The sun is out and the festival season is in full swing here in Galway. Get ready to immerse yourself in a whirlwind of melodies, performances, and beats. The Galway Folk Festival 2023 showcases the best of folk, roots, and traditional music, while the Róisín Dubh presents Club GASS with stunning drag queen performances, DNA nightclub offers Reggaeton Friday with DJ Blazehitta and Brazilian DJ Presidente, and The CEOs rock The Skeff Late Bar with acoustic chart hits. Don’t miss this unforgettable night of music and entertainment.
Monroe’s Live
Galway Folk Festival 2023
The Galway Folk Festival continues to enthral audiences this weekend with the best of folk, roots, and traditional music, from Ireland and beyond.
1pm: This Friday, June 16th, a special free pop-up event will take place at the historic Charlie Byrnes bookshop at 1pm with the Isle of Wight’s Puzzle Muteson, who blends folk storytelling and his mesmerising tenor vocals with electronic elements. He will be joined by Enniskillen-based duo Laytha, who delve into the themes of relationships and daughterhood, inspired by the raw ruggedness of Ireland.
7pm: On Friday evening at 7pm, The Whileaways and Niamh Regan will take to the stage at Monroe’s Live. With experimental, fresh and energetic music that weaves a rich tapestry and comes to life on stage, the Whileaways Noelie McDonnell, Noriana Kennedy and Nicola Joyce have toured the world, gaining sought-after nominations for Best Group and Best Album in the RTÉ Folk Awards, as they continue to scale the heights of the folk scene.
Heartfelt, timeless and lyrically dynamic, county Galway’s Niamh Regan has graced the stages of the Late Late Show and Other Voices with her delicate melodies and bewitching storytelling. With the intimacy of the Irish lyrical tradition combined with the breadth of American songwriters, her work draws parallels with Stevie Nicks and Joni Mitchell, while maintaining an original sound that elevates the personal to the universal.
This gig will be a feast of folk as they will be joined by Brídín, Dylan Flynn and the Dead Poets, Enda Scahill, Shane Hayes and Laytha.
11pm: Following this, Ispíní na hÉireann (which translates to Sausages of Ireland) will bring their lively, entertaining and sometimes cheeky style to the Galway Folk Festival this Friday at Monroe’s Live at 11pm.
The coming together of Dublin-born musicians Adam J. Holohan on banjo and Tomás Mulligan on guitar ignited the trad-folk and punk flame of this “hardest working band in the land” delivering reimagined covers, classic folk tunes and their own original songs with flair and fun.
Róisín Dubh
8:30pm: Club GASS
Club Gass is back for Galway’s favourite drag club night. Join Kiki and the Galway queens as they tear up the Róisín Dubh stage with their striking diva performances and spectacular hijinks. Resident DJ John joins the queens on stage while upstairs, dance it out together with DJ Lil’ Monica from 10pm.
DNA
11pm: Reggaeton Friday
DNA nightclub in the heart of Galway city centre is set to come alive to the beat with Reggaeton Friday. Featuring DJ Blazehitta on the decks, it’s a night of Reggaeton, Brazilian and Spanish rhythms with so much more on offer. Not only that, but Brazilian DJ Presidente will make a special appearance for the ultimate anthems. With performers and dancers, enter the world of DNA this Reggaeton Friday.
The Skeff Late Bar and Kitchen
10pm: The CEOs
East Galway band The CEOs will entertain the crowds at the Skeff Late Bar in the heart of Eyre Square. Renowned for their professionalism and musical talent, this high energy group will take you through chart hits with their own acoustic panache. It’s set to be a night of music and song as The CEO’s delve into the best of classic anthems to the delight of fans. Hailing from Loughrea, this three-piece group are garnering a strong base with every gig and are certain to keep you on the dance floor this Friday night at the Skeff Late Bar. Afterwards, join DJ Dave G until late.
