Van Events Our Tours
Where we're going and what we're doing
On The Road in 2023
Shared Music Sessions
An international concert series of events with Irish musicians coming together with Ukrainian musicians, and musicians from other refugee communities via Festival in a Van.
Connecting through culture and our shared love of music, and presented with the generous atmosphere of the traditional Irish seisiún, we are delighted to be supported by Creative Ireland, and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media's Local Live Performance Programming Scheme.
The Shared Music Sessions kicked off in August 2022 in Co Kerry, before visiting twenty other counties throughout Ireland from September to December. Look out for more Sessions in 2023
With thanks to our partners in Creative Ireland, Mother Tongues, Music Generation, and the Local Authority Network around Ireland.
Scheduled Festival in a van Events
VENUE: CITY WEST
Friday 10th February 2:30 - 4:30pm
Jayne and Dara
Tommy Keane
Fin Furey
Kiruu
Wednesday 22nd February, 3:00pm
Fin Furey
Tommy Keane
Justine Nantale
Wednesday 1st March, 3:00pm
Jayne and Dara
Kiruu
VENUE: RED COW
Tuesday 14th Feb, 2:30 - 4:30
Jayne and Dara 'Import/Export'
Tommy Keane
Fin Furey
Kiruu
Friday 24th Feb, 3:00PM
Fin Furey
Tommy Keane
Kiruu
Monday 6th March, 3:00PM
Jayne and Dara 'Import/Export'
Justine Nantale
Recent Festival in a van Events
Wednesday 7th September
Festival in a Van, Back to School Celebration Day
Stop 1: Central Model Senior School, Deverell Place, Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1.
Stop 2: Central Model Senior School, Deverell Place, Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1.
Stop 3: St. Mary's Primary School, Upper Dorset Street, Dublin 7.
We will be joined by Segun Akano a Nigerian-Irish Artist, Michael Chanda (Zambian) from Gomba Educare, a school’s outreach programme which tailors cultural programmes to schools throughout Ireland, engaging students through the medium of music, movement and storytelling at both primary and post-primary level.
Festival in a Van are very grateful to Dublin City Council for their support of this tour through the LLPPS4 (Local Live Performance Scheme) 2022.
Thursday 15th September
STOP 1. 11.00am Portumna Castle Café - Pen Pushers & Eclectics (readings & music)
STOP 2. 14.00 Portumna Retirement Village - Eclectics
STOP 3 17.00 Portumna Library (behind it) (PUBLIC) - Hot Fuss
FRIDAY 16th September
STOP 1. 10.40 St.Brendan's National School Portumna - Rhythm Africana
STOP 2. 12.30 Portumna Community School - Rhythm Africana
STOP 3. 16.00 Portumna Castle Harbour (PUBLIC) - Rhythm Africana
Festival in a Van are very grateful to Galway County Council for their support of this tour as part of Shorelines Festival, through the LLPPS4 (Local Live Performance Scheme) 2022
Saturday 24th September
Launchpad: Maynooth University
A day of music to welcome students at the Maynooth University Campus from 11am to 4.30pm.
With: Saoirse Casey, Jack Byrne, Triona Ellen, Daniel Dunican, Melania Cephya and Kyle Mulhall.
Thursday 29th September
A Day out in Dublin
Stop 1: St Catherine's National School, Dublin 8
Stop 2: Temple Street Children's Hospital.
We will be joined by Kiruu, Enda Wyley and Rhythm Africana.
Festival in a Van are very grateful to Dublin City Council for their support of this tour through the LLPPS4 (Local Live Performance Scheme) 2022.
Saturday 8th October
Community Day in Kildare
Visiting Rathangan Community Centre, Castlefen Sallins, and Bishopsland Community Centre, Kildare Town.
Featuring: Seána Davey and Shane Sullivan.
Festival in a Van are very grateful to Kildare County Council for their support of this tour through the LLPPS4 (Local Live Performance Scheme) 2022.
Thursday and Friday 27th and 28th October
Festival in a Van in Mayo
Visiting Care Homes and Residential Centres in the County including The Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar, Dalton Community Nursing Home, Marian House Alzheimer Unit Ballindine, St Brendan's Mulranny, St Fionnan's Achill, and Keel Community Hall, Achill.
Featuring: Alice Kinsella, Emer Mayock, Martin Dyar and Stephen Doherty.
Festival in a Van are very grateful to Mayo County Council for their support of this tour through the LLPPS4 (Local Live Performance Scheme) 2022.
Wednesday and Thursday 21st and 22nd December
Vital Signs on the road with Festival in a Van in Co Mayo
A Community Christmas Voyage of Verse and Music
Celebrating the publication of Martin Dyar's beautiful anthology: Vital Signs, Poems of Illness and Healing, with a tour to community and care settings, including poetry readings, music and song.
Proudly supported by Creative Ireland, Poetry Ireland and Mayo Arts Office
Community Christmas Concert at The Everyman Theatre, Cork
Festival in a Van and The Everyman were delighted to present The Community Christmas Concert on Mon 19 Dec in Cork. Marking the end of 2022, this shared concert welcomed new communities, and was a chance to thank local heroes, and celebrate our cultures through music and song. Compèred by the one and only Tadhg Hickey, and featuring Maryna Odolska, Karen Underwood and John O'Brien, Kestine Ugbodu and DJ Safarii, Ryan Morgan, and the Trad Trio: Johnny McCarthy, Aoife Blake and Ciara O'Leary Fitzpatrick. This free event was presented as part of the Shared Music Sessions, with thanks to Creative Ireland.
Meet the Musicians sessions with Music Generation
Festival in a Van have been delighted to collaborate with Music Generation for a series of Meet the Musicians sessions; creating opportunities for musicians to perform for a wide range of audiences across the broadest of age groups, in communities throughout Ireland.
Festival in a Van & Music Generation and very grateful to Kildare County Council through the LLPPS4 scheme, & the Arts Council for their support of our Pilot session on 7th October in Kildare:
Visiting Primrose Hill National School, Scoil na Mainistreach, and St Wolstan's Community School, Celbridge, Co Kildare. Featuring words and music from Éamonn Galdubg, Emma Warren and Finn Furey.
making vans happen where you are
If you would like Festival in a Van to visit you, or if you are planning a Festival and would like to hold performances somewhere that there isn't a stage, or like the idea of having a Cancellation-Proof Pop Up as part of your programme, please contact us for more information.
