Summer Festival Special 2023: Day Festivals

MAY

Bruce Springsteen

Where: The RDS, Dublin
When: May 5, 7 and 9
What: There were reports on social media of up to 68,000 eager fans in a virtual queue for the tickets to what will be Springsteen and the E Street Band’s first live shows in six years. “After six years, I’m looking forward to seeing our great and loyal fans next year,” Springsteen said. “See you out there, next year –and beyond.”
Make sure to: Properly rock out during ‘Prove It All Night’.

Drag Fest Ireland

Where: The National Stadium, Dublin
When: May 27
What: For ages 14 and over, Drag Fest Ireland returns to the capital following last year’s successful outing. 2023’s lineup includes Jan, Anestra, Cheddar Gorgeous, Lawrence Chaney, Trinity K Bonet, Sminty Drop, Gothy Kendoll and Choriza May. The festival was created by DFIU Events and Klub Kids, and comes at a potent time, given the recent ban on drag shows around certain parts of the US, Tennessee included.
Make sure to: Catch Baga Chip from Drag Race UK season 1.

Botanic Gardens

Where: College Park Avenue, Belfast
When: May 27-June 10
What: Top acts are set to play Belfast’s idyllic Botanic Gardens this summer, including Kip Moore (May 27), Seb Fontaine (June 3), Aitch (8), The Frames (9) and Olly Murs (10). With the ferris wheel and Queen’s University Belfast as the backdrop, it’ll be a beautiful occasion.
Make sure to: Catch Aitch’s fast-paced hip-hop set, which impressed last year over two nights at the 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin.

The Frames @RHK 28-05-22

JUNE

Live At The Marquee

Who: The Frames
Where: Ballintemple, Cork
When: June 2-3
What: Next year will mark 33 years since Glen Hansard founded The Frames, and the legendary group are one of the acts set to play hugely popular Live at the Marquee series.
Who else is playing Live at the Marquee? Aitch (June 7), Olly Murs (9), Bell X1 (10), Mimi Webb (16) and Christy Moore (17).

The Lumineers

Where: St Anne’s Park, Dublin
When: June 2
What: The Lumineers have just announced their Brightside World Tour, and Dublin’s St. Anne’s Park has made the list, with support from Sigrid and Vance Joy. The tour kicks off in Dublin and continues through to July, when they’ll wrap up with a string of dates in the UK.
Who else is playing St Anne’s Park? The 1975 (June 7), Lionel Richie (4), Soft Cell (3), Pulp(9).

The 1975

Where: St Anne’s Park, Dublin
When: June 7
What: The 1975 are bringing their At Their Very Best tour to Dublin once again with a summer show in St. Anne’s Park, with a stop-off at Cork’s Musgrave Park also on the itinerary. The indie-pop band have performed in Ireland on numerous occasions over the years, selling out the 3Arena multiple times, as well as headlining Malahide Castle in 2017.
Who else is playing St Anne’s Park? Lionel Richie (4), Soft Cell (3), The Lumineers (2), Pulp (9)

Bulmers Secret Orchard: Live at Leopardstown

Where: Leopardstown Racecourse, Co. Dublin
When: June 8-August 24
Who: Wild Youth (June 8), Keywest (15), Mark McCabe (22)– and even more big-name headliners to be announced.
What: Get ready for eight action-packed nights of music, racing and entertainment, as the festival that lasts all summer makes its eagerly anticipated return. The series has built up a reputation for its top-quality international and Irish headliners, and this year promises to be no different! There’s a wide selection of ticket options available, including the Summer Sizzler deal.
Make sure to: Enjoy some à la carte style dining at the 1888 Restaurant at the racecourse
leopardstown.com

Belsonic

Where: Ormeau Park, Belfast
Who: George Ezra (June 9), David Guetta (10), Lizzo (22), Sam Fender (23) and Florence + The Machine (28).
What: As well as Belsonic Festival 2023, which will see some incredible artists like Lionel Richie hit the stage, a number of major acts are getting their own headline shows at Ormeau Park this summer. Lizzo’s set in particular is sure to be amazing, judging by her recent 3Arena extravaganza.
Make sure to: See Florence Welch perform Dance Fever live.

Florence Welch by Autumn de Wilde.

Sam Fender

Where: Ormeau Park, Belfast / Malahide Castle, Dublin
When: June 23 (Belfast) / June 25 (Dublin)
What: Following the news of two sold-out stadium shows at Newcastle’s St. James’ Park, Fender has announced summer 2023 gigs in Ireland. Having headlined his first festivals in the UK in the summer of 2022, the Seventeen Going Under musician has become one of the most celebrated UK artists of his generation.
Who else is performing at Malahide Castle? Paolo Nutini (June 16), Blur (24), Florence & the Machine (27), Sting & Blondie (28), Hozier (30)

The Coronas

Where: Fairview Park, Dublin
When: June 17
What: The band’s seventh studio album, Time Stopped, went straight to No.1 on the Irish charts last year, marking their return in style. Recorded in Camden Studios Dublin and Eastcote Studios in London, Time Stopped also features many of The Coronas’ long-time collaborators and friends including Lar Kaye, Róisín O, Cian MacSweeney, Dave O’Keefe and John Broe.
Who else is performing at Fairview Park? Ben Howard (June 15), Becky Hill (16), Des Pierce’s Block Rockin Beats (24), Aitch (25), The Kooks (28), The Prodigy (29), Tom Grennan (30).

Harry Styles

Where: Slane Castle, Meath
When: June 10
What: Slane Castle has been the spectacular outdoor stage for many major acts, ranging from Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie and Queen to Robbie Williams, Madonna, The Verve and U2. This year it’s the turn of pop superstar Harry Styles, who’ll bring his Love On Tour show to the iconic Meath venue.
Make sure to: Catch support acts Inhaler and UK indie-rock duo Wet Leg.

Paolo Nutini

Where: Musgrave Park, Cork
When: June 14
What: The Paisley singer-songwriter burst onto the scene in 2006 after signing with Atlantic Records and releasing his first album, These Streets. Its follow-up, Sunny Side Up, came in 2009, debuting at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart. After a five-year hiatus, Nutini released his third album, Caustic Love, in April 2014, followed by an eight-year break until 2022’s celebrated No. 1 LP, Last Night In The Bittersweet.
Who else is playing Musgrave Park? The 1975 (June 13), The Chemical Brothers (21), Kodaline (23).

Paolo Nutini at Other Voices. Credit: Rich Gillian

Depeche Mode

Where: Malahide Castle, Dublin
When: June 14
What: This summer sees Depeche Mode stage their biggest ever Irish concert at Malahide Castle, with the synth-pop heroes promoting their latest LP, Memento Mori. Having sold more than 100 million records, and played to more than 35 million fans worldwide, it’s Dave Gahan and Martin Gore’s first jaunt in five years.
Also playing Malahide Castle: Paolo Nutini (June 16), Blur (24), Sam Fender (25), Florence & the Machine (27), Sting & Blondie (28), Hozier (30).

Ben Howard

Where: Fairview Park
When: June 15
What: The UK musician is returning to Ireland with his first Dublin headline show in over four years. Following the success of his UK no. 1 album Collections From The Whiteout, this special performance will be one of the first opportunities to hear Howard performing his brand new material.
Who else is playing Fairview Park? Becky Hill (June 16), The Coronas (17), Des Pierce’s Block Rockin’ Beats (24), Aitch (25), The Kooks (28), The Prodigy (29), Tom Grennan (30).

Arctic Monkeys

Where: Marlay Park, Dublin
When: June 20
What: For this particular tour, Alex Turner and the boys travel all around the UK before heading to Ireland, with support coming from The Hives and The Mysterines. Arctic Monkeys’ seventh album The Car arrived last October, following their epic Electric Picnic headline set. Produced by James Ford, it was one of their most electrifying efforts yet.

Hozier

Where: Malahide Castle, Dublin / Gleneagle INEC Arena, Killarney
When: June 30 (Dublin), June 27 (Killarney)
What: Following news of his upcoming sold-out performance at Malahide Castle and live rehearsals at The Academy, Hozier has announced a new Irish date at the Gleneagle INEC Arena. Eat Your Young, the Bray star’s hotly  anticipated new EP, recently dropped to stellar reviews.
Who else is playing Malahide Castle? Depeche Mode (June 14), Paolo Nutini (16), Blur (24), Sam Fender (25), Florence & the Machine (27), Sting (28).

Hozier. Copyright Miguel Ruiz

Macroom Music Fest

Where: Macroom, Co. Cork
When: June 24
Who: The Frank & Walters, The Riptide Movement, Mundy and more
What: Once home to Ireland’s very first open-air music festival, The Macroom Mountain Dew Festival, the West Cork town is set to welcome music lovers once again, with a new festival featuring an impressive selection of big-name headliners. It’s the first event to take advantage of the Macroom’s newfound freedom from traffic, after the bypass was opened late last year.
Make sure to: Explore all that the surrounding Lee Valley has to offer – with the area boasting some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country
macroommusicfest.ie

Trinity Summer Series

Where: Trinity College, Dublin
When: June 26-July 1.
Who: Texas (June 26), Kraftwerk (29), The War On Drugs (27), Bastille (28), Interpol (30), Madness (July 1), Róisín Murphy (2).
What: This incredible line-up will be coming to Trinity throughout the summer. First taking place in 2017, the event has seen performances from Gregory Porter, James Vincent McMorrow, Pixies, Michael Kiwanuka and The Specials, amongst a galaxy of other acts.
Make sure to: See Bastille celebrate the tenth anniversary of their debut album, Bad Blood.

JULY

Live at the Iveagh Gardens

Where: Iveagh Gardens, Dublin.
Who: Janelle Monae (July 6) Damien Dempsey (7-8), The Waterboys (14), Bell X1 (21) and Imelda May (22).
What: One of the best outdoor spaces in Dublin city centre, the Iveagh Gardens will be the setting next summer for a series of top class concerts. Last year saw Fontaines D.C. blaze a trail in the rain, with a typically riotous show that proved a 2022 gigging highlight.
Make sure to: Watch Imelda May’s thrilling set of rock and jazz hits.

Dermot Kennedy

Where: Thomond Park, Limerick
When: July 7-9
What: Kennedy will perform a record-breaking three concerts at Thomond Park from Friday, July 7 to Sunday, July 9. The Dubliner’s latest album, SONDER, went to No.1 in Ireland and the UK – his second album to reach the top spot after his first LP, Without Fear, became the highest-selling debut of the millennium in Ireland.

Credit: Lola & Pani

AUGUST

The Wolfe Tones

Where: TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
When: August 26
What: The home of the All Ireland hurling champions will host one of Ireland’s biggest folk extravaganzas this summer. An all-star line-up, headlined by The Wolfe Tones, is set to perform at the eagerly awaited event.
Who else is playing TUS? Support acts will be announced.

Boygenius

Where: Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin
When: August 28
What: Comprised of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus, indie supergroup boygenius have returned with their superb new LP, the straightforwardly titled the record. ‘$20’, ‘Emily I’m Sorry’ and ‘True Blue’ are among the highlights of the band’s first full-length offering, which follows on from their self-titled EP from 2018.
Make sure to: Catch support act MUNA.

Wider Than Pictures Series

Where: National Museum of Ireland, Collins’ Barracks
When: August 21-26.
Who: Future Islands (24), First Aid Kit (21), The Vamps (25), Alt-J (25) , Mick Flannery(26), Yungblud (23).
What: Sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg of First Aid Kit will open the Wider Than Pictures series, bringing their signature folk and Americana melodies to the stage, while Mick Flannery is another highlight in the event’s second year.
Make sure to: Stream Yungblud’s self-titled latest album – an absolute belter.
singularartists.ie

Read the full festival special in the current issue of Hot Press, out now.