Plans revealed for new major concert venue for popular festival in Waterford city
Winterval has announced its plans for a new 1,200 capacity venue in Waterford
Plans have been revealed for a major new concert venue for a popular festival in Waterford city.
Winterval has announced its plans for a new 1,200 capacity venue, which will be known as ‘The Hive’.
Purpose-built for the festival, The Hive will provide a premium live entertainment experience in a fully heated, standing and seated, fully floored venue.
Complete with a dedicated foyer and bar, the venue has been designed as a vibrant new home for large-scale indoor concerts and comedy performances.
This will significantly expand Winterval's evening entertainment offering and create a new destination at the heart of Ireland's Christmas festival.
The High Kings will officially open The Hive on Thursday, December 18, becoming the first act to perform in the venue while simultaneously launching their nationwide Power of the People Tour 2027.
Waterford has been selected as the opening date of the tour, giving audiences the opportunity to experience the band's new live show before anywhere else in Ireland.
Fresh from the biggest chapter of their remarkable career, The High Kings continue to enjoy international success.
Following their largest-ever world tour, which included sold-out performances across Ireland, the UK, Europe, North America and Australia, the band now attracts millions of streams every week.
Their latest single, The Irish Roar, has surpassed one million streams and one million video views.
Their return to Waterford is expected to be one of the highlights of the festive season.
Joining them at The Hive are one of Ireland's most influential rock bands, The Boomtown Rats.
Led by Bob Geldof alongside original members Garry Roberts, Pete Briquette and Simon Crowe, the band enjoyed a string of international hits between 1977 and 1985.
Since reforming in 2013, The Boomtown Rats have continued to captivate audiences across Ireland, the UK and North America.
Their acclaimed 2020 album Citizens of Boomtown introduced new material to a new generation of fans.
To mark their 50th anniversary, they released The First 50 Years: Songs of Boomtown Glory, a career-spanning collection personally curated by the band.
The anniversary was further celebrated with a sold-out tour of major cities across the UK.
Their Winterval appearance promises to be one of the festival's defining live performances.
Completing the opening line-up is Mad Ferritt, Ireland's original Oasis tribute act.
Formed by musicians from the south east, the band has earned its reputation for recreating the ‘wall of sound’ that made Oasis one of the biggest rock bands in the world.
Inspired by legendary performances including Live by the Sea and There and Then, Mad Ferritt aim to capture the atmosphere, attitude and energy of Oasis at the height of their fame.
Fans can expect an unforgettable night featuring timeless anthems including Wonderwall, Don't Look Back in Anger, Champagne Supernova and Live Forever, making it the perfect celebration for Oasis fans old and new.
Speaking about the launch of The Hive, Trevor Darmody, Director of Winterval, said: “The Hive represents one of the most exciting developments in Winterval's history and marks a significant step forward for the festival.
“It allows us to greatly expand our live entertainment programme while providing audiences with a premium indoor venue capable of hosting major concerts and comedy shows throughout the festive season.
“To launch The Hive with artists of the calibre of The High Kings, The Boomtown Rats and Mad Ferritt is a tremendous statement of intent.
“This is just the beginning, and we are looking forward to announcing many more exciting headline acts over the coming weeks.”
The Hive will form part of Winterval's biggest entertainment programme to date, complementing the festival's extensive family attractions, festive markets, seasonal experiences and cultural events.
The addition of a dedicated large-scale indoor venue will look to further strengthen Winterval's position as Ireland's premier Christmas festival.
Further headline acts for The Hive will be announced over the coming weeks.
Tickets for performances at The Hive go on sale on Friday, August 7 at 10am, with prices from €38.50.
Tickets, accommodation offers and further information are available at www.winterval.ie.