Pillow Queens, Soda Blonde, Hermitage Green, Somebody’s Child, Louis Baker, The Whileaways, Darragh O’Dea, and Shampain, IMOGEN and Efa O'Neill to perform as supports at this year’s Heineken® Big Top.
Today Galway International Arts Festival and Róisín Dubh announced the line up of artists who will support the headliners for this year’s Heineken® Big Top. These bands will support Fat Freddy’s Drop, The Saw Doctors, The Coronas, Pavement, Kaiser Chiefs, Bell X1 and KETTAMA at Galway’s iconic venue as part of Galway International Arts Festival 2023.
New Zealand soul musician and singer-songwriter Louis Baker will support his fellow countrymen Fat Freddy’s Drop on Thursday 20 July. Fat Freddy’s Drop are regarded as one of the great live acts, combining techno, house, soul, dub, reggae, funk rhythm and blues. They have built a sizeable following of Fred heads both at home and internationally.
The Saw Doctors will take to the stage at the Heineken Big Top with support from Galway songwriting trio The Whileaways on Friday 21 July and singer Darragh O’Dea on Saturday 29 July. The Saw Doctors last performed at the festival in 2004 and audiences will get to see Galway’s iconic band at two sold-out shows this year. The Whileaways comprises of Noelie McDonnell, Noriana Kennedy and Nicola Joyce, three accomplished singers who had each toured and recorded extensively with their separate projects before coming together as a band. Darragh O’Dea is known for his wistful storytelling, creating nostalgic nuggets of joy and despair.
The Coronas, one of Ireland’s most popular live acts, return to the Heineken® Big Top on Saturday 22 July for a joyous evening of their world-famous hits. The support will be indie-rock/pop’s Somebody’s Child, hailing from Dublin the debut album out now.
Widely renowned as one of the most popular and influential bands to come out of the American underground in the last three decades, Pavement takes to the stage on Monday 24 July. Dublin indie rock band Pillow Queens will open for them. A performance not to be missed, Pitchfork Magazine has described Pillow Queens music as “the kind of noise that tends to flourish live, roared back by the faithful”. Pillow Queens were nominated for the Irish Album of the Year at the Choice Music Prize 2022 awards.
Kaiser Chiefs will take to the stage for a much anticipated performance on Thursday 27 July. One of the UK’s best loved bands, with hits such as Ruby and I Predict a Riot, Kaiser Chiefs always deliver a great crowd pleasing live show. Irish acoustic folk rock band Hermitage Green, known for songs such as Quicksand and Glow of the Kerosene Light will play support.
One of the great Irish bands and firm crowd favourite, Bell X1 make a welcome return to the Galway International Arts Festival stage on Friday 28 July. Dublin alt-pop four-piece band Soda Blonde will play support. All four Soda Blonde band members are seasoned musicians having played together since their teens in the internationally renowned Little Green Cars. Their great debut album Small Talk was No. 1 on the Irish album charts and was nominated for the Choice Music Album of the Year.
Galway-born producer KETTAMA burst onto the house and electro scene in recent years and returns for his first hometown gig since 2019 on Sunday 23 July. KETTAMA will be joined by G-Town Records’ Shampain, IMOGEN & Efa O’Neill.
Heineken® spokesperson Michelle Rowley said: “Heineken ® has been at the heart of the best festivals and gigs in Ireland for over 30 years. We have had a long standing partnership with GIAF and we can’t wait for the return of the festival in July!”
Galway International Arts Festival would like to acknowledge the support of its principal funding agencies the Arts Council and Fáilte Ireland; its Drinks Partner Heineken; and Education Partner University of Galway.
