More acts announced for Forest Fest

ANOTHER 21 acts have been added to the already jammed packed line-up for this year’s Forest Fest festival that’s taking place in Emo from Friday to Sunday 25 to 27 July.

Joining previously-announced Forest Fleadh Stage acts Mary Coughlan, Sharon Shannon, Frankie Gavin and De Dannan and Kevin Conneff and The Dublin Trio are 21 acts ranging from legendary performers like Stocktons Wing to some of the most lauded new folk and trad acts around such as Beoga, Kan, Moxie, Niall McCabe, Hunger of the Skin - Brian Finnegan, Buille and Laura Jo.

The Forest Fleadh Stage will also feature local acts such as Buíoch, Eva Coyle, Eric de Buitléir, The Oars, Madra Salach, Cua, Chris Comhaill, Cormac Looby, Sean Lyons and Eva Carroll, Meadbh Hayes and Alltacht.

There’ll also be daytime entertainment for all ages provided by the local Laois community with Set Dancing with Maureen Culleton and Irish Dancing from local Emo school, Scoil Rince Ni Anglais, while Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra will set the tone for the Forest Fleadh Stage as the day begins.

Forest Fest Founder Phillip Meagher said: “I’ve been thrilled by the success of the Forest Fleadh Stage over the last few years. It has really become the party central of the festival and I’m so looking forward to welcoming to Emo the very best that Ireland has to offer in traditional and folk music.

“I think we have curated a wonderful selection of bands this year. I absolutely love the vibrancy and raw emotion that this particular stage should generate throughout the weekend. Many of our guests come for the other stages and end up spending a lot of time immersed in the fantastic atmosphere of this particular tent. They come away with a great appreciation for the quality of the musicianship and talent of all of these bands.” 

The announcement adds 25 new acts to an already incredible range of international and Irish acts that will play across the weekend, including previously-announced: Manic Street Preachers, Franz Ferdinand, Travis, Orbital, The Stranglers, Tom Meighan, The Dandy Warhols, Bad Manners, Tony Hadley, Billy Bragg, Peter Hook & The Light, Reef, Kula Shaker, Therapy?, Teenage Fanclub, The Farm, Alabama 3, The Magic Numbers, Nick Lowe, Robert Finley, Pillow Queens, Hermitage Green, Something Happens, The Riptide Movement, Aoife Destruction and The Nilz, Kerbdog, Live Forever Oasis and Dirty Blonde, The 4 of Us, Sack, Jack L, Thumper, Andrew Strong, Kiera Dignam, Paddy Casey, Daft Punk Tribute, Qween, Ryan Sheridan, Cry Before Dawn and more.

This year is the fourth edition of Forest Fest, an entirely independent festival.

It is the brainchild of Laois native and practicing solicitor Phillip Meagher. Deliberately prioritising atmosphere and experience over commerciality, the festival transforms the small village of Emo, home to just 200 residents, into a compact and idyllic festival hub with a capacity of 12,000.

Across four stages, world-renowned artists perform alongside local favourites, creating a lineup that is both global in scope and deeply supportive of the Irish music scene. The entire village embraces the festival, with businesses, volunteers, and residents playing a role in shaping its unique character.