Visitors coming to Dublin from Aug. 9th through the 11th may want to take DART train to the picturesque fishing village of Howth on Dublin’s coast and enjoy the mostly free musical entertainment that is being provided at the Howth Roots and Blues Festival.

Established in 2019, the festival celebrates the finest Irish roots and blues artists in Ireland, along with international talent that combines to bring fans a mixture of blues, country, bluegrass, Americana, and reggae.

Experience the charm of going from gig to gig, much like the set-up at the popular Electric Picnic festival, all without the need for an entrance ticket.

There will be 36 free gigs across six unique venues throughout the village of Howth, in addition to four exclusive ticketed headline shows at the town’s historic Abbey Tavern and at the Howth Angling Centre.

Headline acts include the internationally acclaimed singer Mary Coughlan, award-winning blues artist Gráinne Duffy, the UK all-star blues trio The Dirt Road Band, award-winning rock trio Crow Black Chicken, and living legend Rob Strong and his band.

The full line-up of free gigs includes the following:

Mik Pyro & The Dublin Blues Cartel, the Mary Stokes Band, Doc MacLean, Bree Harris, The Skalps, Fiona Kennedy, The Savage Hearts, the Susan Tomelty Band, Square Pegs, Niamh Strong, Parchman Farm, the Des Hopkins Dixieland Jazzband, Kelly’s Lot, Dead Letter Devils, Dermot Byrne & Danny Tobin, the Roisin McAlinden Band, Pete Cummins & Ger Kiely, Colm Skwirbat, Mr. Castle Blues Band, Rye River Band, Moher, Backbone Blues Band, Crazy Crow, Ben Reel, The Stone Cold Hobo, Paul Sherry, Jukedom Ft Dubh Lee, Tom Horan’s Legends of Country Music, Neon River, Rhys Crimmin, Driving Blue, Garry Cogdell, King and Whittredge, Dickie Lee Erwin, Ben Catley, Susanne Rhattigan, Niamh Duffy, Frank Francone, and The Festival Rootenanny with Paul Byrne and friends.

Other festival venues include The Summit Inn, McNeills, The Bloody Stream, The Harbour Bar, Findlaters, and O’Connells.

Some of the venues have created outdoor spaces for summer gigs, including the East Pier Stage hosted by O’Connells, as well as the Phil Lynott Stage in a tented beer garden at The Bloody Stream and the Garden Stage, an intimate outdoor performance space in the covered beer garden at The Harbour Bar.

For more information on the event’s headline act tickets, go to tickets.ie