Adore Deliver a Raucous Masterclass at Upstart Festival 2026

Upstart Festival 2026

A Masterclass in Garage-Punk Swagger as Adore steal the show at the Upstart Festival. The Upstart Festival 2026 proved once again why this volunteer-led, community-focused gathering at Craig’s Field in Glounthaune is one of Cork’s most cherished end-of-summer musical traditions. Celebrating its fifth edition, the one-day outdoor festival delivered an atmospheric showcase of Ireland’s finest indie, punk, and rock talent against the scenic backdrop of Cork Harbour.

Set in the harbourside village of Glounthaune, Craig's Field offered an intimate and accessible setting for live music. Organised by the Glounthaune Community Association with music curation support from the Glounthaune Vinyl Club, the event managed to retain its grassroots warmth while delivering festival-grade sound and stage production. With Glounthaune train station just a short stroll away, the festival’s sustainable, public-transit-friendly design made getting to and from the venue effortless.

The 2026 lineup brought together a strong mix of emerging local acts and touring favorites. Headlining the evening, the Irish garage punk band Adore, brought electric energy. Driven by crunchy guitar riffs and a heavy rhythm section, their set demonstrated why they’ve become one of the most talked-about bands on the festival circuit this year.

Opening acts White Noise, Serial Mom, & Trainwreck set a fierce, energetic tone early in the day, proving the depth of Ireland's underground guitar scene. It was a poignant evening for local band Serial Mom as they returned to where they first met for their last performance as a group.

The Slay Babies brought a theatrical edge and infectious grooves for their mid-evening slot was a standout crowd-pleaser.

The Love Buzz & Maicín raised the bar with both acts delivering high-octane sets that had the crowd moving as the sun began to fade, blending sharp indie melodies with raw stage presence.

But it was the headline performance by Adore that stood out. Fresh off festival outings at 2000Trees and Truck Festival, plus momentum from their debut EP BITER—Adore sounded tightly wound and absolutely lethal. From the opening crunch of guitars, frontwoman Lara Minchin commanded the stage with a blend of deadpan defiance and raw vocal power "choo-choo". Backed by the relentless rhythm section of Callum Wall (bass) and Naoise Jordan Cavanagh (drums), alongside the jagged, propulsive riffs of guitarist Ben Mulligan, the four-piece tore through a 50-minute set that barely gave the crowd time to breathe. By the time the band surged into their closing numbers, the boundary between stage and crowd had all but dissolved. Adore proved why they are widely tipped as one of the defining acts in the current wave of Irish alternative music. Headlining Upstart 2026 was a victory lap for a band operating at the absolute peak of their live powers—vicious, charismatic, and entirely unmissable.

Upstart Festival 2026 stood out again as a testament to what volunteer community effort can achieve. By pairing affordable ticketing with top-tier Irish young musical talent, it delivered a memorable, friendly, and loud farewell to the summer music season.