Villagers and Pillow Queens headline Tipperary’s standout boutique festival this weekend

This weekend, one of Ireland’s most distinctive small festivals returns to Clonmel, Co. Tipperary with a line-up that blends headline acts, emerging talent, and a vibrant local arts scene.

Now in its fourth year, When Next We Meet has quietly established itself as a vital fixture in Ireland’s summer music calendar, offering something different from the typical big-stage experience.

Held across June 7 and 8 in the scenic grounds of Raheen House, the festival’s programming leans heavily into atmosphere, curation, and community.

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The 2025 edition boasts some of the most compelling names in Irish music today, led by critically acclaimed acts such as Villagers, Pillow Queens, and Morgana.

Villagers, the Mercury Prize-nominated project of Conor O’Brien, will perform their only full-band show of the summer exclusively at When Next We Meet.

Described by organisers as their “biggest booking to date,” the Sunday night set promises to be a defining moment for the festival.

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Joining them on Sunday is Paddy Hanna, known for his eccentric lyricism and baroque pop stylings, with new material from his recently released album Oylegate. David Geraghty (Bell X1) brings his solo project, Join Me In The Pines, to the same stage, alongside rising folk voice Zoé Basha.

Saturday’s line-up is no less striking. Pillow Queens perform in Tipperary after a breakout few years that saw them tour internationally and build a loyal following with their raw, harmony-rich alt-rock.

They’re joined by Morgana—Morgan MacIntyre’s solo work outside of Saint Sister—which continues to receive attention for its richly layered, cinematic-pop sound.

Post-punk provocateur Skinner will also perform, alongside a host of emerging local artists.

Beyond the headline names, When Next We Meet sets itself apart by foregrounding artists with strong regional roots. The Hidden Gems Stage, programmed in collaboration with the Tipperary Museum of Hidden History, features performances from singer-songwriter Eve Whelan, emerging soft-rock artist Noah Hayes, Cork-based Bowden (featuring Clonmel native Pádraig Dempsey), and Sun Merchant, a genre-bending act inspired by folk, gypsy jazz, and blues. Other artists across the weekend include Briars, The Wood of O and MDR.

Local music isn’t the only thing on offer. The festival will once again feature installations and live art from Tipperary collective R.A.T.S. (Random Artists of Tipperary South), as well as workshops and exhibitions throughout the weekend.

A newly added Sunday Fair will showcase activists, art vendors, tattoo artists, and craftspeople—turning the festival into a multi-sensory experience that extends beyond the stage.

Catering comes courtesy of crowd favourites The Oven (wood-fired vegetarian flatbreads) and My Street Food, with additions including Wildfox Coffee, Rom’s Crêpe Station, and host venue Raheen House Hotel.

Tickets, starting from €45 plus booking fee, are still available at whennextwemeet.ie. With capacity strictly limited and advance buzz growing, organisers are encouraging music fans to book ahead.

Supported by IMRO, Bulmers, Camida, Tipperary County Council, Tipperary Museum of Hidden History, Clonmel Credit Union and Beat 102 104, When Next We Meet is shaping up to be one of the most intimate and thoughtfully curated events of the summer—firmly establishing Clonmel as a small town with big festival energy.