If you’re wondering which up-and-coming new Irish acts to watch out for this year, you could save yourself some time spent trawling through lists by checking out the Ones to Watch Festival next week.

Whelan's has hosted the event since 2010 and it will run to the Dublin venue from next Wednesday, January 9th, until Saturday, January 12th. The low-cost festival (€5 per day or €10 for a four-day ticket) mixes a hefty line-up of new Irish acts with several established names.

This year, that list includes Mossy Nolan, Slow Skies, Girl Band, Hidden Highways, Ginnels, Windings, Skelocrats, Little Bear, Twin Terrace, Bantum, The Notas and many more. More than 40 acts will be spread across three stages.

Festival organiser Vincent Dermody hopes that Ones to Watch will eventually become the "definitive Irish annual showcase". "We're aiming, within a year or two, to incorporate both radio and TV support for the festival," he said. For more, see whelanslive.com

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