Here Are The Acts We’re Most Excited For at An Tóstal
Here Are The Acts We’re Most Excited For at An Tóstal
There’s something very exciting brewing out wesht. A one day festival. An excellent line up. And creamy pints of Beamish in one of Clare’s most iconic pubs. Put it in the diary. You’ll thank us later.
On September 19, Beamish is taking over Pot Duggan’s in Ennistymon for An Tóstal, bringing live music, art, and plenty of conversation for one day only. Surrounded by Clare’s beautiful rugged landscape, the artists involved are some of the most interesting names in music and art right now, making Pot Duggan’s on the edge of the Wild Atlantic Way the perfect setting for this all to take place.
Tickets are selling fast. So if you fancy a day of great music and art in a class setting, pick yours up now here. Here’s our picks for the day.
Junior Brother
There aren’t many people in Ireland making folk music quite like Junior Brother. Also known as Ronan Kealy, the Kerry-born songwriter takes traditional Irish instrumentation, and deconstructs it to put it back together in his own way. This makes it either sound like a “birdsong or Armageddon, sometimes within the bounds of a single song” (KLOF). His voice is powerful, sometimes howling, sometimes babbling, but always filled with feeling. Junior Brother’s live shows are thrilling and unpredictable, always leaving people wanting more. So in a setting like Pot Duggan’s, this one feels particularly special.
Plámásing
Created and hosted by Fionn Phelan, Plámásing is a conversation series featuring “just damn interesting buachaillí agus cailíní.” It’s loose, unexpected, and refreshingly casual. Plámásing lets the talk meander, seeing where the conversation takes you. This edition at An Tóstal will bring some notable local guests into this gorgeous Clare fireside chat. Can you get much more charming than that?
Lullahush
Lullahush is an act that we’ve been constantly raving about. He sits at the point where Irish traditional music and contemporary electronica collide. His live sets feature hardware which creates the subtle beats and samples, and he mixes this with acoustic, live Irish traditional instruments. This blend seems both organic and guttural. His music feels ancient and futuristic at the same time.
Vanessa Power
Vanessa Power is the lettering and mural artist behind ‘Signs of Power.’ She merges traditional sign painting with bold pop art. Her typography is vibrant, and phrases like “Right Am Away”, “Tóg Go Bog É”and “Me Aul Flower”, have made her work instantly recognisable around Ireland. At An Tóstal, she’ll be bringing her craft directly to Pot Duggan’s with a hand-painted sign workshop. Fair warning… entry to the workshop is free, but you’ll need to get there early as spaces are limited and first come first served.
And once the day starts turning into night, there will be live DJ sets from Ricky Chong, Sally Cinnamon, and Piqué. It’s this mix of artists is what makes An Tóstal a stand out. Beamish is bringing different corners of contemporary of Irish culture into one pub for one night; songwriting, trad, electronic, conversation and visual.
More than 70 years after Beamish brewed a special stout for the original An Tóstal is back. So grab your mates, head out west, and grab a pint to celebrate all the culture this little island has to offer. On September 19, all roads lead to Co. Clare. See you there.
Tickets to An Tóstal are available now from Eventbrite. With acts and a set up like this, it’s one of those events people will be talking about long after it’s over. So make sure you’re there. Tap in now.
