Sligo Live returns this Bank Holiday Weekend

The Boomtown Rats

Formed in Dublin in 1975, The Boomtown Rats exploded out of Ireland and became part of the burgeoning punk revolution in music. Having cut their teeth touring with The Ramones and Talking Heads - rocking and mocking the status quo - they became of the biggest bands of the '70s and '80s. The numbers speak for themselves - platinum-selling albums and the small matter of becoming the first Irish band to have a No. 1 hit with 'Rat Trap' - but they also became lauded for their fiery live performance. A support slot with Adam Lambert's Queen in Marlay Park over the summer proved that they've lost none of that live energy over the years.

The Boomtown Rats will play at the Knocknarea Arena on October 27.

Lisa Hannigan

Having first come to light as the vocalist for Damien Rice, Lisa Hannigan has forged a solo career for herself in the past decade which has led her to be considered a Irish music legend. This is partly due to her commitment to touring the length and breadth of the country (if you haven't seen her yet, where have you been?), but it's also down to her trio of fantastic studio albums. 2008's Mercury-prize nominated Sea Sew was a fitting introduction to the power of her songwriting style, while 2011's Passenger was a warm lyrical journey. Lisa's most recent album, At Swim, was produced with The National's Aaron Dessner and showcased an artist who is consistently expanding the reach of what her music can be.

Lisa Hannigan will perform at the Hawk Wells Theatre on October 26.

Catherine McGrath

An Irish singer and songwriter whose music blends fresh-faced pop with influences straight from Nashville, Catherine McGrath is the Co. Down country singer whose been storming the charts across both sides of the Atlantic. Having learned guitar from her grandmother and parents, McGrath’s style was informed by contemporary pop as well as the updated country sounds of artists such as Taylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves. In the summer of 2016, McGrath, then only 19, landed a recording contract with Warner Bros. She spent the following year writing and recording her debut full-length album, Talk of This Town, in both Nashville and London, which arrived in the summer of 2018 and proved her to be one of country music's brightest prospects.

Catherine will play at the Village Headline Stage on Friday, October 26.