Details of brand new music festival for Longford announced
Abú Music Festival 2026 with 18 bands takes place on Saturday, July 11 at Skelly’s Bar, Ballymahon, Longford
Abú Music Festival 2026! Get ready for a day filled with amazing music, good food, and unforgettable memories. It's all happening on Saturday, July 11 at Skelly’s Bar, Ballymahon, Longford…18 bands, two stages…its going to be epic!
Abú Music Festival is a brand-new festival organised for the growing teenage live music scene that has been developing in the midlands over the last few years.
Six young musicians came together in January with the ambition of putting on an ambitious Summer music festival to showcase the best of emerging talent from the midlands and beyond.
“Most of us met up in Longford School of Rock and Music Generation and have been playing gigs around the midlands for the last few years” said Joni Clarke – one of the festival organisers, “There is a really vibrant scene of young indie rock bands and song writers, making their own music and performing in bars and spaces around the midlands.”
Committee member Harry Lally added, “We have put together an exciting line-up of bands and solo artists from as far away as Galway and Dublin. The lineup is stacked with eighteen acts from various genres including, Connor Kinsella, What’s That Smell? , Paralysis, Someone's Love Letter, Supersonic Surfing Circus, Happy Sunny, Lucy Lane, Aimee Dolan, Freakishly Tall Toddlers, Lilly Hall, and The Coast.”
One of the main programmers Tom O’Connor from Boyle said, “We are super excited to have Grooveline and Thanks Mom as our headline acts playing us out on the main stage. We also have a second stage mostly for acoustic acts and we are delighted that Longford based singer-songwriter Emily Doyle will be headlining on it.”
Organiser and drummer Florence Brunt explained, “We believe everyone should be able to experience a festival by the time they turn 18, that's why we are allowing entry for over 15s providing they have valid ID. The festival arena has a mineral bar to facilitate entry of minors.”
The festival is being supported by County Longford Arts Service who provides some funding but more importantly mentoring and a space for the organisers to meet up and plan the festival. Pat Byrne, owner of Skelly’s Bar has also been very supportive of the festival.
The one-day festival runs from 2pm to 11pm in a dedicated festival arena at Skelly’s Bar in Ballymahon. Attendees 15 years or older are allowed to attend the event with valid ID. Tickets are €25 and can be purchased on www.abufest.com.