Fingal County Council, the FCC Community Office and Creative Ireland join forces with Festival in a Van for a vibrant 6-day, 12-stop tour across Fingal, bringing live music, poetry, dance and midsummer celebration directly into local communities.

About Sounds Like Summer

Fingal Sounds of Summer 2026

Festival in a Van and Fingal County Council are delighted to present the third year of Fingal Sounds of Summer — a vibrant touring programme of live music and performance bringing artists directly into communities across Fingal this July.

Over two weekends, the Festival in a Van stage will pop up in parks, estates, libraries, youth facilities, community spaces and residential settings, transforming everyday places into welcoming spaces of music, creativity and connection.

This year’s programme features an exciting and eclectic line-up of artists spanning folk, hip-hop, spoken word, traditional music, jazz, samba and global sounds, including Luke Clerkin, Asha Ari, Flynn Johnson, Temper-Mental MissElayneous, Rhythm Africana, Brasilidades Trio, Claudio & Matilde, Sarah Louise Finnegan, Trish Reilly, Leo Reilly, Theresa McKenna, Seán O’Meara, Sophie Meehan and more.

We’re also delighted to be joined by special guest performers from local communities throughout the tour, helping to make each event unique to its location.

2026 Tour dates

Friday 10 July

13.00 – Skerries Carnegie Library, Plaza

Featured acts: Ukeristic Congress & Luke Clerkin

(Private Community Event) Foróige, Rush Multipurpose & Youth Facility, Rush

Featured acts: Asha Ari & Luke Clerkin

Saturday 11 July

12.00 – Rath Dara Community College, Blanchardstown

15:00 – Tyrellstown Community Centre

Featured acts: Temper-mental Misselayneous and Flynn Johnson

Sunday 12 July

12:00 – Skylark Estate, Portmarnock

(Private Community Event) Balseskin Reception Centre, Swords

Featured acts: Rhythm Africana and Brasilidades Trio

 

Friday 17 July

(Private Community Event) Prosper Fingal, Swords

Featured acts: Seán O’Meara and Sophie Meehan

(Private Community Event) Cairde, Balbrigggan

Featured acts: Dr. John Nukekpor and Godfred Asare

 

Saturday 18 July

(Private Community Event) Autism Group, River Valley Community Centre, Swords

Featured acts: Sarah Louise Finnegan and Claudio & Matilde

15:00 – Taylor Hill Estate, Balbriggan

Featured acts: Theresa McKenna and Claudio & Matilde

 

Sunday 19 July

12:00 – Clonmethan Estate, Oldtown

15:00 – Rivermeade Estate, Swords

Featured acts: Claudio & Matilde and Temper-mental Misselayneous

We look forward to another joyful summer of live performance, community celebration and shared cultural experiences across Fingal.

artist bios

Ukeristic Congress

Ukeristic Congress bring high-energy, feel-good vibes with their infectious ukulele-driven sound and crowd-pleasing repertoire. Blending humour, harmony and unexpected twists on familiar songs, their performances are lively, interactive and full of fun. Expect singalongs, smiles and a joyful atmosphere from start to finish. 

Luke Clerkin 

Luke Clerkin is a two-time Sports and Cultural Council songwriting winner from Tallaght who has performed at major festivals including Electric Picnic, Body & Soul and the Edinburgh Fringe. He has headlined venues across Ireland and toured internationally, with sold-out shows in London and Germany. His music has received widespread airplay and media support, and his debut album Orpheus (2025) was met with critical acclaim. 

Asha Ari 

Asha Ari is a Dublin-based singer-songwriter of Ghanaian and Irish descent, blending Pop, Soul, and R&B into a distinctive, emotionally rich sound. She has performed at major venues and events including the National Concert Hall, Whelan’s, the Irish Embassy in London, Trafalgar Square, and All Together Now, where she lit up The Jameson Circle Stage. Her releases include the EP Freedom and acclaimed singles such as God’s Hands, What Am I, and Stuck in This Feeling, noted for their genre fusion and emotional depth. Drawing on her bi-racial background, Asha explores themes of identity, self-love, and mental health, and has also appeared on RTÉ’s Songs of Ireland, reimagining Raglan Road.

Temper-Mental MissElayneous 

Temper-Mental MissElayneous (Elayne Harrington) is a standout performer in Ireland’s hip-hop and poetry scene, blending punk energy with sharp, complex lyricism. Performing as part of a duo with turntablist DJ FunkTom, their anarcho-punk hip-hop sound fuses rap, scratching, beatbox and bodhrán. The result is a bold, provocative and high-energy live experience. 

Flynn Johnson

From the heart of Blanchardstown, Flynn Johnson emerges as a commanding presence in Irish Hip-Hop, weaving narratives that capture the raw essence of Dublin life.  His journey from a precocious youth to a formidable voice in Irish music is marked by raw, unfiltered storytelling. Praised for his “philosophical rhymes and introspective storytelling” (Dope Hip Hop), he continues to tackle challenging themes with finesse, standing as a compelling storyteller and reshaping modern-day Ireland’s narrative. 

Justine Nantale & Michael Chanda – Rhythm Africana

Justine Nantale (Uganda) and Michael Chanda (Zambia) are performers with Rhythm Africana, bringing vibrant African music, rhythm and dance to the stage. Combining vocals, percussion and audience interaction, their performances are energetic, uplifting and rooted in rich cultural traditions. 

Brasilidades Trio
featuring Luisa Annibali, William Alexandre & Gaudie Otero

Luisa Aniballi Luisa Annibali is one of the leading lights in the newest generation of jazz musicians on the Dublin jazz scene. Having moved from Rome to Dublin in 2016, she has quickly established herself in the scene with her boundless enthusiasm and vocal prowess. Performing in Ireland, Italy and Brazil, with her original project she blends music from her native Italy with Brazilian tinges and contemporary jazz making ample room for her distinctive voice to shine through.

William Alexandre Brazilian musician and dancer bringing the energy of samba to Dublin. Passionate about teaching, performing, and connecting people through rhythm, movement, and culture.

Gaudie Otero Gaudie Otero is a Brazilian 7-string guitarist based in Dublin, Ireland. Rooted in classical technique, his playing merges the rich rhythms of Choro and traditional Brazilian music with the improvisational spirit of jazz. His music moves fluidly between tradition and modernity, shaping a distinctive and expressive sound.

Sean O’Meara

Sean O’Meara is a musician, composer, and singer-songwriter from Limerick. In a short period of time, he has racked up an extensive musical bio. Sean went on his first tour at the age of 16 and has been a multi-genre touring musician and recording artist since. His background is rooted in rock, pop, classical and traditional Irish music.

Sophie Meehan

Big Cosmic Telephone is the musical project of Sophie Meehan, blending dreamy indie, folk and cosmic pop into a rich, atmospheric sound. Storytelling takes centre stage via Meehan’s evocative lyrics and soprano vocals. She is joined by Richard Geraghty’s glimmering, shimmering tones on lead guitar. Big Cosmic Telephone performances are both intimate and expansive, seeing them play to growing audiences at venues such as Culture Night, Vintage Room sessions and Ardgillan Castle. Expect a captivating set that drifts between the grounded and the otherworldly.

Trish Reilly

Trish Reilly is an Irish Traveller and a singer/songwriter and musician. Her music spans many genres and often moves beyond traditional folk music. Trish comes from a long line of traditional Irish Traveller folk singers and is well known for her composition – Broken Lines. Trish has performed at a variety of events organised by Traveller organisations and also at TradFest in Dublin and at Atchin Tan, Glastonbury Festival 2024 among other events and venues.

Claudio & Matilde

Claudio’s captivating style, infused with blues and Mediterranean melodies, meets Matilde’s rich harmonies and intimate musical world, shaped by songs in five different languages. Together they create a warm, atmospheric live performance that is both soulful and deeply engaging.