Wild Roots 2023: Triumphant start to festival season
Gary Ibbotson 15 Jun 2023
One of Ireland’s first music festivals of the season, Wild Roots took place just outside Sligo town over the June bank holiday weekend.
In only its second year, festival organisers managed to create an impressive site for revelers, featuring a built-from-scratch Wild West area, Circus of the Wild, and Crafts Village.
Headlining over the three-days were Rudimental, Jenny Greene, Sasha, The Zutons, and Pillow Queens with Ham Sandwich, Ispíní na hÉireann and Ailbhe Reddy also putting on memorable performances.
Glorious sunshine basked the festival from the outset allowing patrons to enjoy all that it had to offer.
Kayaking at Lough Gill, hot tubs and massages at the wellness area, and a walk through the Enchanted Forest were all among the popular attractions.
Although it competed with Forbidden Fruit and Bord Bia’s Bloom in Dublin, Wild Roots was largely sold out, attracting a wide range of demographics, including families with young children.
Due to this year’s success, organisers have already announced early-bird tickets for 2023 at a discount price.
With its steady growth in mind, hopefully Wild Roots sticks around for the long-haul, providing a genuine alternative – along with Sea Sessions and Night and Day Festival in the west – to the several already established east-coast festivals.
Here’s to you, Wild Roots, and here’s to the beginning of the festival season.
All photos by Gary Ibbotson
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- A festival reveler dances with flags under the evening sun.
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- Phil Kiernan and the Ulster Orchestra put on an electronic-string hybrid set on the Mighty Oak Main Stage.
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- Several acrobats and gymnasts wowed viewers at the Circus of the Wild area throughout the weekend.
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- Swedish pop-duo, Jubel played a sunny set on the Wild West stage.
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- Pillow Queens were one of the highlights of Friday’s performances.
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- Pillow Queens’ bassist Sarah Corcoran.
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- Ispíní na hEireann played a stomper of a show in the Trad tent.
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