Forest Fest - 2026 - Emo - Co. Laois

That's a pretty decent line up, but still going to give this a miss, I enjoyed the last two editions but was absolutely knackered after working two festivals in row. Will just do ATN next year, along with maybe Beyond the Pale and EP.

Is there likely to be an electronic act added for the Saturday night slot?

When are the tickets likely to increase in price, before Xmas or after?

Saw Doctors are obvious ones. They are playing a much much smaller festival in Night and Day next summer.

UB40 again playing much smaller festival in Letterkenny. These are festivals just in tents having attended both.

Crowded House are touring right now don't think it would cost millions to bring them over.

I hate to use pro wrestling comparison here but yesterday announcement was basically "Savio Vega as the mystery partner" and James are great live but Forest Fest went about it all wrong building them up for weeks like that.

Last year FF had best lineup of any music festival on this island by a country mile. No offence to EATB but they ain't a headline act in 2025 and won't pull a fraction of the crowds Franz Ferdinand or Travis did this year.

saw doctors can’t play both night & day and forest fest as both festivals would require radius clause exclusivity covering the midlands.

Crowded house have no upcoming European shows .
a festival can only book whose around, in their budgets and will agree to play in Emo.

no offence to you but people are often armchair festival bookers and think promoters can just magically book certain acts. Tons of factors outside promoters control that mean they have limited options. it’s especially difficult for independent festivals like forest fest. Agents of certain acts won’t even respond to booking requests outside of Livenation or Aiken etc

Ah Weezer could easily rock up to Emo given previous acts. They wouldn’t be out of place at all.

Festivals in general are probably a bit over saturated at the moment and they can only book so many acts.

But from a curation point of view, it’s very bland and beige. A bit of Mickeyfest.

James, Deacon Blue and the Coronas on Saturday night is really poor

Sawdoctors are playing in two Connacht festivals next summer the so called radius clause wasn't taken into account there.

I'd like to hear who you think would be good if you think Deacon Blue,James two excellent live bands are poor? Never seen Coronas live so can't comment on them.

Night and day is held in Boyle Co Roscommon In Connacht I don't see how it's direct competition to a festival in Leinster?

And even it was a bigger festival that is Forestfest than Night and Day should have signed the Sawdoctors up before Night and day over the last five years.

I disagree. You say that James and Deacon Blue are not exciting on a 2026 bill, but you then compare that to Manics, Orbital, Therapy and Peter Hook - all of whom have been around for the past approx. 40 years. I think there is plenty of exciting options on this years list. Loads of variety there:-

Echo and the bunnymen

Charlatans

Wedding Present

These Charming Men

James

Deacon Blue

Sultans of Ping

King Kong Company

Power of Dreams

Fun Lovin Criminals

Ham Sandwich

Madness

Feeder

Kerbdog

Black Grape

Qween

Weezer would fit the music, but iirc at Trinity they were a good bit more expensive tickets than the Manics/ Suede co-headliner (and more than when they supported Smashing Pumpkins in the point).

I'd put Madness in a bit of different bracket tbh as they have the widest appeal of anyone on that line up for non-music heads, so could see why FF would push out for them.

Robert Finlay was amazing.

Saw Doctors are a bit shíte.

BellX 1-0 Coronas