Ballyshannon gears up for the Rhythm & Blues Weekend 2025

It's fast becoming a very popular event on the Irish Blues Festival Calendar with the Ballyshannon Rhythm & Blues Weekend at the Home of Irish Blues Rock on 24, 25 and 26 October.

It promises to be another brilliant Blues experience in the Erneside Town. The three-day Bank Holiday weekend event boasts over 20 acts at 10 venues with over 60 free gigs with a brilliant line-up of acts both established and new to Ballyshannon.

The Ballyshannon Rhythm & Blues Weekend has non-stop venue based Blues gigs all-day every day for one great Irish Bank Holiday Weekend with Late Night Bar Extensions.

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There is also the headline ticketed show on Sunday at the Rory Gallagher Theatre featuring the legendary Dr Feelgood with support acts The Savage Hearts and popular local act The Shlacks all performing at the only ticketed event at the Rory Gallagher Theatre.

Dr Feelgood require no introduction to followers of Rhythm & Blues with the acclaimed band tearing up stages since the 1970’s with hits like “Milk and Alcohol”, “Roxette”, and “She Does It Right”. The current Dr. Feelgood line-up is led by their drummer Kevin Morris and features Gordon Russell on lead guitar, Phil Mitchell on bass and charismatic vocalist Robert Kane.

Ballyshannon Rhythm & Blues Weekend will feature many popular acts including Johnny Gallagher & His Blues Band, the Pat McManus Band, Mr Castle Blues led by Venezuelan guitar virtuoso Hector Castillo, the legendary Seamie O'Dowd Blues Band, the unmissable Gerry Quigley and The Mystic Blues Band.

We are always pleased to bring back young talent to the table and with that are delighted to welcome back to Irish shores for the second time, UK Young Blues Band Finalists 2025 Jack Austin Despy and His Band (UK). Then there are the Blues guys that put the B in Blues! Lonesome Pete, Mark Black, Stephen Brennan and friend of Blues Mr. Peter Price from Warrington, England.

There are the acts that want to pack power blues into your weekend Heavy Duty, Juke Joint Blues always a Big Blues favourite in Ballyshannon, the fantastic Banshee from Belfast led by the fabulous Rosie McGinn, Happy Inc Blues with huge experience, class and another great young Blues Rock act in Buzzed who are a must see, electrifying young Blues Rock trio from County Leitrim.

Ciaran Hodgins & His Band have been going great, performing at many Festivals at home and abroad, Ciaran is one superb Blues player with a gra for Rory, Elvis and American Blues, Dublin Blues Band - Coldshot make a triumphant return a must see act and from County Tyrone another hard working band on the Irish Blues Festival scene, "The Rusty Jacks", a great live band.

Ballyshannon Rhythm & Blues Weekend 2025 will welcome hundreds of music fans to South Donegal this Bank Holiday Weekend, a packed programme with many impromptu sessions also across the town, however the advice is to download the programme and follow the Rockshore Blues Trail for what promises to be a very busy weekend ahead in Ballyshannon. Full weekend programme and all details online.