Entertainment

Irish acts at Glastonbury 2024: your essential guide to our homegrown talents at this year’s festival

With the Glastonbury Festival now underway, David Roy runs down this year’s Irish contenders who will be entertaining the crowds at Worthy Farm and fans at home via the BBC’s coverage this weekend...

Fontaines DC
Fontaines DC are leading the charge for the Irish at Glastonbury 2024 as our highest billed homegrown act. PICTURE: Theo Cotter

ANNIE MAC

Today, Other Stage, 11.30am

Annie Mac
Annie Mac. PICTURE: Giulia Spadafora

DUBLIN-born DJ/presenter/ author Annie Mac returns to her roots with an opening set on the Other Stage today: later, she’ll bring her ‘early doors’ Before Midnight club night to the Stonebridge Bar from 7pm to (you guessed it) midnight.

THE BURMA

Today, Acoustic Stage, 11.30am

The Burma
The Burma

CORK city-based indie/synth-pop trio The Burma will perform stripped-back versions of songs from last year’s album Crazy Dreams & Cruel Realities and 2022′s debut, Sucker For Stars.

MARTIN FUREY

Today, Atchin Tan, 1.15pm / Saturday, Blind Tiger, 6pm

Martin Furey
Martin Furey

EX-HIGH Kings man Martin Furey previously served with Celtic folk groups Bohinta and Mouth Music and is also an established solo artist – as Glastonbury is about to (re)discover.

TRISH REILLY

Today, Atchin Tan, 4.15pm / Saturday, 3pm

Trish Reilly
Trish Reilly. PICTURE: Marc O'Sullivan (Marc O'Sullivan)

THE Athlone singer-songwriter has already treated Glastonbury early-birds to two performances this week: catch her final two today and tomorrow.

KOJAQUE

Today, Lonely Hearts Club, 4.15pm

Kojaque
Kojaque

CABRA rapper Kojaque brings his dulcet Dub-tones, trippy tunes and dank visuals to Glastonbury this afternoon.

DERVISH

Today, Acoustic Stage, 5pm

Dervish
Dervish: PICTURE: Colin Gillen

SLIGO trad staples Dervish will be peddling their soulful brand of technically brilliant folk for the Glastonbury crowd’s pleasure this afternoon.

THE MARY WALLOPERS

Today, Park Stage, 3.15pm

Lock up your daughters, The Mary Wallopers are back in Belfast tonight
Lock up your daughters, it's The Mary Wallopers

THIS Dundalk folk/punk troupe are dab hands at bringing trad to the masses via a raucous live show stuffed with hand-me-down favourites and the odd original belter.

Charles from the band will also play a solo set at Strummerville on Sunday at 3pm, while rumour has it that the Wallopers’ Dundalk hero, Jinx Lennon, may also play this year’s festival at the ‘secret’ Underground Piano Bar.

SPRINTS

Today, Left Field, 7.50pm

Sprints
Sprints

DUBLIN hopefuls Sprints won plenty of acclaim earlier this year with debut album Letter to Self, a showcase for their post-punky shout-along sound built upon/around the cathartic clout of singer/guitarist Karla Chubb’s powerful, existential angst-fuelled vocals/lyrics.

Expect mosh-pits galore and a lot of previously uninitiated jaws on the floor.

FONTAINES DC

Today, Park Stage, 11pm

Fontaines DC
Fontaines DC are leading the charge for the Irish at Glastonbury 2024 as our highest billed homegrown act. PICTURE: Theo Cotter

DUBLIN post-punk revivalists Fontaines DC are leading the charge for the Irish at Glastonbury 2024 with their Friday night headlining set at the Park Stage.

Prepare to marvel at the band’s recent and fairly divisive ‘nu metal Jane’s Addiction’ make-over while sampling the best tunes from their upcoming new album Romance (like excellent recent single, Starburster) alongside old favourites.

BICEP PRESENTS CHROMA (AV DJ SET)

Saturday, Iicon, 1.15am

Bicep were nominated in two categories at last night's Brit Awards
Bicep

THE Belfast DJ duo will help Friday night revellers extend their partying well into the wee hours of Saturday morning with their acclaimed audio-visual ‘experience’, Chroma.

KNEECAP

Saturday, Woodsies, 11.30am / Sunday, 1.30am

 Kneecap: Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí
Kneecap: Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí

HAVING failed to penetrate the UK Top 40 or knock Taylor Swift off the top of the Irish chart with the release of their debut album Fine Art last week, no doubt the Belfast hip-hop trio will now vent their frustrations via a pair of particularly frenzied performances at either end of Saturday’s programme.

The band will also be present for a special Q&A screening of their forthcoming Kneecap feature film at the Pilton Palais Cinema on Saturday at 3pm, along with director Rich Peppiatt.

RYAN MCMULLAN

Saturday, Acoustic Stage, 12.10pm

Ryan McMullan has cancelled his world tour
Ryan McMullan has cancelled his world tour

PORTAFERRY troubadour Ryan McMullan will treat the Glastonbury crowd to an ‘unplugged’ set on the Acoustic Stage tomorrow afternoon.

Having taken an extended break from touring back in 2022 for mental health reasons, the singer-songwriter is now getting back to doing what he does best: performing soulful, heartfelt (acoustic) guitar pop to adoring crowds.

PAUL CASEY

Saturday, Acoustic Stage, 2pm

Paul Casey
Paul Casey

OFTEN described as “Ireland’s best-kept secret” Derry man Paul Casey will be keen to update that status this weekend. Get a sneak preview of what’s in store by listening to his descriptively titled new album Life in Reverse: The Glastonbury Setlist Recorded at Cable Junction Studio at paulcasey.bandcamp.com.

KINGFISHR

Saturday, BBC Introducing Stage, 2.30pm / Sunday, Avalon, 12.35pm

Kingfishr
Kingfishr

LIMERICK heartfelt folk-pop specialists Kingfishr make their Glastonbury debut with a pair of performances, at least one of which should definitely be available at home via the magic Red Button.

PROBLEM PATTERNS

Saturday, The Hive, 3.05pm-3.50pm / Sunday, Park Stage, 11:30am-12.15pm / Bread and Roses, 5.30pm-6.30pm

Problem Patterns
Problem Patterns. PICTURE: @angiephotostudio

THE irrepressible Belfast punks will play not one but three sets at this year’s Glastonbury. Expect shout-along anthems of rage and empowerment, barrier-defying crowd participation and plenty of thinly-veiled Kneecap-baiting from another ‘local’ band currently enjoying richly deserved wider attention.

THOMAS MCCARTHY

Saturday, Blind Tiger, 4pm

Thomas McCarthy
Thomas McCarthy

BIRR-born singer-songwriter Thomas McCarthy comes from a long line of traditional singers in Co Offaly: catch him in action tomorrow afternoon at the Blind Tiger.

LANKUM

Saturday, Park Stage, 6pm

Lankum will take part in a Tim's Listening Party next week on Twitter
Lankum

DUBLIN prog-folk masters Lankum will enjoy an early evening slot on the Park Stage this year, where the 2024 Choice Music Prize winners will treat punters to their mesmerisingly intense and hugely atmospheric live show that’s sure to be one of the best performances of the entire weekend.

NEWDAD

Sunday, Woodsies, 2pm

NewDad
NewDad

PURVEYORS of shoegazey indie pop with a pleasingly Gothy tinge, this Galway quartet are signed to Warners and released their fine debut album, MADRA, earlier this year.

The band recently covered The Cure’s Just Like Heaven for a BBC Session, despite Dinosaur having shut that one down for good 35 years ago, but it’s hard to hold this against them given their tender age and obvious enthusiasm for so many other indie rock pedal-farmers of yesteryear.

OR:LA

Sunday, Assembly, 2pm

OR:LA
OR:LA

DERRY-born DJ/producer/label boss Or:la will hold court at the indoor Assembly space on Sunday afternoon for an hour-long set.

THE SCRATCH

Avalon, Sunday, 3.25pm-4.20pm / Peace, Monday, 12am

The Scratch
The Scratch

THE Dublin metallers turned percussive Celtic rock-informed folk-punks bring their powerful live sound to Glastonbury with two performances showcasing tunes from last year’s acclaimed album Mind Yourself.

PILLOW QUEENS

Left Field, Sunday, 4.30pm-5pm

Pillow Queens
Pillow Queens

HAVING released their acclaimed debut album Name Your Sorrow a couple of months ago, a late afternoon slot on the Left Field stage on Sunday should suit Dublin’s Pillow Queens’ slinky, bruised-yet-defiant alt-rock sound to cathartic, hair of the dog tee.

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB

Other Stage, Sunday, 7.45pm

Two Door Cinema Club
Two Door Cinema Club

MIND-bogglingly popular north Down indie-pop trio return to Glastonbury for a performance on the Other Stage on Sunday night, sandwiched between Avril Lavigne and headliners The National.

This year will be the trio’s fifth time performing at the festival – which accent will frontman Alex be using this time around?

See Glastonburyfestivals.co.uk for full festival line-up