One of Ireland’s most unique music festivals is set to return this August as the Howth Roots & Blues Festival takes over the seaside village from August 7th to 9th.
Now firmly established on both the Irish and international festival circuit, the festival combines more than 40 free live performances with a series of headline ticketed shows, transforming pubs, bars and venues throughout Howth into a three-day celebration of roots music, blues, Americana, country, bluegrass and blues rock.
What makes the festival special is its format. Rather than being confined to a single site, music lovers can wander through the village, discovering performances in iconic venues while taking in Howth’s spectacular harbour, cliff walks and coastal scenery.
Hothouse Flowers Lead the Headline Shows
The ticketed programme at the historic Abbey Tavern features an impressive lineup, headlined by Irish music legends Hothouse Flowers, who will perform a special acoustic show.
Also appearing across the weekend are acclaimed Cork blues-rock trio Crow Black Chicken, blues and soul icons The Rob Strong Band, and rising Americana star Zoé Basha.
Meanwhile, The Summit Inn hosts two specially curated mini-festivals.
Saturday’s Guitar Legends Triple Bill brings together Mik Pyro & Dublin Blues Cartel, acclaimed American guitarist Silas Caldwell and award-winning Irish guitarist Paul Sherry.
On Sunday, the Women in Blues Triple Bill showcases performances from Mary Stokes Band, French rocker Elise Frank and Niamh Strong.
More Than 40 Free Performances Across Howth
One of the festival’s biggest attractions is its extensive free programme.
Festival-goers can enjoy live music throughout the weekend at venues including Bloody Stream, Harbour Bar, Wrights Findlater, McNeills and O’Connells, with performances from Irish and international artists covering everything from traditional blues and roots music to Americana, soul and folk-inspired sounds.
Whether you’re planning to spend the entire weekend following the pub trail or simply dropping into a few shows, there’s no shortage of live music to discover.
Getting to the Festival
Irish Rail will extend DART services until approximately 12:30am throughout the festival weekend, making it easier for visitors to travel to and from Howth after the evening performances. Campervan visitors can also take advantage of dedicated parking facilities provided by Suttonians RFC, located one DART stop from Howth.
Plan Your Weekend
The full festival programme, venue information and performance schedules are available on the official festival website.
For headline shows, advance booking is recommended as several performances are expected to sell out.
Find the full lineup and festival information:
Howth Roots & Blues Festival Official Website
Book tickets for headline events:
Festival Tickets
The Howth Roots & Blues Festival takes place from August 7th to 9th in Howth, Dublin.
