Andy Smith (ex. Portishead), The Eskies, Fish Go Deep and Blood and Fire Sound System feat. MC Brother Culture are among the acts just added to this year’s Vantastival line up. London-based DJ Andy Smith made his name as Portishead’s international tour DJ and his sampling formed the basis of the band’s unique sound. Since the Portishead tours Andy has established himself as an underground producer of some of the most irresistible hip-hop breaks-based music around and has a strong cult following. He will close the woodland stage with a late night set on Saturday 3rd June.

The Eskies have been busy bringing their unique brand of folk noir/gypsy jazz/sea shanty and swaggering stage spectacle to venues across Europe over the past couple of years, and will have their first opportunity since 2013 to perform at Vantastival on Sunday night, 4th June.  Blood and Fire Sound System will also play on Sunday night, featuring original Rasta MC Brother Culture, while producer duo Fish Go Deep from Cork will headline BackwardS, a new late night area in the woods at Beaulieu, where DJs will keep revellers dancing till the very early hours.

Vantastival’s impressive line-up already includes The Riptide Movement, Overhead, The Albatross, Lankum (formerly Lynched), Kíla, New Secret Weapon, MINDRIOT, Cat Dowling and a host of other Irish names with the usual focus on up-and-coming unsigned acts. The Glasshouse Stage is another new addition to the site, an intimate acoustic experience featuring solo slots from singer-songwriters including Keith Plunkett, Grainne Hunt, and Niall McGuigan (ex. Speedking) among others. Meanwhile Dun Laoghaire College of Further Education will bring back the popular DFEi Music Stage, run by students and featuring a line up of former and current DFEi students. With still more acts to be announced, this year’s festival will be a veritable feast for music fans.

Vantastival 2017 will take place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th June at Beaulieu House & Gardens, Drogheda.  Other attractions will include art installations, fire performances, drum circles, festival traders, an Alice in Wonderland-themed kids’ camp and much more.  Vantastival has something for everyone, with or without a campervan. Weekend tickets are on sale now at €85 + booking fee for two nights camping. Day tickets cost €40.

The full line up and festival details can be found here

We know festival season has arrived when our favourite festival band drop in to our inbox. Nix Moon combine complex rhythms and genuine lyrics that merge progressive rock, jazz, reggae and folk. We first got to know them at last year’s Vantastival, where they were so good we went to see them twice and caught up with them the following day for a chat.

They’ll release three live videos, recorded at Windmill Lane Recording Studios, on May 7th, May 21st and May 28th. Formed in 2013, Jonathan Fahy and David Joyce are the founding members and core songwriters of the group with Daire Stanley, Gavin Murphy and Darragh Brannigan completing the quintet. Based in Dundalk, Nix Moon are regular performers at The Spirit Store, IMRO’s Music Venue of The Year 2016.

Since forming, Nix Moon have featured on highly esteemed festival line ups including Electric Picnic, Knockanstockan, Vantastival and many more. They are moulding and adapting authentic Irish elements and indigenous instrumentation with current, comprehensive themes while oozing energy and enthralling crowds with their melodic sound. Last October, the band won ‘Best Performers’ at the Busker Fleadh 2016.

The upcoming live video releases are;

 May 7th - ‘Autumn Night’,

May 21st - ‘When the Devil Opens the Door’,

May 28th - ‘Hua Hin’.

In the meantime, you can enjoy Nix Moon’s Live Performance on 98FM's Big Breakfast