Scenic Lough Key to welcome 5,000 music lovers for Night and Day Festival
Paul Brady, The Wailers, KT Tunstall and more set to headline the forest weekender
The stage times are out, the countdown is on—and Night and Day Festival 2025 is set to bring a heady mix of headline acts, electronic beats, and forest wellness to Lough Key Forest Park from June 27–29.
Now in its fourth year—and its third at Lough Key—the boutique camping festival will welcome up to 5,000 music lovers for a weekend of music, magic and discovery.
“We’ve been growing every year,” said Craig Hughes, co-founder of the festival. “We’re expecting around 5,000 people this year, and it’s amazing to be able to showcase one of the country’s hidden gems—Lough Key Forest Park. People can even arrive by boat and moor for free. It’s a unique setting for a festival.”
“We start from the top down—looking at headline acts first, the ones who’ll fill the main stage,” Hughes explained. “But on our Luna Stage, we’ve got more freedom to experiment. We’re not relying on those acts to sell tickets, which gives us the chance to introduce audiences to artists they haven’t heard before.”
One of the most talked-about additions this year is the revival of the Luna Stage as an electronic music space—with a twist. “It’s going to be inside the 150-foot Moylurg Tower,” Hughes revealed. “The DJ will be inside the tower, the crowd will be at the base, and we’re projecting live visuals onto the tower synced to the music. We’re recording the whole thing with a multi-camera setup for our social channels—calling it the Sunken Garden Sessions. Think Boiler Room meets Roscommon.”
Among the DJs on the Luna lineup are Nialler9, Mathman, Daithí, Efa O’Neill and Mark Wolfson, bringing a rave-ready energy to the forest.
The festival also continues its commitment to emerging Irish artists, with a song contest for newcomers. “The winner gets to perform at the festival and gets studio recording time. It’s our way of giving back to the next generation of Irish musicians.”
And while music takes centre stage, wellness is a key part of the weekend too. Festivalgoers can unwind with yoga, saunas, hot tubs, reiki and cold plunges. A full family-friendly schedule is also on the way, with children’s yoga, creative play areas and activities for under-14s, who can attend for free with a parent or guardian.
This year also sees the addition of Mohammad Syfkhan, a Leitrim-based Syrian artist Hughes is excited to welcome. “He’s a brilliant musician, and we haven’t even promoted it yet. It’s part of our push to reflect the talent in this part of the country.”
While other festivals like Sea Sessions have been forced to cancel, Hughes says Night and Day is proud to still be standing: “It’s a tough time for music festivals, but we’re now the only large camping festival in the west. That’s something we’re proud of—and we hope people in the region continue to support it.”
And if you're still wondering—yes, there are tickets left. Weekend camping passes are €195, with day tickets available from €65.
“We’re keeping it under 5,000 for now so we don’t have to go through the full permit system,” Hughes added. “But the dream is to grow it year by year—and stay right here in Lough Key.”
Tickets and full lineup at nightandday.ie