelic Chapter Ireland – free Harley-Davidson demo rides, Waterford and Dublin Harley-Davidson dealers, H.O.G. hospitality & info, the Custom Bike Show, parade and lots of free live indoor and outdoor entertainment day and night.

Vantastival
June 3-4, Beaulieu House & Gardens, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
The Riptide Movement, Kíla, Overhead, The Albatross, Lankum, The Pale, Orchid Collective, The Eskies, Andy Smith, The Eskies, Fish Go Deep, New Secret Weapon, MINDRIOT, Cat Dowling, Blood and Fire Sound System feat. MC Brother Culture and more.
Weekend ticket €85, day tickets €40–€50
vantastival.com
This unique festival, which brings together campervan fans from across the island, has been going strong for the past five years. It’s located in Beaulieu House, an historic 17th century residence located half-way between Dublin and Belfast. Vantastival has earned a reputation for being relaxed and super-friendly, with an activity filled Kids’ Camp and lots of other family-friendly fun. The organisers have continually refused to go the commercial route, making this a predominantly homegrown affair music-wise. This year’s festival will once again feature a tonne of great acts, along with The Volkswagen Campervan Cook-off, open mic sessions, art installations, storytelling, festival traders and a new Glasshouse Stage acoustic area.

Forbidden Fruit
June 3-5, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Co. Dublin.
Bon Iver, Orbital, Aphex Twin, Flying Lotus, Nicholas Jaar, Lisa Hannigan, Booka Shade, Flying Lotus, Moderat, Hot Chip, Tycho, Giggs and more.
Day tickets €64.50, weekend tickets €145.50
forbiddenfruit.ie
This much-lauded urban festival returns for a seventh year. American indie folk legend Justin Vernon, AKA Bon Iver, curates Monday’s proceedings with the help of pals Flying Lotus and Lisa Hannigan, while British dance duo Orbital, and Limerick-born electronic producer Aphex Twin are the respective Saturday and Sunday headliners. Located in the heart of Dublin City and therefore negating the need for tents and wellies, Forbidden Fruit has become an established part of the capital’s summer. For those travelling from further afield, Heuston Station is located just minutes from the historic Royal Hospital and its palatial grounds.

Carlow Arts Festival
June 7-13, Graigue, Carlow.
Rusangano Family, The Strypes, Stomptown Bass, Crash Ensemble, Sarah O’Gorman, Emmet Kirwan and more.
carlowartsfestival.com
Now in its 38th year, this is a multi-disciplinary event taking place in Carlow town, with visual art, theatre, music, and dance all on the menu. This year’s highlights include RTÉ Choice Music Prize winners Rusangano Family, a Limerick hip hop trio who deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as NWA and Public Enemy. Yep, they’re that astonishing live! There’s also a special treat for opera fans, as Philip Glass’s epic Einstein On The Beach hits the big screen at the G.B. Shaw Theatre. We’re also looking forward to another sweaty night in the company of The Strypes, the Cavan quartet whose celebrity fan club includes Elton John, Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller.

B.A.R.E. In The Woods
June 9–11, Warburton Estate, Garryhinch Woods, Co. Laois.
House Of Pain, Helmet, Mike Skinner & Murkage Present Tonga, Kiesza, The Frank And Walters, The Hot Sprockets, RSAG, Rubberbandits, INXS’ Jon Stevens, Right Said Fred and more.
Weekend camping tickets (Tier 2) €125, day tickets (Tier 2) €40
bare.ticketleap.com
Occupying the lush surrounds of Garryhinch Woods, BARE In The Woods made a massive impression last year with a line-up that included hip hop legends The Sugarhill Gang. This year another veteran rap crew lead the charge, with House of Pain playing their first Irish show in six years, while The Streets frontman Mike Skinner and Canadian multi-instrumentalist Kiesza bring their celebrated Tonga club night to the always sunny Midlands. Other notable attractions include the KOKO Burst Stage, a party island out on the lake, the Dance Arena, a spoken word tent and a Comedy Stage, helmed by Andrew Maxwell and Karl Spain.

The Festival Of Writing & Ideas
June 9 – 11, Borris House, Carlow
Sebastian Barry, Eimear McBride, Colm Toibin, David Simon and Fintan O’Toole.
festivalofwritingandideas.com
The sixth edition of the Festival of Writing & Ideas, which has previously attracted the likes of Martin Amis and PJ Harvey, boasts another fantastic line-up. Leading the way is The Wire creator and vociferous Donald Trump critic, David Simon, who’ll be joined by a shelf-full of other leading literary figures from both sides of the Atlantic. For book worms and culture vultures, this is one of the events of the summer.

Belsonic
June 13-30 & August 26, Ormeau Park & Custom House Square, Belfast
Arcade Fire, The 1975, Jess Glynn, The Chainsmokers, Stiff Little Fingers, Kasabian and more.
Tickets ranging from £33 to £49
belsonic.com
Moving in the main this year from Custom House Square to the much larger Ormeau Park, the festival gets off to an exciting start on June 13 courtesy of pioneering indie rockers Arcade Fire, while arena pop heroes The 1975, chart-toppers The Chainsmokers, and groove mechanics Axwell & Ingrosso will also be adding to the fun. August, meanwhile, finds punk icons Stiff Little Fingers celebrating their 40th anniversary in Belsonic’s old CHS home, with fellow punk survivors The Stranglers, The Ruts DC, The Outcasts and Good Vibrations supremo Terri Hooley who’ll be manning the decks inbetween sets.

Doolin Folk Festival
June 16-18, Hotel Doolin, Co. Clare.
Lisa Hannigan, The Stunning, Sharon Shannon, Altan, Mundy, Duke Special & Ulaid, John Spillane, and more.
General admission tickets €99, Friday ticket €35, Saturday €45, Sunday €40.
doolinfolkfestival.com
Taking its cue from its predecessor, Lisdoonvarna, the Doolin Folk Festival presents powerful music in an intimate setting. Those lucky enough to attend the event, in the grounds of Hotel Doolin, will be treated to performances by such acclaimed Irish artists as Lisa Hannigan, The Stunning, Sharon Shannon and Altan. Famed for its lively trad sessions and home to the legendary Russell Brothers, the small fishing village is situated between the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and the Aran Islands – giving visitors an exquisite taste of the Wild Atlantic Way as they kick back and enjoy one of Ireland’s truly great events.

Body and Soul
June 23-25, Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath.
Metronomy, Lambchop, Sleaford Mods, Vitalic, Mykki Blanco, Austra, Optimo20, Sinkane, Birdy Nam Nam, Hundred Waters, La Femme, Songhoy Blues, Tiggs Da Author, The Moonlandingz and more.
General and family weekend tickets €195
bodyandsoul.ie
Body & Soul is located in the stunning grounds of Ballinlough Castle, where the woodlands, lake and 15th century walled garden provide a magnificent backdrop for the glittering late-night discos, inspirational art trails and a legendary masquerade ball that all the give the three-dayer its spiritual vibe. As for that bill; wow!

Sea Sessions
June 23-25, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
The Coronas, Primal Scream, Sigma, Foy Vance, All Tvvins, Badly Drawn Boy, Mr Scruff, Little Hours, Dreadzone, Shit Robot, Brian Deady, Aine Cahill, Wyvern Lingo, Daithi, Gurr, Kormac, Talos and more.
Day tickets €49.50, weekend camping tickets €124.90
seasessions.com
Having recently won the 2016 IRMO Live Music Festival of the Year Award, it’s safe to say that Sea Sessions has gone from strength to strength since launching in 2008. Set in the surfer’s paradise of Bundoran and surrounded by the stunning Atlantic coastline - and with a wealth of water-based activities - it has cemented its reputation as ‘the beach party weekend of the year’.

Live At The Marquee
June- July 2016, Docklands, Centre Park Road, Co. Cork.
Picture This, Eddie Vedder, Cliff Richard, Elton John, The Coronas, Gavin James, Bryan Adams, Al Porter, Elbow, Jenny Greene & The RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Nathan Carter, Emily Sandé, Tommy Tiernan and more.
ticketmaster.ie
Live At The Marquee kicked off in 2005 when the Rebel County was the official European Capital of Culture – and it went down such a treat that it’s been going strong ever since. This summer, a squadron of brilliant acts will be stopping by the docklands to entertain Corkonians – and lots of music fans from further afield too. Walking On Cars stormed the stage last year and paved the way for their current international success. Now, fellow Hot Press cover stars Picture This are hoping they’ll have the same effect when they get their go this year.