ESNS 2027 Irish acts at Eurosonic, Ireland in focus

Why Ireland is the focus country

Each year ESNS picks one European country and builds part of its festival and conference around that country's music. For 2027 it is Ireland. ESNS works on it with First Music Contact, the Irish music organisation behind Ireland Music Week and the export office Music From Ireland, and with the radio station RTÉ 2FM as media partner.

Ireland was the focus once before, about 15 years ago, so this is the second time.

ESNS says the choice recognises how Ireland invests in its artists and the structures around them.

Which Irish acts play

The Irish acts announced for Eurosonic include Aaron Rowe, BABYRAT, Black Nylon, Bleech 9:3, Bradley Marshall, BROOKI, Dave Lofts, Esmeralda Road, F3miii, GAG REFLEX, Hotgirl, McGrath, mischa and the bear, MOIO, pôt-pot, Shamrock Showband, Sei Green, SELL EVERYTHING, THEATRE, The Wran and Therapy Horse. ESNS added more names to the line-up after that announcement.

The festival's line-up page lists every act with its country, so you can scan it for Ireland. The timetable, which says who plays where and when, is not out yet.

ESNS invites emerging acts only. It names CMAT, Dermot Kennedy, Fontaines D.C., Hozier, Inhaler, Kingfishr, Lankum and The Mary Wallopers among the Irish artists who played Eurosonic at the start of their careers.

The RTÉ 2FM stage on Wednesday

ESNS and RTÉ present an evening of Irish acts in the Grand Theatre on Wednesday, the first day of Eurosonic. Aaron Rowe, F3miii, mischa and the bear and THEATRE are on the bill. The RTÉ 2FM broadcasters Dan Hegarty and Beta DaSilva host.

Other Irish acts play at venues across Groningen during the festival.

What ESNS is, for a visitor

ESNS is a showcase festival and music conference held in Groningen every January. Only new European acts are invited, so festival-goers hear artists early in their careers, with the music professionals who book them in the same rooms.

From Wednesday to Friday, Eurosonic's concerts are in venues all over the city. Noorderslag, on the Saturday in De Oosterpoort, is the Dutch finale: new Dutch bands and well-known ones. Irish acts belong to Eurosonic's European line-up; the focus on Ireland also runs through the conference programme.

Tickets and practical information

You buy festival tickets from ESNS itself, in its webshop or on its own resale platform. Other sellers are not official. A festival ticket cannot be refunded. Delegate passes are meant for music professionals and include the conference, so most fans want a festival ticket.

There is no age limit, but visitors under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The festival locations are card-only. Noorderslag opens its doors at 15:00.

The prices and current ticket types are on esns.nl. Groningen is on the national rail network, and ESNS encourages visitors to arrive by train.