Going Coastal returns to Galway’s Westend from Friday 6th of November to Sunday 8th of November, bringing together more than 30 artists from all along the West Coast of Ireland for three days of live music, DJs, pop-up performances, markets and more!
Now in its fourth consecutive year, the Going Coastal Weekender celebrates independent music scenes along Ireland’s western edge, bringing grassroots musicians, promoters and music lovers together to build connections and support one another.
At the centre of this year’s programme is a huge opening night at Róisín Dubh on Friday 6th of November, with 12 acts performing across both floors and tickets costing just €15!
Cork four-piece I Dreamed I Dream lead the downstairs line-up with their blend of post-punk, dream-pop, sean-nós and 1960s girl-group influences. Described by Paste as "possibly the best live act in Ireland right now", their performances bring together noise, theatricality and catharsis. They are joined downstairs by Galway indie folk-rock five-piece Sulk Hogan, six-piece rock group BULBS, the danceable glitch-punk of Bees and Sawdust, and noise-rock and shoegaze band ANEMOIA, before Galway DJ collective Mná Mná close out the night with a set spanning house, techno and electro.
Upstairs, Túr Balor and Villainessica bring garage psych and indie fuzz-rock respectively, alongside Clare post-rock quartet Animal Animal and Sligo post-punks Some Remain. Donegal is represented by Melted Welly and hhH, whose music draws together industrial sounds, psychedelia and folk.
With artists travelling from Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare and Cork, Friday night brings a cross-section of some of the independent music currently being made along Ireland’s western edge together under one roof.
The festival gets underway earlier on Friday afternoon with two free pop-up performances: Stephen O’Dowd at Just Art It from 3pm, followed by Kit James at Bell, Book & Candle from 4pm, before doors open at Róisín Dubh that evening.
On Saturday 7th of November, Going Coastal continues with a full day of free events across Galway’s Westend. From 1pm, The Blue Note and Massimo host a Music & Art Market, with live performances from Siobhan Kelleher, Puddle Fish, Emma Lohan and RUST.
From 9pm, the festival moves to Bierhaus for a free Saturday night featuring live music from Zkellies, followed by DJ sets from Jimmy Penguin and ZKLS.
On Sunday 8th of November, the festival continues with free afternoon performances from Jak Sherrard at Salthouse from 4pm and Roo Elizabeth at Plámás from 6pm.
The final event of Going Coastal 2026 takes place at Áras na nGael from 7pm, with GaelTronica le hArd Éan, Na hEasógaí, Aoife Welby agus Those Empty Vessels. Tickets for the Irish-language event are €5 and will be available soon.
Alongside the live programme, Going Coastal 2026 will include artist development activity provided by Music Generation Galway City and the return of the festival’s printed zine, featuring contributions from artists and grassroots music communities from across the western edge.
Going Coastal is supported by Galway City Council, Gael Forbairt na Gaillimhe/Áras na nGael, Flirt FM, Bierhaus, Róisín Dubh, The Blue Note, Plámás, Salthouse / Galway Bay Brewery, Massimo, Just Art It, Bell, Book & Candle, BóTOWN and Music Generation Galway City.
Tickets for Friday Night on Róisín Dubh are available to book now via Eventbrite
Website: www.goingcoastal.ie
Socials: @goingcoastal.ie
