New festival plants rock roots deep in Laois scene

The acclaimed Grass Roots Sessions series at Kavanaghs Bar & Venue, Portlaoise comes to a powerful close on Thursday, October 2, with a stellar lineup of original Irish acts.

Launched in July and hosted by Portlaoise publican PJ Kavanagh with the support of the Night-Time Economy Grassroots Music Venues Support Scheme, the three-month live music series has celebrated original music by fresh voices from across Ireland, but with a focus on the Midlands.

Each night has showcased three original bands or solo artists, performing all-original material curated by Brian and Finn O’Mahoney and compered by well-known DJ and documentary maker Ann Marie Kelly. She is also filming the gigs as part of an ongoing project to document and support original Irish music.

Three songs per act are being professionally filmed and recorded using a multi-camera setup, alongside mixed and mastered audio from the show. The goal is to provide each performer with a high-quality live video asset to help secure future bookings and festival slots.

The final night of the festival that began in the summer is sure to be a blowout with the acts revealed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live as Cronin, My Father the King and Vendetta Love.

Cronin features brothers Michael and Johnny Cronin who have been a force in the Irish music scene since 2006, carving out a reputation for evocative, atmospheric songwriting.

Hailing from Co Longford, their music has earned airplay on RTÉ Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music, and XFM, alongside television performances on The Late Late Show and Saturday Night with Miriam O’Callaghan. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Pictured: Cronin

Beyond their own releases, they have collaborated with some of Ireland’s most iconic names, serving as musical directors for the Shane MacGowan Late Late Show tribute, and performing alongside legends such as Glen Hansard, Lisa O’Neill, and Nick Cave. Lauded for their “invigorating mix of Nick Cave, Echo & The Bunnymen, and classic British guitar bands” (Hot Press), Cronin deliver moody, melody-driven songs that leave a lasting impact. 

Portlaoise’s own My Father the King bring an authentic blend of alternative rock and punk energy to the stage. Since their formation in 2013, the band has weathered lineup changes and the tragic loss of their beloved drummer Alan Ryan in 2019, emerging stronger and more determined than ever. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Pictured:  My Father the King

Their debut EP Toy Guns for Fun (2014) set the tone for a band committed to originality, with early highlights including sharing the stage with Kilkenny rock icons Kerbdog. Following a hiatus, the group—now comprised of Alan Bell (guitar/vocals), Niall Harney (bass), Jerry Deegan (guitar/vocals), and Paddy Tunga (drums)—have returned with renewed energy, ready to write, record, and perform with fresh passion.

Vendetta Love are no strangers to the Portlaoise venue with their force of raw, riff-driven power.

They channel the grit of Seattle’s grunge era with the swagger of LA’s Sunset Strip. Since 2021, they’ve released a string of acclaimed singles and EPs, building a global following and commanding stages with their ferocious live shows. Their momentum has seen them share bills with heavyweights such as Airbourne and Poets of the Fall, headline venues like Whelan’s (Dublin) and Voodoo (Belfast), and take their sound to UK audiences on tour in 2024. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Pictured: Vendetta Love.

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With standout singles Soothe and Glue earning extensive airplay this year, alongside a stripped-back acoustic version of Walk Alone, Vendetta Love continue to prove themselves as one of Ireland’s most exciting rock bands.

This project is part of the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport’s Night-Time Economy Grassroots Music Venue Support Scheme 2025. Kavanagh’s Bar and Venue, was one of 33 music venues across the country offered funding of up to €15,000 under the Scheme to stage events.