
Just a week after rumours of its cancellation, Beyond the Pale has taken the stage – but what has put so many festivals in peril?

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The Journal
28-06-2025
- The Journal
Are small music festivals in Ireland becoming a thing of the past? Organisers weigh in
LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago ORGANISERS OF INDEPENDENT music festivals in Ireland have said that mounting costs are making it harder for them to keep going each year. Earlier this month there was confusion about whether major player Beyond The Pale would go ahead, and beloved smaller festivals are not going ahead this summer, including Bundoran Sea Sessions, Body and Soul, and Wild Roots. In Ballyshannon, Donegal, organiser Barry O'Neill says that it's currently uncertain whether the famed Rory Gallagher Festival will be able to go ahead next year either. It's been a staple of Ireland's independent music scene since 2002, and was originally founded as a way to honour the late great musician, but has since grown into a real tourism highlight for Donegal each summer. 'We attract 15,000 people each year and they come from all over, so this festival has become really essential to not just Ballyshannon, but the entire North West,' he said. Nevertheless, O'Neill says that the festival is struggling. 'We've had to launch a GoFundMe to try and secure next year, and that's not where we want to be,' he said. The Rory Gallagher Festival in Ballyshannon. He's calling on the Department of Culture to roll out a 'more transparent' funding model for grants, which he says would help to safeguard the future of smaller festivals . 'I know for the fact that there are festivals in the likes of Galway and Dublin that get more funding, despite the fact that they are bringing in the same number of people as us, and that's because of the city they are in. 'There is not a single TD or Senator who understands what it's like to organise an event like this in rural Ireland, and that's why I don't think there will be real change on this, but we need a more transparent funding model,' he said. Festivals in Ireland receive grants and support through local authorities, the Arts Council, Culture Ireland, and the Department of Culture's small scale local festivals and summer schools funding scheme, which allocates up to €5000 for not-for-profit local events. O'Neill says that requirements from state bodies around security, environmental concerns, and copyright fees from the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO). 'We're being charged by IMRO for the first time for 2024 and we're going through the process at the moment, I think it's something like 3% on each ticket. We support artists being paid, but all of these costs from state bodies add up, and the funding we receive doesn't balance them out,' he said. 'Suppliers want to be paid in advance' Craig Hughes is the founder of Night and Day Festival which has been staged in the Lough Key Forest Park in Roscommon for the last four years, and is currently taking place this weekend, with headlining sets from folk legend Paul Brady, KT Tunstall, José Gonaléz and more (some last minute tickets are available here ). It has a capacity of 4,500 people. 'Costs are up around 20% from when we first started. That's insurance, but it's also the practical costs that rise each year with inflation,' he said. Hughes said that the uncertainty around larger festivals has impacted independent operators. Advertisement (Beyond The Pale, a major festival that has been taking place in Co Wicklow for years, said it 'almost stumbled' close to its opening day earlier this month, but it went ahead in the end thanks to financial help from an operator that stepped in.) 'Independent festivals are being asked to pay for everything upfront, including artist's fees in many cases, so it can create cash flow problems,' he said. Hughes added that the best way people can support smaller festivals is by buying their tickets early if they can. 'It gives us the ability to plan more, and more flexibility with booking acts. Thankfully, we've had great support since we've started, but across the industry people have noticed an increasing tendency for people to book late. 'Weather is a big factor for people, but we have three high top tents and most festivals have provisions in place,' he said. 'Micro-festivals are popping off' The Another Love Story festival takes place from August 23rd to 25th this year in Meath. celeste burdon celeste burdon Emmet Condon has been running the Another Love Story festival at Killyon Manor in Meath for the last two years. This year the festival has gone from a three-day to two-day event, which Condon said has helped with ticket sales. 'They've flown out the door this year. People want intimate to mean intimate, and they want less time commitment, so two days works for them,' he said. Condon is now running a pop-up 'Love is a Stranger' mirco-festivals that offer 24 hours of live music, with one having already taken place in Sligo back in May, and another planned for this Augus t in Ballyvolane, Cork, with a capacity of 500-700 people. 'The interest in those has been huge,' he said. Condon said that in the last ten years the Irish market has expanded massively. 'We're part of that, obviously, but as the major festivals get bigger, and this year the likes of Electric Picnic sold out in minutes, smaller festivals are getting squeezed out, and that's what we're seeing,' he said. 'Small festivals are increasingly on the breadline between ticket sales and what corporate sponsorship they can attract,' Condon added. He said that when he started out, ALS had to sell 60% of its tickets to break even. 'That's probably at 90% now. People see people getting together listening to music in a field and assume the organisers are driving away in a Porsche, that's just not the case,' Condon further said. He agrees with Barry O'Neill of Rory Fest that funding models need to change. 'There's good support there for small-scale community events, and the major festivals are flying it, but for smaller commercial festivals, they are caught between those two camps, and they are struggling,' he said. He argues that smaller festivals offer some of the best live music experiences people can have. 'You really do get to know everyone by the end of it. We have 2000 people coming this year, and many of them will come away with new friends. There's something special about it that just makes it different to a huge, commercially driven event,' he said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

The Journal
20-06-2025
- The Journal
The family-friendly wild bee festival run by two 'citizen scientists' in Co Dublin
IT'S SUMMERTIME, WHICH means it's festival season: we've seen festivals like AVA, Forbidden Fruit, ATN, and Beyond the Pale come and go. But today marks the beginning of a slightly different type of festival – the Skerries Annual Wild Bee Festival. Kicking off this evening with the screening of ' Plight of the Bumblebee ', a new documentary concerning the world of bees and their connection to Irish religion, folklore, and biodiversity, the festival will run until Sunday evening. This year marks the fourth occurrence of the festival, which began in 2022. Described as 'a family-friendly event with bee themed crafts and activities for children as well as educational events and lectures suited to serious nature lovers both amateurs and experts', it was originally put on by the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) in collaboration with Fingal County Council. After its first successful outing, however, the centre had to move on from Skerries to spread the message to other parts of the country. Charles and Marion Heasman, a retired couple involved with the NBDC who describe themselves as 'keen amateur naturalists and citizen scientists', decided that although the NBDC had to 'spread the love around the countryside', they wanted the festival to continue in Skerries. 'So we formed a group, and we've run the festival for the last three years, including this one, which is the fourth,' Charles told The Journal . The festival is run 'on a shoestring', but between small grants from the council and some local fundraising, the couple have been successful in making it free to attend – although this evening's screening requires the purchase of a ticket due to the cost to put the documentary on. Advertisement Charles Heasman Charles Heasman Both 2023 and 2024 were slightly less well-attended than it had been hoped due to inclement weather, but with a brighter forecast for this weekend, the Heasmans are hoping for a turnout of a couple of thousand people. 'When the NBDC organised the first one, it was fairly academically inclined for people that were already in the conservation field, as it were, and interested,' Charles said. 'We make our festival much more family friendly.' The couple described some of the activities aimed at children on offer, including face painting, fancy dress, arts and crafts, among others. Marion said that they hope that their festival allows people to become more engaged in the ongoing climate crisis – but also to provide a lighter view. 'A lot of people get anxious about climate change and biodiversity,' she said, 'and just having talks and being able to say, 'well, hold on a minute. We can all do something little to help – don't get too anxious'.' Charles Heasman Charles Heasman The weekend event, which is to be held at Skerries Mills, will feature activities for children, bird watching, talks from ecologists and botanists, walks around certain parts of the area to explore the local ecology, as well workshops. The local community garden, which the Heasmans are also involved in, is at the same site, which has 'lots of bees' – including a threatened species of bumblebee that those involved in the NBDC's work are trying to conserve. The Large Carder Bee located in the Skerries garden just prior to the festival in 2022 after efforts were made over a number of years to lure it in with the pollinator friendly garden. The NBDC has described Skerries as 'leading the way in demonstrating how a local community can work together and take action'. You can find out more about the festivities here . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal


Irish Examiner
16-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Beyond The Pale festival: Talking points from a fine weekend that almost didn't happen
The fourth edition of Beyond the Pale took place in Glendalough Estate, Co Wicklow, over the weekend. The week preceding it was full of drama rather than excitement though as organisers were forced to come out with a detailed statement that it was not cancelled. 'A festival needs significant cashflow over the festival month. It's a huge challenge for all festivals in their first few years, and this week, an essential piece of expected finance that would have helped us through the period fell through,' said the organisers. The Currency reported on the morning of Beyond the Pale that it had entered the Small Companies Administrative Rescue Process (Scarp) in an attempt to restructure its balance sheet and ensure its survival in the long term. Nearly 10,000 tickets were sold for the event and amid rumours and trepidation, things went off without a hitch (mostly), much to the relief of organisers. It draws an interesting crowd, a healthy mix of young and old, for a lineup that, like an increasing amount of festivals, is leaning heavier on the dance side. Headliners include Mercury Prize-winning London jazz act Ezra Collective, Wicklow's own Roisin Murphy, and US indie rock royalty TV on the Radio, but below them you had house producer Berlioz, the Saturday night b2b (back to back) of Dave Clarke, Jeff Mills, and Al Gibbs, and rounding things out on Sunday night was Gen-Z fave Marc Rebillet. A general view of Beyond the Pale 2025. Added to that was the Cirrus Gardens stage with DJs from open to close (Todd Terje, Krystal Klear, and Zero 7 all starred there over the weekend), and the picturesque Cupra Pulse area, where an incessant techno 'thwomp thwomp thwomp' could be heard throughout the day. There's a verité aspect to the third stage, Strawberry Fields, which featured a DJ set from Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh, cabaret, a Church of Brat (Charli XCX plays a long-sold-out Malahide Castle on Tuesday), and Irish comedy duo the Wild Geeze. On Sunday evening, Irish dance act HousePlants, led by Bell X1's Paul Noonan, pay tribute to the site workers, for their hard work dealing with the rain over the weekend. The forecast was bad, there was a lot of mud, but Irish punters are accustomed to such conditions. Wellies and hiking boots did the job, though kudos to the barefoot hippies and groups playing dress up who just got on with things. Things are tough in 2025 for independent festivals - hopefully Beyond the Pale continues into next year and beyond. Beyond the Pale highlights Ezra Collective Ezra Collective bassist TJ Koleoso surprises punters at Beyond The Pale by heading into the crowd. Mercury Prize-winning London jazz quintet Ezra Collective get the party vibes going on Friday evening, with an intro video featuring a football-style team talk led by Arsenal legend Ian Wright (bandleader Femi Koleoso is a big Gunners fan). Things don't let up for the next 80 minutes as even though they're instrumental, they leave fans giddy and pulsing. After the second song, Koleoso grabs the mic and implores everyone to turn around, say hello to a complete stranger, and give them a hug. It's oddly affecting and sets the tone for the rest of the weekend - good vibes only. It's their fourth time in Ireland and as usual, the two horn players, Ife Ogunjobi and James Mollison, who look like they're having as much fun as anyone, make their way into the crowd, soon joined by bassist TJ Koleoso. We're all part of Ezra Collective now. Sofia Kourtesis Peruvian producer Sofia Kourtesis has a lot more fun onstage than her records might suggest. She offers dance instructions, tells us she's going to college and working on her English, and throws some of her merch into the crowd. The only pity is it's all taking place in mid-afternoon; she'd be incredible in a dark tent after midnight. It feels like an inspired decision, though, as the sun makes its first appearance of the weekend halfway through her set. So much so that we're worried about not packing suncream. But by the last track, the worst deluge of the festival hits. As Kourtesis exits, so does the main stage crowd, in search of any bit of cover. Halina Rice The unexpected winner of the weekend - and from the rain - is London producer Halina Rice, who plays shortly after the aforementioned deluge on Saturday afternoon. The tent is packed early and ready to party and Rice delivers, with a heavy techno set with mesmerising visuals. She says she creates AV shows and installations in which to envelop her audience, frequently incorporating immersive technologies such as spatial audio, 360 visuals, and metaverse environments. Despite a technical hiccup, the crowd are on her side and having the time of their lives. Broken Social Scene Canadian indie rock royalty Broken Social Scene are playing their first Irish show in seven years. The definition of a democratic band, nominal frontman Kevin Drew begins proceedings by announcing he got engaged in Ireland earlier in the week. He acknowledges Beyond the Pale's financial troubles, saying that even if the gig wasn't going to happen, they would be here playing someone's back garden. 'We're not here to let you down, we're here to pick you up,' he adds, before Broken Social Scene play an hour of beloved greatest hits spanning their 25-year career. They open with Cause = Time and 7/4 Shoreline, tracks from the early to mid Noughties that have lost none of their collective power. The band mutates from four members to six to double figures, with Drew running offstage for one track, and it looks like they're loving every minute of it. Drew introduces their most enigmatic song, Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl, by dedicating it to the trans community, who he says took the track and made it into their own anthem. They bring on two women to add vocals to one of the most beautiful moments of the festival. TV on the Radio TV on the Radio during their headline slot at Beyond the Pale 2025. beyond the pale des Brooklyn's TV on the Radio came up in similar blog-rock circles (er, ask your dad) to Broken Social Scene and their Sunday headline slot at Beyond the Pale is their first appearance in Ireland in 17 years. That period includes a hiatus, and though Dave Sitek is still a member of the band, he's not touring with them currently. A six piece led by core members Tunde Adebimpi (who put out a great solo album, Thee Black Boltz, earlier this year - Kyp Malone and Jaleel Bunton, the likes of Golden Age and Happy Idiot sound triumphant, while they dedicate Love Dog to the people of Palestine, saying it's a fuck you to global fascism; it's notable that Malone wears a keffiyeh and has a Palestinian sticker on his guitar. TV on the Radio wear their heart on their sleeve and are all the better for it. Moment of the weekend Samantha Mumba on the main stage at Beyond the Pale, her very first festival performance. Samantha Mumba announces during her Sunday afternoon set that Beyond the Pale is her very first festival. She's down on the bill as playing an hour-long set, though it's only about half that, and with a cover of Lykke Li's I Follow Rivers ('what song do I wish I had written') thrown in for good measure, it's a mixed bag. Her hits date to the late 90s, early noughties, and she was in the news earlier this year as she sought a slot at Eurovision. It's all a bit karaoke, but during Always Come Back to your Love, she brings out her daughter who throws some great dance moves. It's such a lovely moment - enough to melt the heart of even the most cynical of music critics.