The days are getting longer, and festival season is nearly upon us. An opportunity for many to let their hair down and a chance to embrace what the Irish music festival scene has to offer. Start getting out your tents and organising your festival wardrobe. Something different for everyone from electronic dance to rap, indie and contemporary dance.
Dublin Dance Festival will be running across many venues from May 2nd to May 20th, bringing together dance artists and choreographers from at home and abroad. Dance artists are coming to share their contemporary dance with audiences in Ireland. Some shows include ‘Street Dance Battle’ on May 6th in Meeting House Square, cost €12 and Dancing Artificial Intelligence taking place in The Science Gallery at Trinity College from May 9th to May 13th, admission is free. Ireland’s biggest electronic dance festival, Life, is back this year from May 25th to May 27th boasting a line-up with Fatboy Slim, Wiley, the EDM beats of Arman Van Helden and Jax Jones and 100’s more acts over the 3 days.
If you are looking for something laid back and low key with a diverse sound and visual arts, Vantastival is for you, it will be taking place over the June Bank holiday weekend from June 1st to June 4th at Beaulieu House – Drogheda, Co. Louth. This festival, the only of its kind in Ireland, will be hosting live musical acts all weekend including Le Galaxie, Emma Langford and the Rebel Souls. The festival also hosts other attractions like festival traders and arts and crafts. Weekend Camping tickets are on sale for €120. Forbidden Fruit Festival is taking place this year from June 2nd to June 4th at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. The line-up includes Vince Staples, Grizzly Bear, Loah, Justice and The War on Drugs. Weekend Tickets on sale from €162.50.
Malahide Castle will host acts ranging from rock and roll to disco soul including LCD Soundsystem and Lykke Li on June 5th, Kodaline on June 8th, Gorillaz on June 9th, Liam Gallagher on June 15th and Nile Rodgers and Chic and Craig David on June 16th.
‘Longitude’ returns this year with an array of acts with urban sounds, DJs and many acts from the hip hop and rap scene. From July 13th to July 15th in Marlay Park, the lineup includes Solange, Migos, Post Malone, Diplo, Travis Scott, Tyler the Creator and Big Shaq. Tickets priced from €69.50 for a day ticket and €189.50 for a weekend ticket.
For those who are into the indie genre featuring some dance acts too, Indiependence Festival will provide the sound you’re looking for, whatever your taste may be. Taking place on August 3rd, 4th and 5th in Deer Farm Mitchelstown, Cork. Lineup includes Sigala, Jake Bugg, Primal Scream and Walking on Cars.
Electric Picnic is on from August 31st to September 2nd, the genre this year is a variety and diverse ranging from acoustic to hip hop artists. The line up includes headliners Kendrick Lamar, Dua Lipa, Cigarettes after Sex, Wolf Alice, NERD, George Ezra, Ben Howard and many more. Tickets are currently sold out.