Portlaoise in October

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A new platform for emerging Irish music is launching in the heart of the Midlands. Grass Roots Sessions at Kavanaghs Bar & Venue, Portlaoise is a fresh, three-month series of live gigs dedicated to showcasing original music by some of the region’s most promising bands and artists. With a focus on homegrown, self-written material, Grass Roots Sessions will bring together acts from Laois, Offaly, Carlow, Kilkenny, Kildare, and Westmeath, offering them a professional stage and a chance to connect with new audiences. Each event will feature three original bands or artists, performing all-original music—raw, real, and rooted in the local scene. The nights are curated by Brian and Finn O’Mahoney and will be compered by well-known DJ and documentary maker Ann Marie Kelly, who will also be filming the gigs as part of an ongoing project to document and support original Irish music. In a unique move to support these artists beyond the live performance, three songs per act will be professionally filmed and recorded using a multi-camera setup, alongside mixed and mastered audio from the show. The goal: to provide each performer with a high-quality live video asset to help secure future bookings and festival slots. “We want to give bands and artists something to take away with them that can be beneficial for getting future gigs from venues and promoters.” said venue owner PJ Kavanagh.  Organiser Brian O’Mahoney continues: “The first thing a festival looks for is a video of the act playing to see can they actually do it live. Kavanaghs has always been a great venue for supporting new live music and they have excellent PA and lighting in-house—so it’s an ideal venue for this project and we hope the shows will be supported by the public.” The sessions aim to build a stronger grassroots network, encourage cross-county collaboration, and provide a high-quality platform for performers who often struggle to find live opportunities for original work. “Ireland has always had a wealth of talent and the Midlands has always been a part of that. Unfortunately, it’s getting harder for bands playing original music to get to play to an audience. Our hope is that bands bring some of their own fans—and stay to support the other bands on the bill.” Grass Roots Sessions kicks off on Thursday August 7th and at Kavanaghs Bar & Venue—long considered one of the Midlands' best-loved hubs for live, independent music.  This project is part of The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport 'Night-Time Economy Grassroots Music Venue Support Scheme 2025. Grass Roots Sessions Dates. AUGUST: Thursday August 7th, Thursday August 21st. SEPTEMBER: Thursday 4th, Thursday 18th OCTOBER: Thursday 2nd. For more information, contact:  Brian O’Mahoney  Tel: 085 7158518 Email: grassrootssessions@gmail.com Backline  Drums Drum kit provided.  Drummers bring breakables (Cymbals, Hi-Hats, Snare – Kick Drum Pedal) Amps: Bass Amp: 1 x Ampeg BA-115 Guitar Amps 1 x Blackstar HT Club 40 Nice clean Fender/Style on Channel 1 + Nice Marshall tone on Channel 2 1 x Marshall Origin Combo: Plexi sounding amp – not ideal for sparkling cleans but perfect for rock tones Sound Line/Checks Due to quick changeover of bands, the gig will run similar to a festival slot. Only one band will do a full soundcheck (mainly to get the drums and vocal mics going) Other bands will be line/check only. If you want to bring your own guitar amps, it is possible but can only be set up during the 20 minute changeover time between bands. Video Recording: We are capturing three full songs from each band. The songs recorded will be from your third song in and must run consecutively. This is to give you a chance to settle in to the gig and for the tech crew to get organised. Bring some People: To get the best out of your live video, we encourage each band to bring along some supporters. The aim of these sessions is to foster networking and help artists connect with each other’s fan bases. With that in mind, we kindly ask that bands and their guests stay to support all the acts on the bill. If each band could bring 10–20 people and encourage them to stick around for the full night, it would make a big difference for everyone involved. Payment: Each gig costs a minimum of €2,000 to run. This covers video cameras and operators, lighting and sound engineers, marketing, and door staff on the night. In addition, there are several days of work involved in editing the video and mixing and mastering the audio. While we’re not in a position to pay each act a fee on the night, we believe the value of receiving three professionally recorded live tracks is a fair exchange—something that can genuinely help bands secure more gigs and future opportunities. Travel Expenses: to a maximum of €80 per band. This will be paid by bank transfer only upon receipt of an invoice. Guest List: Each band member will get a +1. Admission for public is €10 and tickets are available from www.kavanaghsportlaoise.com What we need from bands; • 1 x high resolution photo (300dpi) • Short Biography: 250 words to introduce the band/act and let people know  what you are about. • Band Logo (Preferably .png transparent file. This is for the large video screen backdrop) • A good quality MP3 of one of your strongest tracks. Ann Marie will play this on her Road Café show and we will also use it for promos on socials. • Stage Plan: Give us a detailed breakdown of your setup, Di’s/Mics needed etc.

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Sinéad Culbert: I’m No Wonder Woman In her brand new stand up show, one half of comedy duo DirtBirds, Sinéad Culbert explores the extreme dangers of growing up in the 80’s, the pitfalls of parenting, the myths about marriage and the genuine joy of not giving a shit !

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Monroe with Full band live in the Courtyard in Kavanagh's!

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By nature, Duke Special (aka Belfast's Peter Wilson) is a curious person. He is curious about music, theatre, books, poetry, art, love, life, redemption, death and 78RPM records. All of this is evidenced by the variety of musical adventures throughout his career, such as releasing 17 albums and EPs, touring extensively throughout the world, writing for theatre, and teaching songwriting and performance at BIMM University, Dublin. Performing live is still one of Duke Special's main passions. Whether he performs solo, as a duo with his long-time friend and percussionist Chip Bailey, with a full band, a string quartet or orchestra, a Duke Special show is always a unique experience. Duke is currently working on a new album. www.dukespecial.com  

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 Ireland’s Only Tool Tribute Act EST. 2004.A 2 Hour+ Tribute show featuring material from the entire Tool back catalogue 

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John Colleary - Wildlife “John Colleary is my favourite comic, I learned so much from him... playful, inventive and brilliant. The best.” - Tommy Tiernan Apart from being one of the most in-demand comics in the land, John Colleary has also co- written and starred in IFTA nominated shows, The Savage Eye (RTÉ2) and Irish Pictorial Weekly (RTÉ One). Other TV credits include appearances on Hardy Bucks and Bridget & Eamon (RTÉ2). A talented actor and mimic, John featured as one third of The Gusset Brothers on The Tommy Tiernan Show (RTÉ One).  He has also scooped an PPI Award for his topical sketch writing and performance on Today FM’s drivetime flagship, The Last Word; and is a favourite at Ireland’s top comedy clubs and festivals. John toured with Tommy Tiernan in 2022 and 2023 and performed to tens of thousands of comedy fans up, down and around the country. His first solo show LOUD & COLLEARY went nationwide in Autumn 2023, followed by the HEAD LIKE A SHED tour in 2024. This year, John will be supporting Tommy again on his sold out ‘Tommedian’ tour as well as performing solo nationwide. Make sure to catch him on the road in 25!.

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The Riptide Movement are a Gold-certified, Choice Music Prize-nominated, Number 1 rock band from Dublin, Ireland. Since their formation in 2006, the band has released five critically acclaimed studio albums: What About The Tip Jars?, Keep on Keepin’On, Ghosts, Something Special, and their breakthrough record Getting Through—a chart-topping, Gold-selling album that earned them a Choice Music Prize nomination. Blending indie, folk, rock, and blues, The Riptide Movement have cultivated a distinctive sound defined by raw energy, emotional depth, and irresistible hooks. Signature tracks like All Works Out, Elephant in the Room, Hot Tramp, Changeling, and Something Special have resonated widely, earning the band a loyal and growing fanbase. In 2025, The Riptide Movement make a powerful return with their highly anticipated new single, When The Sun Comes Up, set for release on May 23rd. Recorded at Orphan Recording Studios in Curracloe, Co. Wexford and co-produced by acclaimed producer Gavin Glass, the track captures the band's signature indie-rock spirit—anthemic, introspective, uplifting, yet tinged with a touch of melancholia. It offers a compelling glimpse into the evolution of their sound, and a thrilling preview of their forthcoming sixth studio album, due later this year. To celebrate the new release, the band will hit the road for a string of tour dates, including standout performances at Glastonbury, Forest Fest, Kaleidoscope, Doolin Arts Festival, and The Docklands in Limerick alongside The Waterboys. They’ll also headline the West Hampstead Arts Club in London. Famed for their electrifying live shows, The Riptide Movement have cemented their place as one of Ireland’s most exciting live acts. They've headlined iconic venues such as Dublin’s Olympia Theatre and Vicar Street, and captivated audiences at renowned festivals including Glastonbury, Electric Picnic, Reading & Leeds, T in the Park, and Benicàssim. Along the way, they’ve shared stages with music legends like The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, and Neil Young, and have performed in collaboration with both the BBC Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.   

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The lads are back in the Courtyard!!

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Plan your trip to Strength In Numbers with our AI-powered travel planner. Get personalized itineraries and recommendations for your visit to Portlaoise. Book tickets through our platform.

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One of the LONGEST European/UK International based that have been going over 20+ years and play various top UK venues.Full professional production stageshow of replicating the classic 70s kiss style stageshow from Pyrotechnics, Fire-breathing, Smoking Guitar etc to covering ALL Eras of KISS’ back catalogue of Hits & Songs.Replicating the 1970s KISS ALIVE! Stageshow with professional custom made Costumes, Platform boots. THE most authentic sounding & lookalike to KISS in their heyday, relying on unmatched showmanship & exacting quality sound.No faking on our parts… No being fooled by over-use of “bells & whistles” or having deputy/session musicians that fill in at our shows compared to other tribute bands. Quality over Quantity!The epitome of “tribute band”.

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Plan your trip to Hotter Than Hell with our AI-powered travel planner. Get personalized itineraries and recommendations for your visit to Portlaoise. Book tickets through our platform.

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The Valves - Live in Kavanaghs

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