January Event Guide: The best of what’s on this month
TradFest, BOYZLIFE and a live Young Hot Guys podcast show are among the highlights of January’s event calendar. Here’s the best of what’s on this month.
Whelan’s Ones to Watch 2025
9-11 January, Whelan’s, Dublin, more info here
With over 100 acts announced in total, the first instalment of Whelan’s Ones to Watch 2025 took place this past weekend, and the next is set to be every bit as exciting. Set across three stages, you can expect an eclectic mix of genres, fresh sounds, and unforgettable performances. A true celebration of emerging Irish talent, the line-up includes Pastiche, Cable Boy, I Dreamed I Dream, and Ezra Williams, to name but a few.
FRESH ÉIRE: Life, Death, Rebirth
11 January, the Racket Space, Phibsborough, Dublin, more info here
For the uninitiated, OFF TOPIC is an alternative scratch night and costume party at The Racket Space in Dublin, and their first event of the year is shaping up to be a good one. Expect a varied line-up of performers from musicians, poets and actors to drag artists and stand-up comedians. There’s also an OFF TOPIC fashion show, so make sure to dress up and get creative with your look for the night. This event is hosted by actor and writer Evanne Kilgallon, with support from Becca Fisher and Sarah Heraughty.
Folk in Fusion
14 January, INEC Killarney, more info here
The opening concert of Your Roots Are Showing–Ireland’s Folk Conference—this electrifying event gathers some of the most iconic and groundbreaking artists from around the globe for a performance unlike any other. Bringing those gathered on a rare musical journey that blends tradition with innovation and showcasing the very best in folk, roots, bluegrass, country and beyond, this event promises magical collaborations and performances that will leave you inspired. The line-up includes Peter Rowan, Alison Brown and Rhiannon Giddens.
BOYZLIFE
15, 17–19 January, Belfast, Galway, Cork and Dublin, more info here
Keith Duffy of Boyzone and Brian McFadden of Westlife have joined forces for a very special world tour and there are four Irish dates to look forward to this January. You can expect all of their iconic ‘90s and ‘00s hits, as well as some brand-new music. After their tour around Ireland, the pair will be heading for the UK, USA, Australia, Europe and Asia — so the world can prepare for a nostalgia overload.
Accents by Emmet Kirwan
16-18 January, Ambassador Theatre, Dublin, more info here
With poetry from Emmet Kirwan and music from the late Eoin French, Accents is a loving testament to a beautiful soul and towering talent, someone who was also the driving-force behind the band Talos. ‘The sound of your voice is the sound of your family, your community and where you’re from. It can lift you and lay you down.’
Young Hot Guys
20 & 21 January, 3Olympia, Dublin, more info here
One of the best Irish comedy podcasts in the game, Young Hot Guys is a weekly tonic, so it stands to reason that their live show offering would be top tier. The trio—Shane Daniel Byrne, Tony Cantwell and Killian Sundermann—are the veritable kicks of tangents and their unique blend of surreal humour and keen observations will keep you well entertained.
TradFest
22-26 January, Dublin city and county, more info here
TradFest is a joyful celebration of Irish identity through music. Each January, it showcases the best of established and emerging musical talent at a landmark festival which is rooted in the historic and atmospheric setting of Dublin. Reimagining and redefining Irish music and reaching growing Irish and international audiences at live events and through digital channels, TradFest 2025 features Wallis Bird & The Spark, The Scratch, Transatlantic Women, and many, many more familiar names.
The Last Man in Ireland
22-25 January, Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, more info here
For reasons currently unknown, rising sea levels have inexplicably affected Ireland and Ireland only, reducing the island to one small indistinct piece of land owned by one remaining Irish civilian. The Last Man in Ireland is a surrealist three-hander that explores the cyclical themes of family dysfunction, grief and identity. Using the lens of millennial angst, the play delves comedically into the past to present the story of an imagined future.
Emma
Until 25 January, Abbey Theatre, Dublin, more info here
A spectacular reimagining of Jane Austen’s Emma is making its European premiere on the Abbey Stage. Centring on the charming, clever and flirtatious title character, Emma follows the privileged lives and relationships of the smart set, and those who wish to join them. Skewering social norms of the day, it examines love, desire, class and the effort it takes to sustain a life of luxury. Ripping the bodice of tradition, Emma is thrilling audiences with a contemporary soundtrack and a period-but-playful retelling of this classic comedy of manners.
The Blindboy Podcast
27 January, Vicar Street, Dublin, more info here
Blindboy is a best-selling Irish writer and podcaster. The Blindboy podcast has now exceeded 80 million listeners globally. Described in the New York Times as “a cultural phenomenon” his inimitable podcast teases at the boundaries of literature and spoken word. His live podcasts sell out worldwide, from Toronto to Brisbane to London’s Hammersmith Apollo. Outspoken, informed and empathetic, Blindboy engages his audience with an acerbic wit.
Photography from ‘Emma’ by Ros Kavanagh.
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