Festival Nation

It's time! After the longest, dreariest Irish winter in recent memory, the sun has finally poked its anti-social head from behind the clouds and, while it might not be splitting the rocks just yet, it's enough to get us worked up for this year's fun-filled festival offerings.

Two of the biggies, the one-stop party shop they call Oxegen and star-studded staple Electric Picnic, have yet to show their hand. Still, we can't contain our excitement as promising newbies and low-key favourites alike confirm their line-ups.
Even without official word of the Oxy and Leccy Piccy programmes, the index of A-listers visiting Irish shores this summer is staggering; Kings Of Leon, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Sting, Elton John, Phoenix, Kraftwerk, Primal Scream, Chic, Grizzly Bear, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Of Monsters & Men are all on board for various musical extravaganzas. Plus homegrown stars like Villagers, Glen Hansard, Imelda May, And So I Watch You From Afar, MMOTHS and this issue's cover stars, the red hot Kodaline, will also be giving it socks over the next few months.
In the highly unlikely event that you're not tempted by that lot, there are plenty of alternative shindigs heading our way in the areas of music, art, culture, food and dance. You'll find some of the best detailed here, all the way up to what is generally considered the official end of summer at Electric Picnic.
Whatever you're looking for, there's no time to dilly-dally, especially with a host of fine early bird deals still available. Study these pages carefully, make your festival selections wisely, and do remember to let us know how you got on, eh?

April

West Waterford Festival Of Food
April 11 – 14, various venues, Dungarvan, Waterford
Ross Lewis, Martin Shanahan, Garrett Byrne, Paul Flynn, Richard Corrigan and more.
Ticket prices from €5 to €70, with many free events.
waterfordfestivaloffood.com

In its sixth year, the Waterford Festival Of Food has become synonymous with fabulous grub and magical music, as chefs, bloggers and food lovers unite in the beautiful seaside town of Dungarvan for a weekend of free and ticketed events. Against the majestic backdrop of the Comeragh mountains, a jam-packed programme mixes high end dining with casual bistro experiences; the festival’s ethos is one of supporting local, which means that restaurants, cafes, and retailers from the surrounding areas will all be featured. As well as offering great restaurant experiences and cookery demonstrations by Ireland’s top chefs, the festival has 'foraging events' in the woods, seaweed seminars on the beach and community picnics in the beautifully-maintained Walton Park. Also look for free nutrition and health seminars, restaurant trails, cookery demonstrations, movie screenings, live music, fitness classes, and children’s events. The grand finale is the annual Farmer’s Market extravaganza which takes place in the heart of the town, the historic Grattan Square, on April 14.

Phase One
April 19 and 20, The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim
LTJ Bukem, Le Galaxie, Coma, Sunken Foal, Sounds Of System Breakdown, Donal Dineen, New Jackson, White Collar Boy, Alan Kelly, Cian Ó Cíobháin, Co-Ex, DJ Ash, Dubh Thrain, Eamonn Doyle, Harem Tone, Imploded View, Joe Gaffey, John Kelly, Johnny Trotter, Kris Kave, Lamont Bailey Wall, Liam O Brien, Man Under Moon, Mixile, PolyDROID, Ronan Devlin, Sckrawny, Sean Flynn, Shadow Manana, Somatix Krew, Stephen Rennicks, The Head Of Red O’Brien, The Violet Roadkills, Ulrich Schnauss, Zenji and Zoid.
Weekend tickets are priced €60 with Friday day tickets costing €30 and Saturday day tickets
costing €40.
phaseonefestival.wordpress.com

A brand new festival that has electronic music fans all aflutter, Phase One promises two jam-packed nights of floor-filling tunes from some of the best producers from Ireland and Europe, as well as art exhibitions, a chill-out cinema, workshops in music production and exciting explorations in other art forms. Housed in Carrick-On-Shannon's state-of-the-art multi-purpose venue The Dock (a 19th Century former courthouse, no less!), Phase One is the place to go for classes in mind-blowing live video from the likes of Donal Dineen, Hector Castells and Myles O Reilly, and, of course, a dynamite electronic music bill that matches seasoned pros (LTJ Bukem, Le Galaxie, Coma) with hyped newbies (Lamont Bailey Wall, PolyDROID, New Jackson) across three stages.

May

The Cathedral Quarter
Arts Festival
May 2 – 12, various venues, Belfast
Adam Ant, The Fall, Edwyn Collins, Julie Fowlis, John Grant, Amadou and Mariam, Dexys, Mark Thomas, Will Self, Low Leaf, Daniel Higgs, Bobby Conn, Nathan Fake, Thee Oh Sees With David Holmes, British Sea Power, DJ Yoda, ASIWYFA, Chuck Prophet, Angel Olsen, Rachel Sermanni, Valerie June, Lucy Rose, His Golden Messenger and William Tyler, Ha Ha Tonka, Dave Gunning, Mary Gauthier, Cedric Watson, Neil Cowley Trio, Katy Carr and Bernadette Morris.
Tickets are priced individually from £5 to £20, with some free events.
cqaf.com

Belfast welcomes a whole host of festivals this summer, none busier than May’s 10-day music, comedy and theatre extravaganza in the city’s Cathedral Quarter. CQAF began life in May 2000, drawing a crowd of 5,000. These days, the number charmed by its 150 events is closer to 60,000. In 2003 the Marquee welcomes new romantic legend Adam Ant, old-school pop outfit Dexys, multi-tasking guitar pop aficionado Edwyn Collins, singer-songwriter John Grant, post-punk luminaries The Fall, Malian duo Amadou and Mariam, as well as comedians extraordinaire Andrew Maxwell and Richard Herring. Meanwhile, our money for show of the festival is on The Stay Golden, an evening curated by rock titans ASIWYFA.

Camden Crawl Dublin
May 3 – 5, various venues, Dublin
Echo & The Bunnymen, New Young Pony Club, Dirty Beaches, Tropics, Big Deal, Windings, Adultrock, Come On Live Long, Ghosts, Hunk, Liza Flume, Slow Skies, Terriers, Big Deal, Tropics, Prince Rama, The Black Lips, Stubborn Heart, Three Trapped Tigers, Gallops, PAWS, Arrows Of Love, Kid Canaveral, The Pictish Trail, Concrete Knives, Lanterns On The Lake, WIFE, Darkstar, PVT, Holy Other, No Ceremony///, :Hounds:, Amateur Historians, Croupier, Overhead, The Albatross, School Tour, So Cow, Toby Kaar, VerseChorusVerse, Fight Like Apes, We Cut Corners, Girl Band, Daithi, Lemonada, Nanu Nanu, Le Galaxie and more.
Tickets are priced €55 for the weekend pass or €35 for a day ticket.
camdencrawldublin.com

Originating in London, the Camden Crawl brings its format to Dublin for the second time this May with appearances from seasoned pros (Echo & The Bunnymen, The Black Lips, Holy Other, Fionn Regan), buzz-worthy up-and-comers (Bantum, Sleep Thieves, Kool Thing, Girl Band) and wide-eyed newbies (Ghosts, Croupier, The Notas, Low Sea). Over 15 of Dublin's best music venues are on board to host the two-day festival, which will see keen-eared music lovers hopping from heaving rock shows to intimate electronic sessions – and everything in between.

Vantastival
May 3 – 5, Bellurgan Park, Louth
Damien Dempsey, And So I Watch You From Afar, Jerry Fish, Altan, RSAG, Tupelo, The Cujo Family, The Barley Mob, Mark Geary, Oddsocks, Nanu Nanu, Daithi, Cat Dowling, The Trampz, SOSB, In Their Thousands, Raglans, Multiverse, Elaine Mai, Rachel Sermanni, Carried By Waves, Ocho, The Inishowen Gospel Choir, Mojo GoGo, Swords, Solar Taxi and more.
Tickets are priced €89 for three nights including camping, €40 for a Saturday or Sunday pass or €50 for a Sunday pass with camping.
vantastival.com

Kicking off summer at Bellurgan Park, Co. Louth, Vantastival returns for its fourth year from May 3 – 5. A truly unique BYOB festival combining killer line-ups with a celebration of campervan culture, it's one of Ireland's more niche weekenders although, we hasten to add, you don’t need a home on four wheels to enjoy it – tent campers are more than welcome. A diverse range of up to 100 acts are scheduled over the course of the weekend, with song-and-guitar man Damien Dempsey and rock behemoth And So I Watch You From Afar topping the bill. Punters can also expect an open mic stage, campervan cook-off and lots of late night shenanigans for those who like to party until the wee hours.

Kilkenny Roots Festival
May 3 – 6, various venues,
Kilkenny city
Angel Olsen, Larry and His Flask, Chuck Prophet, John Murry, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Ha Ha Tonka, Phosphorescent, Dead Flamingoes, John Grant, The Deep Dark Woods, Mama Rosin, The Lost Brothers, Ed Romanoff and many more.
kilkennyroots.com

A little bit of Americana comes to the Irish South East this May as the 15th annual Kilkenny Roots Festival serves up its jam-packed schedule of country, folk, blues, bluegrass and rockabilly across 30-plus venues. With over 80 ticketed and free shows to explore, including performances by Bonnie Prince Billy backing singer-turned-fully fledged solo star Angel Olsen, there’s no excuse not to join the gig trail at this mini-SXSW.

Ballydehob Jazz Festival
May 3 – 6, various venues, Ballydehob, Co. Cork
Ruti Lachs and Tony Adams, “Jazz Singer” with Al Jolsen, Tuxedo Jazz, Dick Pearce Quartet Feat. Ian Date, Earthship, Cocomojo, Swing Out Cork, Tuxedo Jazz, Princess and the P, Swingin’ Bluecats and more.
Tickets priced from €8 to €40, with many free events.
ballydehobjazzfestival.org

For the seventh year running, West Cork village Ballydehob is the unlikely setting for an outstanding programme of live jazz performance and complimentary fringe events over the May Bank Holiday weekend. Organisers have bagged Jazz FM’s Artist of the Year, the Neil Cowley Trio, for the bill, as well as the electro-swing duet Kitten and the Hip, and a string of Irish-based jazz ensembles. Fringe events include a Celebration of Swing with the Swingin’ Bluecats and the Swing Out Dancers, a Poetry Slam, the Jazz Cinema, an art exhibition, a swing dance class, a poetry writing workshop and two full afternoons of Street Music and markets.
Gathering At Uisneach
May 4 and 5, Uisneach Inn, Killare, Co. Westmeath.
The Original RudeBoys, Rubberbandits, Raglans, Ryan Sheridan, Kíla, Riptide Movement, The Barley Mob, and more TBA.
Earlybird tickets are priced €40 for the weekend, €50 for the weekend with camping and €25 for a day pass.
festivalofthefires.com

A party with its roots in ancient Ireland and its eyes firmly fixed on the charts, Festival Of The Fires celebrates the pagan feast of Bealtaine with performances from the best of Irish pop and Celtic rock. This year, the Gathering at Uisneach will feature many of the elements that made Festival of the Fires such an iconic event, from ancient ceremonies reborn to the best in international music, fire performers and family fun. The line-up includes acoustic hip-hoppers The Original Rudeboys, plastic bag-wearing comedy duo The Rubberbandits, busker-turned-chart sensation Ryan Sheridan, trad heroes Kila and Hot Press faves The Riptide Movement.

Dublin Dance Festival
May 14 – 26, various venues, Dublin
Stravinsky Evening: Hunt And Petrushka, What The Body Does Not Remember, Montage For Three, Not About Everything, Cure and More.
dublindancefestival.ie

A must for fans of dance in all its forms, the Dublin Dance Festival boasts a vibrant programme for 2013, featuring artists from as far afield as Australia and as close to home as Poppintree. Spread across several venues, from the Abbey Theatre to a playground in Fairview, the bill includes some of the world’s most highly-praised choreographers and landmark contemporary dance works, alongside some less conventional activities, namely film screenings, brick throwing and even a pyjama party! The festival opens with renowned Finnish choreographer Tero Saarinen’s Stravinsky Evening at the Abbey Theatre in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first performance of the Rite of Spring, while Wim Vandekeybus will also be reviving a startling modern masterpiece at The Abbey, the visceral What the Body Does Not Remember. Elsewhere, Jean Butler will be reconnecting with her Irish step dance history in a personal work balancing her past and present sensibilities.

Life Festival
May 24 – 26, Belvedere House, Co. Westmeath
Groove Armada DJ Set, Seth Troxler, Laurent Garnier, Modeselektor Live, Amon Tobin Presents Two Fingers (DJ Set), Booka Shade Live, Kerri Chandler, Karenn Boddika, Floating Points, Krystal Klear, Toby Kaar and more.
Weekend camping tickets are priced €136 plus booking fee.
life-festival.com

Over the past few years, Life Festival has transformed from a psytrance-based event into something more unique and eclectic, and this year’s line-up confirms how far it has come. The stunning Belvedere House in Mullingar will again act as the backdrop to this three-day weekender of music, arts and culture gathering of like-minded music lovers. Whether you like to disappear, hypnosis-like, into a straight 72 hours of electronic music, or enjoy something a little more chilled, Life Festival can cater to all your whims, presenting a vibrant range of cutting-edge music, visuals and traditional arts, workshops and performances. Expect astonishing grounds and lake, main stages and all-night areas, eco-friendly camping facilities, cool healing area, workshops and tasty food stalls.

Shakefest
May 25 and 26, Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
MaSamba, Fuinneamh Drum and Dance, Mariel Sitka, Azaria Starfire and The Big Spender Boys Cabaret and more.
Tickets are priced €65 for the weekend with camping, €10 for Saturday only, with some workshops costing extra.
shakefest.net

Celebrating its eighth year bringing art and culture to the masses, Shakefest returns to Tullamore’s incredible neo-gothic Charleville Castle for two days in May. Fusing an idyllic location with a vibrant, artistic spirit, Shakefest attracts visitors and participants of all ages, from across the country and indeed, the globe. Boasting a highly eclectic mix of dance, art and family-friendly activities, Shakefest 2013 promises a Brazilian Samba demonstration with MaSamba, a medieval battle courtesy of KHI Re-enactors, a communal drum workshop with Fuinneamh Drum and Dance, an Oriental dance performance by Mariel Sitka and the theatrical roguery of Azaria Starfire and The Big Spender Boys Cabaret. Revellers are invited to camp out under the stars. Single-day admission is also available.

Listowel Writers’ Week
May 29 – June 2, Listowel, Kerry
Nadeen Aslam, Dermot Bolger, Lucy Caldwell, Dave Lordan, Cathy Cassidy, Marina Chapman, Emma Donoghue, Robin Dunbar, Colm Tóibín, Peter Murphy, Willy Vlautin and more.
writersweek.ie

Eminent Irish and international literary figures gather in Kerry's colourful market town of Listowel every May for Writers’ Week, a weekend-long celebration of the work of new and established writers. Under the leadership of its president, the esteemed Mr. Colm Toibin, Writers’ Week provides a wide ranging programme of literary and cultural events, including lectures, readings, workshops, book launches, seminars, interviews, theatre, literary and historical tours, art exhibitions, music and dance. Workshops allow prominent Irish writers to connect with emerging writers, while a series of literary awards presented at the festival have given valuable recognition to new writers.

Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival
May 30 – June 2, various venues, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal
Band Of Friends, Nine Below Zero, Pat McManus Band, Johnny Gallagher, Mick Pyro Blues Executive and many more.
Earlybird tickets are priced €35 for the weekend or an additional €40 for camping.
rorygallagherfestival.com

During his sensational 30-year career, the late, great Rory Gallagher played his fair share of festivals, from the Isle Of Wight to the legendary Montreux Jazz – so what better way to remember Ireland’s best-loved bluesman than by giving him a big, heaving festival of his own? A star-studded line-up of classic rock and blues musicians, many of them Gallagher’s contemporaries, headline the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival each year. It is renowned for its friendly vibes and fun atmosphere, making it every bit as free-spirited as the man himself. Expect former Rory band members in the form of Band Of Friends and Nine Below Zero, not to mention performances by Pat McManus Band, Johnny Gallagher And The Boxtie Band, Mick Pyro Blues Executive and many more.

Cat Laughs Comedy Festival
May 30 – June 3, various venues, Kilkenny
Chris O'Dowd, Dylan Moran, Kevin McAleer, Abandoman, Abie Philbin Bowman, Aidan Bishop, Andrew Maxwell, Aisling Bea, Alfie Brown, Andrew Stanley, International Improv, Anthony King, Barry Murphy, Bec Hill, Bernard O'Shea, Camembert Quartet, Dermot Whelan, David O' Doherty and more.
Tickets priced €9 to €30 per event.
thecatlaughs.com

Founded in 1994 in response to an explosion in Irish comic talent, the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival has quickly grown from a cosy collection of gigs to an internationally acclaimed event. Showcasing the very best in Irish and international comedy acts, and attracting in excess of 30,000 visitors to the charming medieval city of Kilkenny, the Cat Laughs programme seamlessly blends renowned comic stars with eager newcomers and cutting-edge break-through acts. Telly comic-turned-Hollywood star Chris O’Dowd will be one of the main attractions over the June bank holiday weekend, along with Dylan Moran, Kevin Bridges and Kevin McAleer.

Happy Valley Festival 2013
May 30 to June 3, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny
I Draw Slow, The Hot Sprockets, Mojo GoGo, Neon Wolf, Old Hannah, Solar Taxi, Band On An Island, Nathan Conway, Heritage Centre and more.
happyvalleyfestival.com

A music and arts festival for the entire family, the Happy Valley Festival (with a name like that, can they please book Leonard Cohen next year?) is a week-long series of music, arts, crafts and other specialised events for all ages. Set in lovely Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, bring the family and check out the hottest new Irish music, take part in workshops, family events and markets across the town and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and heritage of Thomastown. Now in its eight year, the festival began as a one-day event but has gone from strength to strength. It now boasts a week-long line-up that incorporates exhibitions, markets, live gigs, art and craft workshops.

Inishbofin Festival
May 10 – 12, Inishbofin Island, Connemara, Co. Galway
Republic Of Loose.
Admission is priced €15
inishbofin.com

The stunning and historic island of Inishbofin is the setting for three days of music, dance, visual arts, crafts, heritage, poetry and creative workshops this May, as the irresistibly funky Republic Of Loose head west. When not enjoying the good vibrations of the Loose, punters will be invited to take part in some good, old fashioned family fun, with fine art displays, treasure hunts and a kids’ fete making up the non-musical side of the bill.

June

Forbidden Fruit
June 1 and 2, the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin
Kasabian, Crystal Castles, Primal Scream, Chic, James Blake, Neon Neon, Four Tet, Everything Everything, Lee “Scratch” Perry, IAMWHOIAM, Le Galaxie, Woodkid, Austra, Daphni, Daughter, Toro Y Moi, Flight Facilities, Trust, I Am the Cosmos, Fight Like Apes, Tieranniesaur, Girls Names, Cyril Hahn, Myyki Blanco, Bondax, New Jackson and Frank B.
Tickets priced €79.50 for a weekend ticket or €44.50 for a day pass.
forbiddenfruit.ie

Kilmainham’s award-winning Forbidden Fruit festival returns for its third year this June bank holiday weekend with another knockout music bill, boasting its biggest headliners to date. Saturday sees the return of rock behemoths Kasabian, Canadian electro-punks Crystal Castles, and post-dubstep producer and total heartbreaker James Blake, while the Sunday welcomes performances from two the most influential acts of the last few decades, genre-hopping demigods Primal Scream and disco legends Chic, supported by a smattering of quality alternative and electronic acts, including live favourites Four Tet. Add to this a bill of side-splitting comedy, a selection of mouth-watering gourmet food and – this is a particularly clever touch! – free buses to the festival, not to mention some new, unexpected twists along the way, and you’ve got one huge reason to spend your bank holiday in Dublin.

Live At The Marquee
Various dates from June 12 – July 9, Docklands, Centre Park Road, Co. Cork
Olly Murs, The Wanted, Elton John, Elvis Costello And The Imposters, ZZ Top, The Coronas, Sting, The Boomtown Rats, Christy Moore, Little Mix, The National, Passenger, Ke$ha, Bell X1, Jessie J and Imelda May.
Tickets priced individually from €18 to €95.
aikenpromotions.com

Some of the biggest-selling artists of all time have travelled to the southern capital for Live At The Marquee over the years, and now, with the festival in its ninth innings, the Real Capital is getting ready to another all-out legend, the inimitable Elton John (in case you’re wondering, his CV currently boasts sales of 155 million records!) Alongside Britain’s ultimate showman, the Marquee bill boasts such musical luminaries as Elvis Costello, Sting and the marvellously-bearded ZZ Top alongside some of the finest pop acts 2013 has to offer.

Doolin Folk Festival
June 14 – 16, Hotel Doolin, Co. Clare
Luka Bloom, Hermitage Green, I Draw Slow, Martin Hayes and Steve Cooney, Andy Irvine and Dónal Lunny, Eoga, Scullion, Iarla Ó Lionáird, We Banjo 3, Socks In The Frying Pan, Fidil, The JP Trio, The Céilí Bandits and Kevin Griffin, Edel Fox and Friends, Karan Casey and John Doyle, The Young Folk, Dermot Byrne and Flo Blancke, Blackie O’Connell and Friends, James Cullinan, The Doolin Ceilidh Band, Céilí Disco and more.
Tickets are priced €59 for the weekend, €25 for a Friday pass or €29 for a Saturday or Sunday pass.
doolinfolkfestival.com

In the picturesque grounds of the Doolin Hotel, The Doolin Folk Festival celebrates all that is good about music in North Clare, echoing the sentiment of the famous Lisdoonvarna Festival of the late '70s and early '80s, which took place just a mile away. As well as reviving Doolin’s reputation as a hub for Trad and Folk musicians by placing Luka Bloom and Andy Irvine side-by-side with cutting-edge up-and comers like I Draw Slow and The Young Folk, the festival will also feature food stalls, a traditional crafts fair and a farmers’ market.

Bushmills Live
June 19 and 20, the Old Bushmills Distillery, Co. Antrim
Of Monsters and Men and more to be announced.
Tickets can’t be bought, but fans can win the chance to attend the festival by entering a draw on the Bushmills Irish Whiskey Facebook page at facebook.com/bushmills1608.

Following the groundbreaking success of last year’s inaugural event, Bushmills Live — a unique two-day festival celebrating handcrafted whiskey and music — will take place again on June 19 and 20. Proving just how unique it is, tickets are strictly “money cannot buy” and will not be on general release. Instead fans can try to win passes on the Bushmills’ Facebook page, with lucky entrants winning the chance to enjoy Bushmills handmade whiskey and music from world-class acts and emerging talent, including internationally acclaimed indie folk band, Of Monsters and Men. More acts are yet to be announced, so keep an eye on the Bushmills Irish Whiskey Facebook page for updates. Last year Snow Patrol headlined and chose the supporting cast of singer-songwriters Foy Vance and Iain Archer, a DJ set from Hollywood star Elijah Wood, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Marcus Foster, The Staves, General Fiasco and David C Clements. So we’re sure this year’s final line-up will be just as great. Get your game face on, enter and good luck!

Body & Soul
June 21 – 23, Ballinlough Castle, Co. Meath
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Solange, Public Image Ltd, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Charles Bradley and his Extraordinaires, MMOTHS, Willy Mason, Breton, Patha Du Prince, Jon Hopkins, George Fitzgerald, RSAG, Iron Curtis, Almighty Sion, Monto, Adultrock, Ryan Vail and FishGoDeep.
Tickets priced €139 for a weekend ticket, or €55 for a Sunday day pass.
bodyandsoul.ie

Since its maiden voyage in 2010, this three-day arts and music festival has twisted and turned its way to a much more grown-up place; in 2013, the folk behind Ballinlough Castle’s carefree weekender are putting a major focus on the artistic areas and smaller parts of Body and Soul that make it one of the most magical events of the summer. Nick Cave returns with his Bad Seeds, while R&B honey Solange makes a rare Irish appearance, alongside such contrasting artistes as Charles Bradley and Kurt Vile. As well as an excellent hybrid of alternative icons, revolutionary game changers and bright new talent, punters can expect a carefully selected pop-up restaurant, spoken word events, performance art, theatrics, soul kids and a host of other unique and exciting activities, to be announced later in the spring.

Sea Sessions Surf Music Festival
June 21 – 23, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
Bastille, Fat Freddy's Drop, Xavier Rudd, The Strypes. The Milk, SOAK, Therapy?, The Original Rude Boys, Mud Morganfield, Le Galaxie, Foy Vance, Duke Special, The Frank And Walters, The Minutes, Ben Caplan, William Adamson, Ayah Marar and more.
Tickets priced €89 for a weekend ticket, €99 with camping or €49.95 for a day pass.

Sea Sessions is a festival right on the beach, cleverly connecting the great arts of hanging ten and rocking out. Heading this year’s bill will be New Zealand reggae and funk seven piece Fat Freddy’s Drop, Australian multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd and London trend-setters Bastille, who in fairness, were hardly going to say “no” to a weekend of sun, surf, sand and song. Elsewhere on the roster, you’ll find UK soulsters The Milk, Derry singer-songwriter Soak, Cavan blues outfit The Strypes and a selection of Ireland’s finest and funnest live acts. All that’s left is to polish your topspin (it’s a volleyball thing!)

Westport Festival of Music
& Performing Arts
June 29 and 30, Westport House, Co. Mayo
Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Christy Moore & Declan Sinnott, Imelda May, Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, Blind Boys Of Alabama, Sqeeze, Martha Wainwright, The Silver Seas, LAPD (Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Liam O’Flynn & Paddy Glackin), Jack Lukeman, The Riptide Movement, Sharon Corr, Gavin James, Julie Feeney, Cry Before Dawn and more.
Tickets are priced €130 for the weekend, or €75 for a one-day ticket.
westportmusicfestival.com

Set amidst a four-hundred acre site in the heart of the county Mayo town, Westport Festival of Music and Performing Arts returns for another two-day celebration of music and song, showcasing the a selection of local and international rock, folk, celtic and acoustic sounds. A "grown-up" festival, it will host a diverse line-up of artists, from full-blown all-out rock performances on the main stage to intimate singer-songwriter sessions in the acoustic arena. The on-site family area benefits from having the Westport House Pirate Adventure Park on the festival grounds.

Daytripper
June 28 – 30, The Forum, Co. Waterford.
Imelda May, Madness, Alabama 3, Jack L, Jerry Fish, Propeller Palms, The Coronas, Gavin James, Keywest, King Kong Company, Natty Wailer Band and Solar Taxi.
Tickets are priced €40 per day, plus service charge.
daytripper.ie

For the first time, The Forum, WLR FM and Beat 102-103 will join forces for Daytripper, a brand spanking new festival taking place in Waterford’s historic Viking Triangle. Bolton St. will be home to a purpose-built 2,500-capacity site, which will welcome lady-of-the-moment Imelda May, genre-fusing blues mob Alabama 3 on the Friday, ska luminaries Madness and old school reggae peddlers Natty Wailer Band on the Saturday and chart-topping indie poppers The Coronas, and Gavin James on the Sunday, along with top-notch support.

July

Groove Festival
July 6 and 7, Killruddery Estate, Co. Wicklow
James Morrison, Ali Campbell's UB40, Soul II Soul Sound System, The Original Rudeboys, Gavin James, Solar Taxi, Imelda May, Jack L, Damien Dempsey, Jerry Fish, Lazy Habits and Propeller Palms.
More acts TBA.
Tickets priced €99 for the weekend or €59 for a day ticket.
groovefestival.ie

Set in gorgeous Killruddery Estate, Groove is a brand new music festival with its heart in soul, funk, roots, R&B and rock 'n' roll. Touted as a hassle-free celebration of all that's good about music (we're sold!), Groove will set up shop between Bray and Greystones, right on the doorstep of Dublin city, against the picturesque backdrop of the Wicklow Mountains and the stunning Killruddery House gardens, so expect to find one of the most spectacular stages in the country when you rock up in July. The inaugural line-up includes soul man James Morrison, rockabilly darling Imelda May, acoustic sensation Gavin James and Ali Campbell's UB40. Look out for a second stage curated by the legendary Whelan's Live crew, which will play home to some of Ireland's most exciting up-and-comers.
Live At The Iveagh Gardens
July 11 – 14, and 18 – 21, Clonmel St., Dublin
Imelda May, Glen Hansard, Damien Dempsey, Josh Ritter, Grizzly Bear, Tallest Man On Earth, Bell X1, Beach House and special guests.
Tickets priced €33 to €40.
aikenpromotions.com

In the heart of the capital, the stunning Iveagh Gardens play host to two long weekends of great music. A hidden gem of Dublin, the nineteenth century gardens feature stunning rustic grottos and cascades, fountains, wilderness, woodlands and mazes. This year the line-up includes Imelda May, Damien Dempsey, Grizzly Bear, Bell X1 and more. For great music, food and an unbeatable atmosphere, there’s nowhere else to be this summer. Let’s just pray the weather holds out.

Galway Arts Festival
July 15 – 28, Dyke Road, Galway, Co. Galway
Grizzly Bear, Glen Hansard, Josh Ritter and Imelda May, with more acts TBA.
Tickets priced €33.50 to €35.
galwayartsfestival.com

A handful of shows have already been announced for this year’s Galway Arts Festival, including a folk pop bonanza starring Brooklyn foursome Grizzly Bear and a solo show from Frames and Swell Season songwriter Glen Hansard. Elsewhere, retro revivalist Imelda May brings those marvellous pipes of hers to the Big Top on July 26, Idaho singer-songwriter Josh Ritter jets in with his Royal City Band on July 20 and, on a less contemporary note, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring comes to the Black Box Theatre for a six-night run. We can also look forward to exciting events in the areas of music, theatre, visual arts, dance and comedy, as well as the Irish Premiere of a major international co-production. Colour us intrigued!

Glasgowbury
July 19 and 20, Draperstown, Co. Derry
Acts TBA.
Tickets priced £45.00 for the weekend or £35.00 for a Saturday only ticket.
glasgowbury.com

Though she be but little, she is fierce! The multi-award winning music festival Glasgowbury is back. Now in its lucky thirteenth year, it offers the largest and most professional platform for emerging and established home-grown talent. Featuring a host of activities aimed at supporting and enhancing the local music scene, it’s Northern Ireland’s largest independent outdoor music festival, celebrating the best unsigned and emerging music talent. For the first time, this year Glasgowbury will expand to two days. Northern Ireland’s Best Festival will link with Derry, the City of Culture in 2013, to include an exciting County Derry showcase on Friday July 19 before staging the ‘best of the rest’ Saturday July 20. As their catchphrase goes: Small but Massive!

Longitude
July 19 – 21, Marlay Park, Dublin
Kraftwerk, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, Foals, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Villagers, Hot Chip, Jake Bugg, Modest Mouse, T.E.E.D, Paul Kalkbrenner, SBTRKT (DJ set), Mark Lanegan, Local Natives, Django Django, Jessie Ware, Trentemøller, Kodaline, MMOTHS, Tom Odell, AlunaGeorge, Flume, The Cast Of Cheers, Young Wonder, MØ, Mikhael Paskalev, Sohn, Petite Noir, Half Moon Run, Vondelpark, Stealing Sheep, Matt Corby, Dutch Uncles, Marcus Foster, Soak, White Collar Boy, The Maccabees and more.
Tickets priced €149.50 for the weekend or €54.50 for a day ticket.
longitude.ie

A brand new name in the Irish festival calendar, Longitude will come to Dublin's Marlay Park for three days this July, bringing a stomping musical bill and a boutique flavour with it. A companion festival to the UK's Latitude, Longitude 2013 – put together by Zach Desmond, who has taken charge of booking – boasts an exceedingly strong and eclectic line-up, with synth legends Kraftwerk taking their 3D show to Marlay Park in the festival's inaugural year, joined by French alt. rockers Phoenix, NY Indie poppers Vampire Weekend, post-punk favourites Yeah Yeah Yeahs, electro-R&B peddlers AlunaGeorge and acoustic troubadour Jake Bugg.

Knockanstockan
July 26 – 28, Blessington lakes, Co. Wicklow
Raglans, Redwoods, John Blek and The Rats, The Eskies, Niwel Tsumbu, Crow Black Chicken, Ross Breen, The Hot Sprockets, King Kong Company, The FitzaFrenic, Earthship, Cocaine Ponytail, Blind Yackety, Veroa, Sinéad White, Corner Boy, Tandem Felix, Liza Flume, Rufus Coates and The Blackened Trees, Wyvern Lingo
and more.
Early bird tickets are priced €75 for the weekend, and Sunday day
passes are priced €40 excluding booking fee.
knockanstockan.ie

Overlooking the impossibly gorgeous Blessington Lakes, Knockanstockan resembles a smaller, more street-level Electric Picnic. Every year, the Wicklow three-dayer features an eclectic (and might we add, jam packed!) mix of Ireland’s lesser known unsigned bands. Having swept the board at this year’s Irish Festival Awards, KnockanStockan is officially the Best Small Festival in Ireland, so tickets are expected to sell fast.

August

Indiependence Music &
Arts Festival
August 2 – 4, Deer Farm Mitchelstown, Mitchelstown, Cork.
De La Soul, Bastille, The Fratellis, Kodaline, And So I Watch You From Afar, Beardyman, Le Galaxie, Bosnian Rainbows, MMOTHS, Paddy Casey, We Cut Corners, The Original Rudeboys, Funeral For A Friend, Hudson Taylor, Soak, Krafty Kuts, Young Wonder, Windings, Toby Kaar, Utah Saints, Lewis Watson, The Hot Sprockets, King Kong Company, This Town Needs Guns, Little Bear, Cry Monster Cry, Orla Gartland, No Spill Blood, Leaders Of Men, Vann, Mark E, The Dead Heavys, Nanu Nanu, Solar Taxi, Protobaby, The Revenge (Instruments Of Rapture), The Chapters, Mylets and more.
Tickets are priced €79 for the weekend or €99 for the weekend plus camping.
indiependencefestival.com

Overlooking the Galtee Mountains, the tree-lined 52-acre setting of Deer Farm is nothing short of spectacular and since 2006 organisers have been booking bands to match. A festival marked out for both its fun atmosphere and social responsibility, Indiependence is keen, as the name suggests, to give a leg-up to the brightest and best independent talents the country has to offer. In the unlikely event that you're still on the fence, a killer arts and theatre line-up adds to the appeal. Attractions including burlesque shows, spoken word performances and kids' entertainment. Oh, and don't forget to drop by the Hot Press Hot Spot, where your humble hacks will be getting up close and personal with your favourite artists.

Castlepalooza
August 2 – 4, Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
Acts TBA.
Early bird tickets are priced €59.00 for three days including camping, plus booking fee.
castlepalooza.com

When we landed on the doorstep of Charleville Castle in 2012, everything was just as we remembered it. Bands were getting acquainted over cans, festival virgins were breathing a collective sigh of relief, and everyone else was marvelling at the largest Long Island Iced Tea in the known universe. From start to finish, Castlepalooza is one festival that gives its fun-loving children precisely what they want – hospitality, entertainment and escape. Last year saw Mercury Prize-nominated producer Ghostpoet go head-to-head with electronic whiz MMOTHS, and frankly, we can’t wait to see what curious combos they’ve come up with for 2013.

Spraoi International Street
Arts Festival
August 2 – 4, various venues, Co. Waterford
Details TBA.
spraoi.com

Dreamed up by the mad scientists behind street theatre group Spraoi – the stilt-walking show-offs who add colour to Ireland’s major parades – the Spraoi International Street Arts Festival is a welcome excuse for Waterford puppetmasters to take their fabulous creatures out of storage and let them stretch their legs. Better yet, the ginormous beasts of Spraoi certainly know their music – last year’s festival saw many a 10ft puppet bop along to performances by some of Ireland’s favourite noisemakers.

Oxegen
August 3 and 4, Punchestown, Racecourse, Kildare.
Details TBA
Oxegen.ie

With over 100 acts to see, 60,000 square feet to cover and 80,000 fellow revellers to shake your groove thang with, Oxegen 2011 was no small town affair. Which is why music fans will be relieved to hear that, after a Glastonbury-style hiatus, the 2013 bash will be shorter and sweeter than usual. Stripped down from a music marathon to a two-day concert, the Punchestown extravaganza will involve a little less moshing than usual, but promoters have promised an equally jaw-dropping line-up. Expect this year’s bill to be chock full of pop and dance heavy-hitters (chart-conquering beatmaker Calvin Harris has only gone and let the cat out of the bag by announcing himself on the bill for the Saturday). However, don’t forget to have a good look around while you’re there; dozens of delightful up-and-comers will also be performing alongside international stars.

Kilkenny Arts Festival
August 9 – 18, various venues, Co. Kilkenny
Kilkenny Arts Festival Choir and Orchestra Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, Crash Ensemble and Dawn Upshaw, Dawn Upshaw with Gilbert Kalish and Camerata Ireland with Barry Douglas, with more acts TBA.
Tickets priced individually from €28 to €40.
kilkennyarts.ie

Kilkenny has long been a haven for creativity and the Arts Festival, currently celebrating its fourth decade, brings that spirit into sharp focus each year. The South-East city becomes a real melting pot in August, as classical music sits alongside performances from contemporary musical stars and literary readings meet visual art. It's plenty of fun too, with a plethora of street events and full children's programme. As always, organisers are eager to get people involved, and have been welcoming submissions on their website since December.

Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann
August 12 – 18, various venues, Co. Derry.
The Poet and the Piper aka Seamus Heaney and Liam O'Flynn, Cara Dillon and the Orchestra of Ireland, Dervish, Flook, Beoga, Tim Edey, Brendan Power, Liz Carroll, Tim Eriksen, The Campbells, Lorcán Mac Mathuna and Take the Floor.
Tickets priced individually from £22.50.
fleadhcheoil.ie

Winner of the coveted Best Traditional Festival at the Irish Festival Awards 2012, the All-Ireland Fleadh heads North to Derry city this August, as part of the UK City Of Culture celebrations. The ambitious six-day programme will include performances from a plethora of traditional legends. As tasty as the star-studded line-up looks, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is all about crowning the best traditional musicians in the country, with a series of competitions making for an electric atmosphere.

Tennent’s Vital
Various dates including August 14, Boucher Playing Fields, Belfast.
Kings Of Leon with more acts TBA.
Tickets for day one of Tennent’s Vital are priced £49.50.
tennentsvital.com

There are festival stars and then there's Kings Of Leon, making an Irish return after a two-year hiatus at Tennent’s Vital 2013. The Grammy-winning Nashville natives have turned many a doomed, mud-strewn afternoon into a dynamite performance; frankly, there’s no-one we’d trust more with a field of mosh-ready Irish music-lovers. Last year’s star-studded, rockstravaganza in Belfast’s Boucher Playing Fields really got our engine running, with knockout shows from comeback kids The Stone Roses, art pop queen Florence And The Machine and radio-courting rockers The Black Keys. We can’t wait to see what else the folk behind Tennent’s Vital have planned for the rest of this year’s bill.

Electric Picnic
Stradbally Hall, Stradbally, Co. Laois.
Details TBA
electricpicnic.ie

The record-breaking, risk-taking arts festival that has music-lovers talking throughout the year, Electric Picnic is invariably the most highly-anticipated weekend on the calendar, with bands, musos and 24 hour party people alike all making the pilgrimage to Stradbally. The experts love it, too – last year, the show affectionately known as Leccy Piccy racked up two gongs at the Irish Festival Awards, earning industry nods for Best Large Festival and Greenest Festival. As is the case with all great music festivals, punters come for the stellar line-up, but stay for the atmosphere: at EP, you’ll find a village worth of non-musical amusements, including the very best of comedy, spoken word and theatre performances.