Co Armagh: hugely successful Era dance music festival to run over two weekends with Lurgan expansion encouraged
Armagh’s ERA dance music festival was so successful, when it was staged at the Shamble Yards last August, it is due to return in the form of two weekend events in 2026 – May 2-3 and August 29-30.
ABC Council officers are keen to replicate the success of the previous edition of the musical extravaganza, as it attracted large crowds, was very well managed, and boosted local trade.
At the November 24 meeting of Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon (ABC) Borough Council, a recommendation was made to approve the two weekend events.
Speaking at the meeting, head of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Brian Johnston commented: “This report relates to the Shambles Music Festival which is proposed for two weekends over May and August of next year.
“Members may be aware of the previous ERA event at the Shambles Yard, which was in August of this year. The event was very successful, [going by] the feedback from businesses in the area. In the end, I think there was in the region of 3,500 people who attended, and unanimously the feedback was very positive.”
Both weekend events will be aimed at a nostalgic audience in the 30+ age bracket, with various artists covering dance hits from the 1990s and 2000s, alongside country/traditional music. Running time on the Saturday will be 4pm to 10pm with the festival continuing the following day, 4pm to 9pm. The anticipated audience will be around 2,000 to 3,500 each day.
The relevant agenda item stated: “The concerts [will be] licensed and will include food vendors, with a focus on local Food Heartland providers. The event received widespread positivity in 2025 from businesses and from those attending.
“The organisers [Joanne Shilliday and the ERA Events Group team] hope to expand on this success, and deliver more local economic growth opportunities for Armagh city-centre businesses.
Potential Issues
“Consultations will take place with both churches in the area, as was the case in 2025. Event organisers will write to religious/community groups which may be affected, and continue to meet with them to find resolutions to any potential issues.
“The project promoter has given assurances that consultation will be held with local residents, particularly with Edward Street residents, and will host a consultation with interested residents in the Shambles Yard prior to the event.
“The project promoter has owned the Hole in the Wall Bar for 15 years, and also has the franchise for the Market Place Theatre Bar, both in Armagh City.”
Ald Gordon Kennedy (UUP, Cusher DEA) commented: “It was a very successful event, and when you read the positive feedback and the comments from businesses that saw their footfall increased, it was good, and it’s good to see they’re going to engage with local churches. So, happy enough to propose, as long as all the guidelines are met.”
Seconding the plans, Cllr Sarah Duffy (SF, Armagh DEA) commented: “I want to take a moment to commend Joanne Shilliday – I know she’s here tonight – and the entire team at ERA Events for their work at the fantastic event last summer, and for allowing us to go back and relive our younger years.
“What we have in front of us tonight is another example of Armagh City at its best. Vibrant, welcoming, and ambitious. The feedback included within the report speaks for itself. Our local hospitality providers reported a huge increase in trade as a result of Joanne’s creative and forward-thinking initiative.
“They have described it as invaluable for their businesses in the city centre, injecting life, energy, and vital custom right in the heart of Armagh.
“I also want to recognise the glowing feedback from PSNI on last year’s event, and the excellent communication Joanne carried out with the local nearby churches and residents.”
Councillor Kyle Savage (UUP, Lagan River DEA), who has long felt his part of the borough is ‘events-deprived’ at times, asked: “Is it possible to sit and talk to the promoter of this event, to see if there’s any opportunities to run other events right across the borough?”
Echoing Cllr Savage’s request, Cllr Peter Lavery (Alliance, Lurgan DEA) said: “Lurgan would be a great place for one of these events, so if Joanne is in the mood for expanding further out in the years to come, that would definitely be a place to go.”
Cllr John Óg O’Kane (SF, Armagh DEA) was delighted that Armagh had once again been chosen as the location for the 2026 editions of the music festival: “I would like to support this event too. It was a well-run event in the summertime, and it brought a great feel to Armagh city.
“The feedback shows how well it was run, and now, with the two weekends, hopefully it’ll bring more crowds to the restaurants, the hotels and things within Armagh City.”
Cllr Thomas O’Hanlon (SDLP, Armagh DEA) commented: “I wasn’t there, but the feedback locally was very positive. What I would ask is for Brian to come back with a policy around how the event space is booked, rather than having to come to council every time that there’s an event that somebody wants to do.”
Director of Development, Community & Wellbeing, Paul Tamati responded: “Regarding the hiring of council facilities or land etc. for future events, I’m very conscious that that’s a cross-departmental query, so we’ll need to collectively come back to you on that, and see how we can bring something forward that doesn’t need to come to committee every time we’re looking to hire council land or facilities.”
François Vincent, Local Democracy Reporter