Merchy Christmas to return to The Grand Social in December – featuring Saint Sister, Gilla Band, Pillow Queens, SOAK and more

Following two hugely successful events in 2020 and 2021, Merchy Christmas is set to return to The Grand Social on December 17 and 18. The line-up for this year's edition has been unveiled today, featuring a thrilling selection of artists – including some recent Hot Press interviewees...

The merch market offers a unique way to both support Irish artists and get your essential Christmas shopping done – with the acts selling their merch directly to fans.

Established during the Christmas lockdown in 2020, Merchy Christmas was the brainwave of Conor Cusack and Saint Sister – who then reached out to a selection of their friends and fellow musicians. Together with Keiron Black and the team at The Grand Social, they put together a two-day event across multiple floors, which proved to be a major success in both 2020 and 2021.

As well as raising funds for the artists, the merch market will also be fundraising for the Dublin Simon Community across the weekend, with a suggest donation of €5 on the door. In 2021, they raised a remarkable €4,915 for the charity, which offers services and support to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This year, organisers are aiming to hit €10,000 – and are introducing a raffle, set to take place each day, featuring limited-edition merch donated by the artists taking part.

“We are so grateful to the organisers and artists involved in Merchy Christmas," says Aisling Harmey, Head of Fundraising and Communications at Dublin Simon Community. "The music community in Ireland has a strong record of supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and we are blown away that this support has only gotten stronger during a period which has been extremely difficult for artists. It’s commitment like this that keeps our vital services running, which are needed now more than ever as we grapple with the highest level of homelessness the country has ever seen. On behalf of our community, thank you so much for your support.”

One Stop Band Shop have unveiled the first 50 artists taking part this year:

• Aoife Nessa Frances
• Big Love
• Blood Donor
• Bon Voyage
• Columbia Mills
• Daire Heffernan
• Dáithí
• Deadlians
• Dj Sally Cinnamon
• Gemma Dunleavy
• Gilla Band
• Gurriers
• HAVVK
• Ispíní na hÉireann
• Jackie Beverly
• John Francis Flynn
• Junior Brother
• Just Mustard / Pizza Pizza Records
• Kojaque & Kean Kavanagh (Soft Boy Records)
• Lankum
• Le Boom
• Mango X Mathman
• Maria Kelly
• MELTS
• Meltybrains?
• Modernlove
• Moxie
• Nealo
• Neil Dexter
• Niamh Regan
• Paddy Hanna
• Pillow Queens
• Pretty Happy
• Rebel Phoenix
• Saint Sister
• SENU
• Skinner
• Skipper's Alley, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin & Ultan O'Brien
• SOAK
• Soda Blonde
• Sorcha Richardson
• Sprints
• Strength NIA
• The Cope
• The Murder Capital
• THUMPER
• TV People
• Varo
• Wyvern Lingo

We're BACK ‍💫‍ ‍💫 ‍💫#MerchyChristmas returns to @TGSDublin 17 - 18 Dec for the third edition of our Artist Music Market 🎄

Check out the first 50 bands who'll be selling their wares over the weekend with more to be confirmed in the next few weeks 👀 pic.twitter.com/wG0xr82lrc

— Merchy Chrismas (@1StopBandShopIE) November 30, 2022