Culture
18 Apr 23

Erasure’s Andy Bell, Bananarama, Billy Ocean and more to perform at 2023 Forever Young Festival this summer

2022 Forever Young Festival in Co. Kildare. Photo credit: Billy Cahill

The Co. Kildare festival returns for its third year with a larger stage and even larger line-up.

The Forever Young Festival will return to Kildare this summer with an extensive line-up of iconic artists from the '80s. This year's festival will take place from Friday, July 14th to Sunday, July 16th at Palmerstown House Estate in Co. Kildare.

Andy Bell, the Erasure vocalist and songwriter, and UK pop duo Bananarama will headline the lauded event this year. With more artists set to be announced, the line-up also includes ‘80s legends Billy Ocean, ABC, Tony Hadley, Go West, Soul II Soul and Tom Bailey.

“A mixtape weekend where colleagues, friends, and family can reconnect with their youth, pull on their leg warmers and ra ra skirts, don the shoulder pads, roll up their suit sleeves along with mirrored aviator shades, and enjoy the 80’s all over again,” a press release for the festival stated, highlighting what attendees can look forward to this July.

🐰 Happy Easter everyone 🐣
Have a great weekend, treat someone special the gift of priceless memories, at Forever Young 💜 pic.twitter.com/IKMYvo10Le

— Forever Young Festival (@ForeverYoung_ie) April 7, 2023

This year's Forever Young Festival will also include a retro gaming tent with arcade classics like Space Invaders and Pac-man, and a showing of the All-Ireland semi-final matches. The event will have on-site camping and home comforts including beds, duvets, power, pamper parlours and golf buggies that will give lifts around the site. After launching in 2019, the festival has gone on to win awards for “Best Medium-Sized Festival” and “Best Lineup”.

The annual event was established to provide funds for the animal charity Animal Welfare and Veterinary Care Ireland, where all sales profits from the event will be donated. In addition, the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will be the festival's on-site charity partner this year.

“I wanted to launch a new animal welfare charity; Ireland didn’t have any ‘80s festivals. I’ve been to loads – they’re brilliant fun, I thought it would make the perfect fundraiser," said Dr Sharon Alston, the festival’s founder and organiser who is also a veterinarian. "It gives people an absolute shot of something money can’t buy: to lift you up and make you feel young again."

“These clinics are desperately needed. We have our first site lined up ready if we raise enough money after this year’s festival. We aim to have five hospitals across Ireland in 5 years,” Dr Alston added.

Tickets for the festival can be purchased online here.

Follow the Forever Young Festival on social media to see weekly interviews with the artists performing at this summer's showcase.