The ultimate Summer 2025 Day festivals guide

May

Live At The Castle

Where: King John’s Castle, Limerick

When: May 1–July 7

Who: David Gray (May 1), Qween (3), The Coronas (4), Amble (June 19), The Darkness (20), Train (July 7)

What: David Gray still boasts the best-selling album in this country with his 1998 LP, White Ladder. He’lll be popping down to the Treaty City this May for a special show, as will The Coronas, fast-rising folk favourites Amble, glam rock meddlers The Darkness and radio giants Train, adding to the impressive selection of Limerick-bound acts.

Make sure to: Familiarise yourself with Gray’s cracking new LP Dear Life.

 

Inhaler

Where: St. Anne’s Park, Dublin

When: May 30

What: Fresh from their latest opus Open Wide, a polished delight that marked the four-piece’s third number one album in a row, Inhaler are set to kick the summer off with their biggest hometown headliner yet. Eli, Rob, Josh and Ryan are no strangers to big open-air shows on Irish soil, having opened for Harry Styles in front of a 80,000-strong swarm in Slane 2023.

Make sure to: Read the lads’ fascinating February cover interview, available on hotpress.com.

Aslan

Where: West Lawn, Malahide Castle

When: May 31

What: Legendary Dublin rockers Aslan will be kicking off the summer with a whopper hometown outdoor gig on the West Lawn of the scenic Malahide Castle. It’ll be a showcase of great Irish music from the present as well as the future, with local acts The Swings and Brake Loose
earning themselves support slots after impressive Battle of the Bands showings at Gibney’s.

Make sure to: Try not to strain your vocal chords while belting out the chorus to ‘Crazy World’.

The Lumineers

Where: St. Anne’s Park, Dublin

When: May 31

What: Sharing February’s Hot Press cover duties with the aforementioned Inhaler, 2010s folk-pop juggernauts The Lumineers will also be gracing the stage in the serene surroundings of this gem of a North Dublin park. Spearheaded by Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz, the Denver-formed band will no doubt be bathing listeners in some sweet nostalgic singalongs as well as cuts from their new LP Automatic.
Make sure to: Spend a few hours practising to make sure your handclap is in sync with your “Heys and Hos.”

June

Rewind

Where: St. Anne’s Park, Dublin

When: June 1

Who: Billy Ocean, The Boomtown Rats, Jerry Fish, Toyah, Tiffany, ABC, Midge Ure, Matt Goss, Boyzlife and more

What: You can celebrate the ’80s and beyond, with the line-up for this year’s one-day festival, including legends like special guests The Boomtown Rats and headliner Billy Ocean. Additionally, you can enjoy some great food options on site, including incredible vegetarian plates.

Make sure to: Catch The Boomtown Rats celebrating 50 years of hits and the 40th anniversary of Live Aid.

Belsonic

Where: Ormeau Park, Belfast

When: June 5-30

Who: Stereophonics, LUSH! Classical, Charli XCX, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Madness, Snow Patrol, Justin Timberlake, blk., Boiler Room, Alanis Morissette

What: Norn Iron music lovers are spoiled for choice these days, with Belsonic consistently providing the blockbusting goods. The Ormeau Park festivities kick off with Stereophonics, ushering in an ear-watering couple of weeks which also includes international megastars like Justin Timberlake, Alanis Morisette and the brattiest of them all, Charli XCX. There’s something for everyone in the family, with Bangor rock staples Snow Patrol and Tipperary’s earth-shaking EDM maestro blk. filling out a stacked lineup.

Make sure to: Get sweaty when Charli blasts ‘360’.

In the Meadows

Where: Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin

When: June 7

Who: Iggy Pop, Slowdive, The Scratch, Gilla Band, Sprints, Warmduscher, Lambrini Girls

What: Following a successful debut last year, this single-day affair returns with a rockin’ lineup, headlined by the Godfather of Punk himself, Iggy Pop.

Make sure to: check out local trad-rock heroes The Scratch’s set

Malahide Castle Gigs

Where: Malahide Castle, Dublin

When: June 17 – July 4

Who: Charli XCX, Iron Maiden, Neil Young, Justin Timberlake, Alanis Morisette, Duran Druan + Nile Rodgers & Chic, Mumford & Sons

What: It’s hard to know where to begin with this year’s set of Malahide Castle shows. Charli XCX bringing Brat summer to Dublin? Hitmaker Justin Timberlake’s first gig in the capital in 12 years? What about the legendary Van Morrison opening for another icon in the form of Neil Young? Regardless of your taste, the idyllic North Dublin castle rarely fails to attract music royalty from past and present to these shores.

Make sure to: Get a BRAT-green outfit ready for Charli’s ravetastic gig.

Kneecap

Where: Fairview Park, Dublin

When: June 19

What: Few Irish acts made a bigger splash at home and abroad in 2024 than Kneecap. Last year saw the Fenian bar-spitters release a quality debut LP, Fine Art, as well as their eponymous award-winning film. They’ve also built a reputation as a riotous, must-see live act. But don’t take it from us – head down and see it yourself at their biggest ever headline show yet in Dublin this June.

Make sure to: Catch the other Fairview Park shows, including The Mary Wallopers (June 20); Kingfisher (21); Dean Lewis (24); Basement Jaxx (25); Dec Pierce’s Block Rockin’ Beats (27); and The Saw Doctors (28)

Zach Bryan

Where: Phoenix Park, Dublin

When: June 20-22

What: It’s a pretty big deal whenever an artist gets announced for a show in the biggest park of its kind in Europe. In 2023 Zach Byran played DCU’s Helix Theatre. This time around the ex-navy man had to add a third Phoenix Park date after his first two sold out. It’s indicative of his rise as well as Ireland’s insatiable appetite for country, with the Oklahoman’s albums having been mainstays in the charts for the past while.

Make sure to: Take your mam’s cowboy hat and tell her that Garth Brooks has been usurped as Ireland’s favourite country star.

Live At The Marquee

Where: The Marquee, Cork

When: June 25–July 18

Who: Picture This, The Coronas, Christy Moore, The Waterboys, The Mary Wallopers, Amble, Olly Murs, Block Rockin’ Beats, Kingfishr, Joe Bonamassa

What: A slew of Irish heroes old and new will be cheered on in the Rebel County’s favourite oversized teepee this summer, from stalwart Christy Moore (June 28) to contemporary folk heroes in Kingfisher (July 16) and Amble (17) . Our pick of the bunch is revered American blues man Joe Bonamassa, who for three nights only (July 1-3) will be paying homage to indomitable Cork-raised guitar god Rory Gallagher with some special tribute shows.

Make sure to: Wear a flannel to the Rory G shows to honour the Check Shirt Wizard.

Olivia Rodrigo

Where: Marlay Park, Dublin

When: June 24

What: After the success of her Guts: World Tour – which included two sold-out 3Arena dates – O-Rod will be debuting her deluxe album Guts: Spilled to Irish fans with a ma-hu-sive gig. She’s pretty popular in these parts, becoming the first woman in history to hold all top three positions on the Official Irish Singles Chart concurrently back in 2021. It’s more than fitting then, that the Californian will join the pantheon of greats to have played Marlay Park down the years.

Make sure to: Practice your choreography by checking out the Guts tour film on Netflix.

Dua Lipa

Where: Aviva Stadium

When: June 27

What: After Taylor Swift’s stint last year, the Aviva Stadium will play host to another megastar in the shape of Dua Lipa. Over 50,000 concert goers will be gearing up to dance the night away, as the English-Kosovar-Albanian singer arrives with her Radical Optimism tour. The three-time Grammy winner’s latest LP went straight to No.1 in 11 countries and garnered the highest week one sales from a UK female artist since 2021. Not bad.

Make sure to: Get to know Dua’s Radical Optimism record (and read our review on hotpress.com)!

Lana Del Rey

Where: Aviva Stadium

When: June 30

What: It seems modern music queens are making a habit of taking over the Aviva – and we’re all for it (it’s about time the stadium’s punters had something to cheer about). Just a few days after Dua does her thing, Lana will be packing out the South Dublin venue. There’s plenty to look forward to for deep-dyed devotees, as Lizzy Grant struts into town promising some country-swathed melodrama on her upcoming album The Right Person Will Stay.

Make sure to: Bring some tissues for yourself and fellow audience members for ‘Pretty When You Cry’.

Trinity Summer Series

Where: Trinity College Dublin

When: June 30–July 6

Who: Aurora, The Teskey Brothers, Simple Minds, Weezer, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Amble, Marti Pellow

What: Perhaps it’s fitting that geek gods Weezer are spearheading this year’s Trinity Summer Series, considering affable frontman Rivers Cuomo could still pass for a lecture-bound student (he happens to have a degree in English from Harvard, mind you). Also playing to the collegiate surroundings of Dublin’s world-famous university are Amble; Norwegian pop sensation Aurora; rock royalty Simple Minds; Aussie blues outfit the Teskey Brothers; powerhouse singer Rag ‘N’ Bone Man; and Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow, who caps off another year of this brilliant concert series.

Make sure to: Check out the Teskey Brothers – they’re a force to be reckoned with live.

 

July

Duran Duran + Nile Rodgers & Chic

Where:  Virgin Media Park, Cork

When: July 1

What: Giants of music history will be descending upon the ‘real’ capital this summer. Duran Duran are still going strong, releasing their latest album, Danse Macbre De Luxe, in October of 2024. The same can be said for Nile Rodgers, who – alongside with his iconic ‘Hitmaker’ Fender guitar – has produced $2bn worth of hit music. If you’re looking for a boogie, this isn’t one to be missed.

Make sure to: Catch the other stars heading to Virgin Media Park, including Macklemore (June 5); The Corrs (6); Stereophonics (7); The Saw Doctors (14); Snow Patrol (19); and Madness (20).

 

 

Noah Kahan

Where: Marlay Park, Dublin

When: July 1

What: Vermont-born everyman Noah Kahan has shot to the heights of the mainstream in recent years, with his 2023 single ‘Stick Season’ topping charts and being streamed over a billion times. He was an Electric Picnic headliner last summer too, which will have given him some experience playing to massive outdoor Irish crowds ahead of his spectacle in South Dublin.

Make sure to:  Check out our live review of his EP main stage set on hotpress.com

Wider Than Pictures

Where: The National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin

When: August 19-24

Who: Wunderhorse, Sharon Van Etten, The Human League, Kaiser Chiefs, Father John Misty

What: Taking place in one of the most visually stunning locations in the capital, this history shrouded courtyard also offers great sound for the wide-range of acts on display. Starting off this year’s series is one of the most hotly-tipped rock bands around, Wunderhorse, who are gathering some serious momentum following their critically acclaimed sophomore LP Midas. Indie royalty Sharon Van Etten, synth pop greats The Human League and noughties alt-rockers Kaiser Chiefs are also in the mix, before everyone’s favourite ecclesiastical crooner, Father John Misty, brings this beloved set of gigs to a close on August 24.

Make sure to: See Wunderhorse. Seriously.

Thomond Park gigs

Where: Thomond Park, Limerick

When: July 11 – 13

Who: The Wolfe Tones and The Script

What: The home of Munster rugby will be the venue for some big exclusive Irish shows this summer. Evergreen chart-topping favourites The Script play their only show on the island of Ireland this year on July 12. Sandwiched either side of that gig are the even-more-evergreen Wolfe Tones, who’ve chosen Limerick to be the site of their last-ever rabble-rousing concerts on the – and this time they mean it! – Final Farewell tour.

Make sure to: Film the chorus of ‘Celtic Symphony’ and send it to your nearest DUP representative. They’ll really appreciate the gesture!

August

Oasis

Where: Croke Park

When: August 16 & 17

What: Apparently some band are getting back together… Unless you’ve been living under a 5G-resistant rock, you’ll be aware that the Oasis reunion tour is coming to Dublin. Assuming they haven’t killed each other by then, the sold-out concerts will mark the Gallagher brothers’ first Irish outing together since they rocked Slane back in 2009. Support comes from contemporaries Richard Ashcroft and Cast. An evening drenched in ‘90s nostalgia.

Make sure to: Go full era-appropriate by dusting off your bucket hats and retro football shirts.

Robbie Williams

Where: Croke Park

When: August 23

What: Another UK giant of the ’90s will be playing to a sold-out Croker in the shape of Take That favourite Robbie Williams. One of the best entertainers in modern pop, the Stoke native has a history of massive outings on these shores. He’s played Slane, and has the record for the largest outdoor Irish gig at Phoenix park and Slane on his CV. He’ll also be returning to the same venue that he sold out back in 2006.

Make sure to: Catch up on Robbie’s life story by watching his bizarre-yet-endearing biopic Better Man.

UB40

Where: TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

When: August 24

What: The Treaty City will welcome an exclusive Irish outdoor show from legendary reggae-pop outfit UB40, who’ve had over 50 singles enter the UK singles charts and sold 70 million-plus records globally. Also on the brilliant bill are skaheads The Selecter and Beatles Dub Club, while there’s also a very special guest in the form of live powerhouse Damien Dempsey.

Make sure to: Sing along to the classic ‘Red Red Wine’.

Queens Of The Stone Age

Where: Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin

When: August 20

What: Josh Homme will be bringing his deep catalogue of meaty, fuzzed up riffs to Dublin 8, for their first show in the capital since a memorable 3Arena headliner in November 2023. With eight albums to date and an ever-changing lineup, QOTSA have garnered a reputation as one of the best rock bands of the modern era, and one of the finest acts to see live.

Make sure to: Get there nice and early to catch manic Aussie punks Amyl & The Sniffers’ support set.

RAYE

Where: Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin

When: August 22

What: One of the most critically-acclaimed songwriters around right now, RAYE made history in March 2024 by taking home six prizes at the BRITs – the most for any artist in a single year – and becoming the first woman to ever be crowned Songwriter of the Year. The Londoner is amazing in the flesh too, with her big band, jazz-infused arrangements really coming to life in a live setting.

Make sure to: Listen to the singer’s record-shattering album My 21st Century Blues.

 

Sam Fender – Belfast Vital

Where: Boucher Playing Fields

When: August 28

What: Revered Geordie songsmith Sam Fender, who was also announced as an Electric Picnic headliner, has gotten better with each of his three studio albums. The latest, People Watching, is his most pop-facing yet, stuffed with choruses that were tailor-made to be belted out by tens of thousands in a field.

Make sure to: Give yourself plenty of time and get there for CMAT’s support set.