Fresh from a tour of Australia, Dave Lofts is set to treat fans to a special guest performance at the A New Local Hero 2026 live finale at The Academy in Dublin on Wednesday, October 28.

The Wicklow-born, Waterford-based singer-songwriter's set comes alongside a night of music from the six national finalists of the A New Local Hero talent search. The night will also see one rising star crowned the overall A New Local Hero 2026 winner, and one of the 21 regional Local Heroes score the €2,500 Wildcard Award, as voted for by the public.

Lofts has had a remarkable couple of years. His debut EP Holy went to No.1 on the Irish Independent Chart this summer, its title track has passed five million Spotify streams, and he now has nearly half a million monthly listeners on the platform.

He's just back from Australia, where he supported The High Kings on a 14-date tour and played his own headline show in Sydney.

At home, the demand  to see him live has also been huge. His 3Olympia Theatre show on February 20 sold out, with a second night added on February 18. His A New Local Hero appearance comes ahead of a sold-out UK tour and a sold-out run of European dates.

Other highlights of his career so far include a ringing endorsement from Russell Crowe, a viral performance of 'Holy' with Grammy-winner Sierra Ferrell, and supporting the likes of Wolf Alice, Picture This, Kingfishr and Gavin James. His latest single, 'Whistling On A Bottle', is out now.

The A New Local Hero 2026 national finalists are Groev (Galway Bay FM), Rebecca Lane (FM104), RunTheRed (LMFM), Shimmer Boy (Cork's 96FM), Sitting Room (KFM) and WineMom (Radio Nova), with all acts set to perform on the night. The winner will take home a prize package including €5,000 in cash and the chance to record a single at Camden Recording Studios for release through Rubyworks.

A New Local Hero is one of the key elements of Irish Music Month – an initiative of Hot Press and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, launched in 2021, and funded by Coimisiún na Meán under its Sound & Vision scheme.

The stations participating in Irish Music Month are: Clare FM, Classic Hits, Cork's 96FM, East Coast FM, FM104, Galway Bay FM, Highland Radio, KCLR, KFM, Limerick Live 95FM, LMFM, Midlands 103, Midwest Radio, Northern Sound, Ocean FM, Radio Kerry, Radio Nova, Shannonside FM, South East Radio, Sunshine FM, Tipp FM, and WLR FM.

Tickets for the live finale are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Ahead of the big night, don't forget to cast your vote for the Wildcard Award here.