Festival · July
SubSounds Youth Music Festival
A free day of family fun and a celebration of young musicians - youth led, youth centred, and growing every year.
The festival brings around 150 young musicians aged 12-18 from counties across Leinster to Rua Red and Parthalán Place in Tallaght (beside The Civic Theatre). Over the course of the day, on four stages, audiences hear an eclectic mix of contemporary popular music alongside traditional, classical and jazz ensembles - performed by participants of SubSounds, Music Generation, Behind The Scenes Productions and NOISE Music.
It is a partnership between SubSounds and the Music Generation local Music Education Partnerships of South Dublin County, Kildare, Fingal, Meath, Dublin City and Wicklow, featuring performers from projects in all six counties. Headliners have included established Irish acts and former SubSounds participants who have gone on to professional careers.
The 2026 festival took place on Saturday 11 July, 1-7.30pm. Admission is always free - tickets are released on Eventbrite in the weeks before.
The festival is funded by Music Generation, the Arts Council and South Dublin County Council Arts Office, and co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Department of Education.
Who did you hear
Every year the festival is headlined by established Irish acts and artists who came up through SubSounds and its partner programmes.
wetpaint
Indie/alternative rock band - Glen McMahon (vocals), Cian O’Dowd (guitar), Shawn Legaspi (bass) and Brian Doyle (drums) - influenced by Bloc Party, Mannequin Pussy and Twenty One Pilots, with theatrical live shows at The Grand Social, The Sound House, Bello Bar and McHugh’s in Drogheda. Top of the bill at the 2026 festival.
2026Iveagh
A band formed in SubSounds - Ellie Conroy, Séadhna Martin, Grace Keegan, Luke Kavanagh and Emmet Lucas - whose protest song ‘OPENMINDED’ features on the Class of 2026 album.
Sarah Crean
Singer-songwriter with over 8 million streams, signed to AWAL and seen on RTÉ's Other Voices. Now a Dublin-based songwriting mentor - teaching at the Des Carty Music School and mentoring in SubSounds.
2025Good Look
A band that grew out of SubSounds 2024/25 - Thomas Holohan, Emmet Lucas, Ben Carroll, Luke Kavanagh and Danielle O'Toole, whose debut single ‘Rabbit’ was released last year.
Pillow Queens
Dublin indie rock band, formed in 2016, with three albums to date: In Waiting (2020), Leave the Light On (2022) and Name Your Sorrow (2024).
2024Sadhbh Keane
A 16-year-old Dublin singer-songwriter named one of The Irish Times' top 20 artists to watch in 2024. Her EP Passion + Paper and singles have drawn support from RTÉ 2FM, Radio 1 and FM104, with sold-out headline shows and a Ruby Sessions appearance.
Daire Heffernan
Former SubSounds participant whose indie-rock and dream-pop singles ‘Wasters’ and ‘Harry’ were both named Track of the Week on RTÉ 2FM; described by BBC's Gemma Bradley as a “future headliner”. Listen ↗
2023Florence Road
Alt-rock band from Bray who went on to open for Olivia Rodrigo at Marlay Park. Listen ↗