The Searchlight Development Deal is a project aimed at promoting young, up-and-coming bands, working with students of the Sound Training Programme over a 4 month-period.

The process ends with a showcase night in Temple Bar’s Button Factory attended by industry professionals.

Over 100 bands apply every year to be part of this project. This year, the chosen acts were LNT, Rickshaw, Search Party Animal, The Felonies and Solid Sun.

The Searchlight Showcase, 19th of January, is free entry. In addition to the 5 main stage acts, there will also be 5 acoustic acts on our second stage. These include Eurovision semi-finalist Molly Sterling, pop duo Hymmingbyrd, bearded troubadour Barry Jay Hughes, piano prodigy Sam Ali and our very own Chimp Paradox!

About the Acts

Search Party Animal
A five-piece band from Dundrum, Dublin. They play a mixture of crushing math/post-rock and indie rock. They have a strong sonic identity and a seamless live set. Festival goers may have seen these guys playing festivals such as Knockanstockan, Electric Picnic, Body & Soul and Other Voices.

Rickshaw
A Dublin based four-piece band who formed in 2015, Rickshaw take their own approach to rock & roll. With a heavy blend of guitar riffs and powerful drums, they have influences such as Queens of the Stone Age, Black Sabbath, Tool and The Ramones.

The Felonies
The Felonies are a young four-piece band from County Wicklow, formed in 2015. They have a unique sound which intertwines progressive garage and indie rock. Their influences are bands such as The Arctic Monkeys, Led Zeppelin and Kassabian.

Solid Sun
A four-piece group consisting of half-Limerick and half-Dublin based members who came on to the irish music scene in 2014. Solid Sun are bursting with creativity and combine a mixture of hard rock and metal bands as their musical influences.

LNT
LNT are a Dublin-based band, with their own unique brand of strong and emotive alternative rock.

See full details here:

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