Atlantic Sessions 2025 hits the high notes!

The 2025 Atlantic Sessions Festival brought a showcase of musicians from across Ireland to play to packed out audiences throughout Portrush and Portstewart, seeing the highest attendance figures in recent years.

The popular event, which took place from November 13 to 16, is managed and funded by Causeway Coast and Glens Council and was programmed this year by ‘Get Shep’.

Offering a full schedule of 40 live gigs in 18 different venues across both seaside towns, with the majority free to attend, this year's festival saw almost a full sell out of all its headline gigs, bringing a welcome boost to the area.

Polar Bolero wowed audiences with a very special Opening Night Show at Portrush Playhouse, with support from another popular local act, Many a Son. Having just won the NI Prize Gerry Anderson Busary Award for 2025, and with a huge local following, it was no surprise that this was a full house!

On the Friday evening Headliner, Newton Faulkner, played to a packed out Barn at Kellys, Portrush, while other Headliners - the David Lyttle Jazz Quartet and Eleanor McEvoy - also saw sell out audiences.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, commented: “Thank you to everyone who supported this year’s Atlantic Sessions Music Festival. I am certain those who attended will have experienced a warm welcome from the people of Portrush and Portstewart.”

“The event was a tremendous success, and it was amazing to see brand new musical talent promoted and enjoyed by visitors and residents of Causeway Coast and Glens.

“Council would like to sincerely thank all the venues involved as well as Get Shep for all the hard work that goes into programming the event.”

The free music trail included a number of talented singer-song writers as well as popular bands such as The Henry Girls, The Pat McManus Band and NI Music Prize 2025 Single of the Year winners California Irish.

BBC’s Ralph McLean returned to host the sold out ‘Sunday Brunch’ at Flowerfield Arts Centre on the Sunday with songs and chat from Taylor Lally, Cormac Neeson, Malojian and Matt McGinn, with a fantastic brunch provided by Bazzar Street Food.

Villiers and the Villians helped round off this year’s Festival, performing songs by Bob Dylan, to a sold out Portrush Playhouse on the Sunday evening, and the crowds continued to keep the pace at the free Closing Party gig with The Jackie Rainey Duo in Kiwis Brew Bar, drawing a close to an incredible weekend of live music.

Mark your calendars for next November and look out for Atlantic Sessions because this Festival is most definitely on the up!

For more information visit Causeway Coast and Glens.