In the spirit of positivity and inclusivity that runs throughout Brigid 2025 Festival, the concert will bring together some of Ireland’s leading artists to celebrate the 'He For She' ideal, adding a new dimension to the Brigid’s Day proceedings in which men share the festival, and its core message, of female empowerment.
Doors: 7pm Start time: 8pm
BOB GELDOF
Returning to Dublin from Canada where he’d worked as a music journalist in the mid-‘70s, Bob joined forces with a bunch of emerging Dublin rockers to form The Boomtown Rats, who soon became one of rock’s hottest properties in music. They established their credentials with powerful hits like ‘Lookin’ After No.1’, ‘Someone Looking At You’ and ‘Rat Trap’ which was the first ever UK No.1 by an Irish rock band. The dramatic ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ became a massive hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Geldof’s career – and life – changed in 1984 when, together with Midge Ure, he wrote ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ and launched the Band Aid charity. That led to the creation of Live Aid, which in the summer of 1985 became the then-biggest rock event of all time, ultimately generating over £170 million for famine relief and other projects. In 2024, Band Aid celebrated its 40th anniversary. In 1992, Bob co-founded the Planet 24 production company whose notable successes included The Word and The Big Breakfast. He continues to perform and record both solo and with The Boomtown Rats.
DANNY O’REILLY
For the better part of two decades, Danny O’Reilly – son of the great Irish folk singer Mary Black – has been a key figure in Ireland’s music scene, as the lead singer of the era-defining Dublin band The Coronas. With the support of a remarkably devoted fanbase, the trio have scored a number of No.1 albums, and achieved the kind of longevity that’s become increasingly rare in the modern industry. They have consistently sold out major runs of shows, headlined festivals – and recently scored their fourth consecutive No. 1 album on the Irish Albums Chart, with 2024’s Thoughts & Observations. In 2022, Danny dived into the TV world as the co-presenter of RTÉ One’s The Main Stage, alongside Erica Cody.
AMBLE
JACK L
Hailing from Athy in Co. Kildare, Jack Lukeman started out as an 18-year-old busking his way round Holland, Belgium and Germany. It was an extraordinary experience which heightened his love of all things Brecht and Brel. He made his recorded debut on Serious Women’s 1994’s 38SCR album; a year later, he released his own Wax collection in tandem with The Black Romantics.1999’sMetropolis Blue follow-up earned him a new audience in the US where he has toured extensively. He remains one of Ireland’s most successful artists on the theatrical circuit and has supported or played alongside U2, Ronnie Wood, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Elvis Costello, Marianne Faithful, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic – and loads more. No fewer than thirteen albums have followed along with a guest turn on legendary producer Trevor Horn’s 2023 Echoes: Ancient & Modern.
ROBERT GRACE
Initially rising to prominence on TikTok – and scoring the No. 1 spot on the platform’s ‘Year On TikTok 2022’ list in Ireland – Robert Grace has continued to break records, amassing 3.2 million followers on TikTok and 300k on YouTube. He uses his music to speak openly about some of life’s biggest issues, notably including mental health and family. This approach has resonated powerfully with his fans, leading to millions of streams, and sold-out shows across Ireland, the UK and Germany. Following major hits like ‘Fake Fine’, ‘Casper’ and ‘Not OK’, he released his debut album, Happy Sad Songs, in May, via Columbia Germany.
MOA
MOA is a squad of young musicians from Athy Community College, ranging in age from 14 to 18 years old. MOA is an intergenerational creative project where Made Of Athy music legends mentor the new young teenage tyros. Artists like Jack Lukeman work closely with the MOA squad as they mine the Made Of Athy canon from Johnny Marr to Neil Hannon and the Stone Roses to produce a powerful contemporary sound. The squad includes the members of IF, the acclaimed Hot Press ‘Local Hero’ finalists with Classic FM.
