Top names lined up for Vantastival at Beaulieu House

TWELVE acts have been announced for The Glasshouse Stage at Vantastival, bringing the total number of acts due to play the festival over the June bank holiday weekend to 84. The Glasshouse Stage is an intimate acoustic experience in the newly refurbished 18th century glasshouse within Beaulieu’s enchanting walled garden, and will run from 4-9pm on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival.

Well known for his distinctive Hot Press illustrations, singer-songwriter David Rooney will perform with French harpist Floriane Blancke, while Sophie Coyle, EJ O’Reilly, Killian O’Driscoll and Tracy Gallagher are among the solo singer-songwriters to catch in this unique space over the Vantastival weekend. Kerry musician Vinnie Flynn, performing under the moniker ‘Bayonets’, Susan O’Neill aka SON, Donegal’s Don’t Fear the Natives and Wicklow duo Hidden Stills are also on the bill. Vantastival is giving an opportunity to a couple of very talented young musicians this year with acoustic slots in the glasshouse for 16-year-old Beatrix Nova and this year’s Junior Eurovision entrant, 11-year-old Muireann McD.

There will be a break in the acoustic sounds on Sunday afternoon when members of the Off Key Collective take to the stage. Started by a group of students in Dundalk I.T.’s Music Production course, the Off-Key Collective is group of producers, rappers, singers and musicians with a passion for creating real, home-grown music. Resident OK artists Sea High and Key Low will be performing songs from their collective mixtape, produced by RED J, and from Sea High’s solo EP “Vagary”, due for release very soon.

Vantastival 2018 will take place from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd June at Beaulieu House & Gardens, Drogheda. Le Galaxie and The Stunning will headline this year and the full line up can be found at www.vantastival.com/line-up-2018. Other attractions include the Volkswagen Campervan Cook-off and a dog show run by the Dogs in Distress charity! The festival also has interactive art installations, standup comedy, open mic, etc. 3-day, 2-day and single day tickets are on sale now from www.vantastival.com and Eventbrite.ie.