SingForMe warming up

The much-anticipated SingForMe festival, promoting positive mental health, is just around the corner and attendees are being urged to secure tickets as another sellout is on the horizon.

Speaking about the online ticket system, founder Leanne Coyle said: “Last year it sold out. That was the first time it ever sold out! So, I’m pushing people to buy tickets online if they can just so we have an idea of the crowd numbers. “

SingForMe is a three-night festival taking place from Friday, August 25 to Sunday, August 27 in Blessings’ Bar, Cavan.

Excited about the impressive line-up over the three nights, Leanne enthused: “This year there’s a bit or a mix of acoustic acts, full bands and it ranges from Punk to Rock to Cover bands. ‘Big Generator’ are headlining on the Sunday so that’s a huge deal, we’ve never had a band that big before. On the Saturday night, ‘Thinner Lizzy’ are headlining, they’re a Thin Lizzy tribute band and they play all over the country as well, they’re unbelievable.”

Bands from Dublin, Cork, Galway, Longford and Wicklow are all set to take to the stage this year in support of the festival, which has grown since its inception. “We’ve reached a bigger demographic this year,” said a delighted Leanne.

She also said the festival is keen to promote local talent.

“The rest of the nights there’s a mix of local bands, like bands starting up around Cavan. We always try to support the younger bands and people who are starting out,” she said.

SingForMe was set up in 2018, following Leanne’s battle with her own mental health.

“I’m quite open about speaking about my experiences. I had trouble growing up with my mental health and what kind of helped me through everything was music and photography.

“I was never into football or what everybody else was into. So I knew there were other people out there that found solace in music, photography and art and I wanted to put my knowledge of music and my knowledge of mental health and mix it in. Because it did help me and I know it helps so many people.”

Representatives of local and national mental health organisations will also be in attendance, offering information and guidance for those who need it.

“It’s not pushing it on them at all. It’s there if they need it and it’s just a great way of getting that information spread to a younger crowd,” said Leanne.

The past five years of SingForMe have proven to be a tremendous success, with the festival getting bigger and better each year.

“Every year it’s been getting bigger and growing. It started off as a one night festival and then it grew to two nights and now it’s a three night festival.

“It is charity based, so every year we try to give money to a non-government funded charity group. This year we’re giving it to kennels and they’re based in Ballymahon.”

Cian’s Kennels is a charitable organisation that was set up in March 2020 in memory of Cian Neary, aimed at providing kennelling facilities close to the children’s hospital in Dublin.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Cian’s Kennels can do so through their website, or by speaking to them over the weekend at the SingForMe festival.

Those who do not wish to stay for the gig are urged to make a donation on the day, or purchase merchandise from Blessing’s Bar over the weekend.