Calling all music-lovers: Blues Festival in Dundalk's Toales this weekend
Toales Bar is turning up the heat this summer with the launch of its inaugural Toales Blues Festival
Saturday 21st at 8pm & Sunday 22nd June at 5pm - Toales Blues Festival. Weekend tickets only €15.
Local live music hub Toales Bar is turning up the heat this summer with the launch of its inaugural Toales Blues Festival, taking place over two nights on Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22.
The festival promises a fiery lineup of some of Ireland’s finest blues and blues-rock artists, all within the warm, intimate setting that has made Toales a favourite for music lovers in the northeast.
Things kick off on Saturday at 8pm, with a solo set from Martin Cummins, frontman of Drogheda’s The Stone Cold Hobos.
Expect a gritty, heartfelt performance featuring original songs and raw reworkings of forgotten blues gems.
Next up, Texas Shuffle brings the heat with a full-throttle tribute to the Texas blues tradition, drawing inspiration from the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top, and Buddy Guy.
Closing out the night are Crow Black Chicken, the acclaimed Clonmel trio now touring their latest album "Ghost Dance".
With their riff-heavy, road-worn sound and explosive live presence, they’ve earned comparisons to Gov’t Mule and ZZ Top—and a loyal following across Europe.
On Sunday from 5pm, the blues continue to roll.
James Humston and Willie Owens, a Dundalk-based duo, open the day with a deep, distorted take on Mississippi Delta blues, delivered with soul and swagger.
Following them, Shades of Lizzy crank up the amps for a thunderous, blues-drenched celebration of Thin Lizzy’s iconic catalogue—pulling the melodic soul and power out of Lynott’s songwriting.
Wrapping up the weekend in style are Johnny T & The Bandits, lighting up the stage with a fiery set of Rory Gallagher classics, along with a few dirty blues favourites to send things off with a bang.
Weekend tickets are just €15 and available now on Eventbrite.
With top-shelf talent, unbeatable value, and Toales’ trademark hospitality, this debut edition of the Toales Blues Festival is already shaping up to be a highlight of Ireland’s summer gig calendar.