The Bonnevilles play The Thomas House, Dublin, on Saturday December 3. “One of the finest garage punk blues duos in the whole world right now” according to The Irish Times. Their new album Arrow Pierce My Heart is evidence of a band at the top of their game. The Lurgan duo take Mississippi Hill Blues and Punk Rock and mix into their own unique dark Northern Irish Punk Blues stew.

Lead singer and guitarist Andrew McGibbon Jr. had this to say, “We decided to write a love album, hence the title Arrow Pierce My Heart, but we aren’t balladeers so it ended up littered with our usual topics—death, rising from the dead, murders, drinking, drugs, sex, revenge and more revenge, but that’s ok.”

“Because we’re Irish, which isn’t so much a race of people as it is a death cult, we deal with this stuff so you don’t have to and our idea of love is a dark love not the sickly sweet kind. Not so much roses and kittens but whiskey and shame, and that too is ok. We take our responsibility as the conduits of the Gods very seriously. The human experience is about sinning and failing; that’s where the acid is and that’s what we try to write about.”

Admission is €10 on door or get the Early Bird option here.

Bands and musicians are “invited to apply for a slot at the 2017 Vantastival festival. Applications are accepted from original acts of all genres as well as traditional groups. Interested acts should email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the name of the band or artist in the subject line. The email must contain a link where the judging panel can listen to a minimum of three tracks. Full application instructions are available here and musicians have until 5pm on Friday 16th December 2016 to apply.”

This is the eighth year of Vantastival. The family-friendly festival is the traditional start to the festival season in Ireland. Even with its move to early June it remains the first proper music festival of 2017.

Next year, the festival will take place on the 3rd and 4th June. For the second year running, it will take place in the beautiful grounds of Beaulieu House, just outside Drogheda. The festival is one of Ireland’s most unique independent music festivals and has earned its reputation as a relaxed and super friendly event showcasing the best of up-and-coming Irish acts.

Last year Badly Drawn Boy, King Kong Company and The Hot Sprockets headlined while the likes of Black Svan, Saint Sister, Jinx Lennon, Saramai, The Bonnevilles, Swords, Nix Moon and a whole host of local acts from Drogheda and its surroundings also played. Organisers will be hoping for a repeat of 2016’s blazing sunshine. As well as being family-friendly, Vantastival is also campervan-friendly, and there is no extra charge for campervans or VW vans.

Tickets go on sale in December.