A new music festival focused on musicians in the west of Ireland will take place on 15–19 November in Galway. Organised by promoters Not Bad and the Black Gate, the event will feature concerts in nine venues with artists such as singer-songwriters Maija Sofia and Tracy Bruen, as well as local club nights Free House and West Coast Punx.

Opening the festival on 15 November in Club De Burgo’s is a night by local promoter Rough Cut, featuring singer-songwriters Aubrey Hennessy, John Dog, Amy Mc and Rua Rí. Later that night, electronic night promoters Yawlag Collective will host performances by DJs AADM, CHUCKY AR nGRA, KEGS b2b, Slip Slydon’ and Mitch Presents at the Roisín Dubh.

Maija Sofia, whose second album True Love was released in September, performs at the Mick Lally Theatre on 16 November; folk singer and regular on the Galway music scene Tracy Bruen performs at the Mick Lally Theatre on 17 November; and female electronic music group Gash Collective present a night at Bierhaus on 19 November. 

Club nights
A number of local club nights will take place throughout the festival at the Áras na nGael venue on Dominick Street, including DIY music event Free House which will present emerging bands Search Results and Adore on 16 November. Alternative club music night Ar Ais Arís will host three Galway DJs – Matchu, D’anu and AAA – on 17 November; and West Coast Punx will host punk bands Wrong Life, Rash Decision, Bar Tape and Abandoned Planets on 18 November. A Modern Movement club night will take place at The Loft @ Seven venue on 18 November, and will host emerging acts NERVES, Punching Peaches, Some Remain and The Cinderella Phillips.

There will also be an early evening concert by promoters Genuine Irish featuring singer-songwriter Jolie Collins-Woods at Fairhill Coffee Shop on Abbeygate Street, a night by StrangeBrew promoters at the Roisín Dubh, and a day-time concert by arts and disability programme That’s Life featuring Electric Dreams performing with composer and musician Anna Mullarkey – a presentation of young local musicians by Music Generation. The festival will close with a night at the Blue Note, featuring six-piece The Kettleboilers, alternative trio Little Night Violence and folk singer-songwriter Siobhan Kelleher.

A number of the concerts are free. For further information and booking, visit https://shorturl.at/fxGWX

See the full programme below. 

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