Exciting and eclectic line-up of free gigs on the way for Waterford music fans
Free music performances will be happening every Saturday night from May 16 to September 9.
At a sneak preview of this year’s Churchyard sessions, the lineup of free gigs coming to Waterford this summer was revealed.
The event was held in the newly renovated ‘Reg Venue’, which can accommodate up to 600 people and can be used for the Churchyard sessions if it's raining.
According to Marketing manager for The Reg, Joe Monaghan, now in their eighth year, “it combines the best of local and national acts and creates an atmosphere that is pretty much unrivalled in the country, we’d certainly like to think".
Supported by Waterford City and County Council, there will be free gigs every Saturday night and some Friday nights running from May 16 to September 9. The 17-week-long series is held on Bailey’s New Street, just in front of the French church.
Owner of the Reg, Barry Monaghan, pointed out that “nowhere else in Ireland can you fit 1,200 people in a natural amphitheatre with an entrance on one side and exit on the other; it’s a naturally policed area.”
Acts such as Toucan, The Knockadolly’s and Mad Ferritt, who have all headlined festivals across the country, will be playing with the series concluding with a special headline performance from singer-songwriter Paddy Casey.
Barry acknowledged that over the past number of years, there has been “huge investment” from Waterford City Council in the Viking Triangle area of the city; however, once the museums close at six o’clock, the area gets very quiet. Barry wants to “re-animate” the area in the evening.
Barry revealed that the gig he was most looking forward to was Blessed. He said: “I saw them at EP two or three years ago, they were unbelievable.”
The Churchyard sessions are designed to get people into the city.
Barry believes that the series will encourage people not to go home at six in the evening: “We don’t care if people in Union or La Palma or if they have drinks after in O’Sullivans or The Three Shippes – we don’t care, we just want to get people into the city.”
Full lineup details and event updates are available via The Reg’s social media channels and at @thechurchyardsessions.
