Founded in 2022 by Lee Sheridan, Luain Press is an Irish publishing platform championing prose, poetry and spoken word from new and emerging writers. This showcase gathers Luain Press voices Lee Sheridan, Andy Porter, Elena Stack Martin and Michelle Bosonnett — from award-winning debut collections to work spanning Ireland and beyond.

A three-hander of distinctive voices. Cass North is a poet from Ireland's north coast, winner of the 2024 Speak the Word Poetry Slam and the 2021 Bangor Poetry Competition, with work featured internationally. Kevin Brennan is a Dublin actor, novelist and poet, seen on stage in the acclaimed civil-war drama The Best Man. They're joined by Colm McGearailt.

Slip of the Tongue, launched in 2022, is a night of spoken word, poetry, live music and comedy hosted by Waterford artist Wayne Power — a supportive but cutting-edge platform for up-and-coming talent. Here Power is joined by Nicola Spendlove, a writer, actor and producer who moved from spoken word into theatre, and Cork poet Tim O'Driscoll, an Honours English graduate and Munster slam finalist.

Two contrasting acts share the stage. Sean Corrigan returns to Electric Picnic — a writer focused on rhythm and tongue-twisting wordplay, exploring self-expression through poetry and fashion. annie & the witness are a Dublin-based post-punk band who debuted in 2024, drawing on art rock, spoken word and gothic aesthetics to channel intimate rage and spectacle.

A spellbinding celebration of story and song hosted by Marty Mulligan — a Mullingar native, a major driving force in the Irish festival scene and a passionate champion of his hometown. Joined by Bobbo the Bard, The Magic of Mythology blends words, myth and music.

d_abdu is the moniker and the Xbox 360 gamertag of Ethio/Irish musician Dara Abdurahman. Hidden in plain view playing bass in BRICKNASTY since its inception, Dara now pursues his own sound, drawing from Elliott Smith, Grouper and The Microphones to make up the DNA of the d_abdu project.

Blending the grit of the blues, laid back folk and the heart of classic soul, Nathan Johnston is part crooner, part storyteller crafting songs that sit somewhere between retro and modern but with a timeless appeal. Hailing from Mullingar in Ireland, Johnston first made waves under the alias Sion Hill touring Europe with acts like Pete Doherty, A ha, and Alice Merton.

With a sound that fuses vibes from Dolly Parton, and Simon and Garfunkel, Heron Red is a dynamic folk duo with a full-band sound. The band blends traditional Irish music with Americana, country, and traditional folk. Composed of songwriters Molly Buchan and Callum Wall, the duo crafts music that ranges from stripped-back storytelling, echoing the poetic depth of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, to the soaring, full-bodied energy of The Waterboys and Planxty.

Sei Green is a Dublin-based project led by duo Adam Garrett and Ellen Sleator. Blending soul, funk and disco with dreamy psychedelic textures, they create groove-led songs that feel hazy, immersive and quietly emotional. Their sound sits somewhere between laid-back funk and dream pop, with smooth basslines and lush layered instrumentation carried by breathy unison vocals. The warmth of their recordings is brought to life on stage by Will Aranha on drums and Arthur Noswitz on guitar, adding movement, texture and depth to their hypnotic rhythms. Drawing subtle comparisons to Khruangbin, Men I Trust and Parcels, Sei Green crafts music that feels both intimate and expansive, reflective lyricism wrapped in melodies that linger. At its heart, Sei Green is two pals making groovy, sleepy music, soundtracks for slow mornings, late evenings and everything in between.

Baleia Baleia Baleia formed in late 2015. The band consists of Manuel Molarinho (bass and vocals) and Ricardo Cabral (drums and vocals). They are highly regarded in the independent Portuguese music scene for blending urgent, vibrant punk energy with witty, socially conscious lyrics that turn misery into a party.

Adore are a dynamic Irish garage-punk trio formed in 2022. Known for their melodic, guitar-driven sound, the group has quickly become a standout act in the Irish underground scene. Adore's frantic, kinetic style combines garage punk ferocity with elements of surf and early Britpop. They are often likened to legendary bands like The Breeders, Elastica, and their Irish contemporaries, Sprints. Known for a commanding gang mentality on stage, they have relentlessly toured across Ireland and the UK, supporting bands like Sprints, The Scratch and Chalk, as well as performing at festivals like All Together Now.

A rich mix of performance poetry. Fiona O'Loughlin is an actress and multidisciplinary artist from Co. Clare whose lyrical, character-driven work is steeped in Irish music and folklore. Cat Brogan, from Omagh, is the 2024 Ulster Poetry Slam Champion, exploring place, memory, queerness and post-conflict identity. Dom Byrne is a Kilkenny poet, Dublin-based, bringing his own wry, warm style.

The Poetry Kiln Collective is a Dublin-based platform for contemporary spoken word and interdisciplinary performance, hosting open mics and workshops. This year they've toured with Mike Garry, shared a stage with David J of Bauhaus, and performed at Seamus Heaney HomePlace. Featuring Annie Peter, Anna D, Mikey Cullen and co-founder David Hynes.

Three dynamic voices from the Irish scene. Roisín Kearney, aka FloRo, is a spoken-word artist, poet and rapper from Dublin 22 and a fixture of the booming Irish hip-hop and poetry scene. Julie Goo is a bilingual poet, writer and singer from Cork City, an award-winning slam poet published in Poetry Ireland Review and The Stinging Fly. They're joined by Latrice.

A powerhouse trio. Dr Lauren McNamara is a Limerick poet, playwright and essayist, three-time Munster slam champion and author of Quarter Life Crisis. Ben MacCaoilte is a multidisciplinary artist blending poetry, spoken word and experimental soundscapes rooted in Irish storytelling and folklore. Hazel Hogan is a Dublin poet and facilitator whose poem 'Grangegorman' features on the Junior Cycle syllabus.

The Dead Thatchers (Alienpig Rave Experiment) are an offshoot of the Glasgow art-punk collective, pairing Derry-based Glaswegian spoken-word performer and musician Willy Copeland's beat- and loop-driven electronic soundscapes with live words. Joined by Annie Francis, a bilingual poet whose fiery, anti-capitalist work spans the Irish language, Palestine and our connection to nature.

Johnny Coyne is an Irish adventurer, entrepreneur and speaker from Clonbur, Co. Galway. Alongside paddling partner Liam Cotter he completed a monumental expedition, and now brings The Adventurers to the stage — a rousing set of storytelling and friends celebrating the spirit of adventure.

Good Strangers are an Irish indie band whose music offers a lyrically bare-chested exploration of transition — love, loss, sexuality and the shift from free-spirited youth to adulthood. Best friends since childhood, led by singers Niamh and Co, they bring warmth and raw honesty to the stage.

Alternative Donegal singer-songwriter George Houston was raised on classic folk, pop and rock from his parents' vast collection of CDs and vinyl. Always encouraged to play freely, he developed a natural feel for melody and instruments from an early age.

DAGDA is a new music and artistic collective founded by poet Leon Dunne and Simon Jones, former bassist of The Verve and guitarist for Gorillaz. The collective is currently slow-releasing their debut album 'MONGRAL', which features multiple Irish and UK based artists including former band members of The Verve: Simon Jones and Peter Salisbury, with new tracks scheduled for monthly release throughout the year. Blending Irish traditional music with rock, folk, blues, and jazz alongside spoken word and poetry, DAGDA stands apart through its seamless integration of multiple artistic mediums. Music and poetry are not merely combined but balanced as equal forces, creating a rich, sonic experience that transcends conventional boundaries.

Beat Club, a Mullingar-based improvised music collective, take to the stage on Saturday. Rooted in improvisation, Beat Club moves fluidly across jazz, funk, blues, soul and beyond, with no two shows ever the same.

Paulie Martin is a renowned musician, singer and songwriter whose work brings stories of love, excitement and culture through rhythmic, poetic lyrics, dynamic vocal harmony and acoustic rock-band arrangements.

Tiny Little Gods is the creative partnership of Sarah and Aaron Lennon Ross, who over twenty years have worked across textile design, theatre, film, illustration and stand-up, now bringing their blend of dark humour and craft to the stage. Joined by Keith Hanna, performing extracts from his debut spoken-word play with music.

Three of the finest voices in spoken word. Eva Mary Lucy is a Belgian artist based in Dublin, winner of the 2024 Talkatives Grand Slam and 2025 All-Ireland Poetry Slam Championship, representing Ireland at the European championship. Holly Hughes, from Clonakilty, took her sold-out show to Dublin and Brighton Fringe and represented Ireland at the 2025 Poetry Slam World Cup. Chiamaka Enyi-Amadi is a commissioned poet and anthology editor published in The Stinging Fly and Poetry International.

A-Musing returns to Electric Picnic with its trademark mix of hilarity and depth. This year's team brings together Liam McCabe, Joe Skylark, Cormac Mac Gearailt and David Hynes, with special guest Alan Nolan — musicians and spoken-word artists weaving music and poetry into one warm, funny, moving set.

Rising Tide showcases the phenomenal breadth of poetry and music talent across Ireland, giving artists a platform to reach a wider audience. This session features Leon Dunne, a working-class Dublin poet writing with high energy about voices outside the mainstream; All-Ireland slam finalist Sheila Ryder; spoken-word trailblazer and LINGO co-founder Kalle Ryan; and John Cummins.

Poetry is having a moment in Ireland, and Dublin's Finest is at the heart of it — built by artists for artists, showcasing up-and-coming poets and musicians from the basement of Sin E to the Electric Picnic stage. Featuring James William Dillon (aka Jimbo), Fingal Slam winner; Nicola Clare, a north-county Dub who says yes to every stage; and Conor Kileen, whose sold-out debut 'Yup The Poems x' lit up Dublin this year.

Dec (Declan) Byrne is a staple of the midlands live-music scene, known for his distinctive voice and acoustic guitar, performing original songs alongside popular classics.

Steph Hurley is an Irish singer/songwriter taking the music scene by storm across Ireland and New York City. Now based in NYC, Steph can be found performing at some of the city's busiest and most vibrant music venues, delivering unforgettable shows packed with energy, emotion, and personality. With her infectious stage presence and ability to connect with audiences, Steph is quickly becoming one of the exciting new voices emerging from the Irish music scene. Her single 'I'm Fine.' was named Track of the Weekend by RTÉ 2FM, further cementing Steph's place as a rising artist to watch. Steph is thrilled to return to Electric Picnic for a second consecutive year.

Some One's Sons are one of Ireland's most exciting emerging folk acts, blending traditions of Irish folk music with contemporary songwriting and raw storytelling. The five-piece from Mullingar have earned a reputation as one of Ireland's most dynamic live folk acts, delivering powerful performances and original songs that capture the realities, struggles, humour, and spirit of modern Irish life. Drawing inspiration from The Clancy Brothers, Planxty and Christy Moore, the Sons have developed a catalogue of original songs that blend heartfelt storytelling with the energy and spirit of modern Irish folk music. In 2026, they released their debut EP The Boom Is Back. They recently embarked on their debut Irish and UK tour, which included sold-out shows in London, Liverpool and Dublin, and have shared stages with Sharon Shannon, Seán Keane, The Wolfe Tones, George Murphy, The Fureys and The Scratch.

George Murphy is an Irish singer-songwriter from Beaumont, Dublin, who exploded onto the scene with memorable appearances on RTÉ's You're a Star, quickly winning over audiences while still just out of school.

DELYRA is an Irish folk group rooted in tradition yet unafraid to explore its darker, more evocative edges. Formed in the heart of the Irish Midlands, the band brings together musicians whose individual stories and talents intertwine to create a sound that is both timeless and strikingly original.

Ruaile Buaile are an Irish based 5-piece twisted-trad band, based in the midlands of Ireland. The group formed in 2011. In 2021, world renowned musician Cathal Guinan (fiddle) joined the band, followed by Seán Bourke (banjo) in 2023. Along with original members Niall Kelly (vocals and guitar), Jack Godley (percussion) and Shane Lynam (vocals and bass), the quintet are entertaining audiences with a bigger than ever sound. From upbeat old Irish favourites, ground thumping trad, and unique twists on recent day classics, this collective are bringing their energy to masses around Ireland and further afield.