Inhaler and TOMORA launch Heineken® GREENLIGHT in Dublin

Heineken® Ireland launched their new live music initiative, Heineken® GREENLIGHT, at an exclusive event in Dublin on Thursday, transforming a Stephen's Green shopfront into an intimate, green-lit gig space.

The initiative promises to bring major international acts and emerging homegrown talent to intimate venues over bank holiday weekends, kicking off in Dublin from April 30 to May 3, before heading to Cork in June, with more cities to be announced.

"Music has been in the DNA of the brand in Ireland for over four decades, so those of us old enough to remember back in the Heineken Green Energy and the Heineken Green Spheres days," said Fiona Curtin, Marketing Director at Heineken® Ireland. "But now it's time for Heineken® GREENLIGHT to shine, to bring music back into the heart of our cities: small acts on big stages and big acts on smaller stages and a mix of global and local."

After DJ and broadcaster January Winters got the crowd warmed up, Dublin indie rockers Inhaler gave attendees a taste of what to expect throughout Heineken® GREENLIGHT, delivering a special acoustic set. Their trademark blend of nostalgic, anthemic, and catchy songwriting was on display as they performed  'Hole In The Ground' from their stellar 2025 album Open Wide, alongside older fan favourites 'If You're Gonna Break My Heart' and 'My Honest Face'.

Inhaler performing at the Heineken® GREENLIGHT launch on April 2, 2026.
Photo: Naoise Culhane.

"It's just a cool initiative I think, because there's a lot of great music in Ireland at the minute so it's nice to feel that more physically," said frontman Eli Hewson after the set. "We started out doing gigs in the Workman's and the Grand Social and places like that, and those were sort of the most important gigs you'll ever do."

The band were also confirmed as part of the Heineken® GREENLIGHT Cork takeover for the June bank holiday, with further details to follow.

Soon after, BBC 6 Music DJ Deb Grant, who MC'd the evening, captured the ethos of the series.

"It's a massive, massive legacy that Heineken® has in terms of music, and Heineken® GREENLIGHTis going to be the next progression for their story in Irish culture," she said. "It's all about stripping things back as we mentioned: smaller venues, closer crowds, so you're not watching things from a distance, you're right there in the middle of the action. And it's happening across the Bank Holiday weekend in Dublin, Cork, Galway and beyond. Loads of different venues and a real mix of artists, certain artists you wouldn't expect to see at certain venues."

Heineken® GREENLIGHT launch on April 2, 2026.
Photo: Naoise Culhane.

Grant then introduced one of the headline acts for the May bank holiday: TOMORA, the newly formed duo of Norwegian pop star AURORA and Tom Rowlands of legendary big beat pioneers The Chemical Brothers, who will take over the Button Factory on May 1.

"We're both used to playing in quite big crowds and probably the last time we were both here was playing on big stages," said Tom Rowlands. "So it's fun to take it back where people are close to you. It will influence how we play with people right next to you."

"And [we're looking forward] to playing among other names and getting to know other artists, and experiencing music where we are supposed to, in the room instead of on our phones," added AURORA.

Across the Dublin bank holiday weekend, over 35 acts will perform across 10 venues. Other highlights include DJ sets from Mike Skinner at Wigwam and Basement Jaxx at Pygmalion on May 2, and an intimate show from fast-rising trad-punk act Madra Salach at Mary's Bar on April 30. Check out the full lineup here.

Further details, artist announcements and venue information will be shared in the coming weeks. For more information and ticket updates, visit heinekengreenlight.ie or follow Heineken® Ireland on Instagram (@heinekenireland).

Tickets are on sale now at the Heineken® GREENLIGHT ticket office at No. 3 Stephen's Green, and online at heinekengreenlight.ie