FAA Side Showcase
Words: Oscar Meagher
An upcoming Drogheda-based event aims to highlight the area’s grassroots music scene. It’s titled the FAA Side Showcase, the namederiving from a local term for town residents.
Anyone from Drogheda is on “the FAA side.”
Funded by Louth County Council’s Sound Town Initiative, the show aims to reaffirm the area as a centre of cultural significance while celebrating its influence on the country's broader artistic identity.
The event is a joint effort between Torann, founded by CABL artist Luke White, and Drogheda Groove Movement, a community-driven collective dedicated to revitalising the town’s music and nightlife culture.
With the rising cost of living, and particularly after COVID, local venues were finding it much harder to stay open,” said White. “Places that my parents would have gone to, that had been open for decades, were quickly shutting down”.
“There was virtually no music scene. Some bands had to move up to Dublin to get anything moving.”
Following the pandemic, a few of us, who didn’t even really know each other, started talking about organising something,” he added. “We wanted to make an event that highlighted Drogheda’s great cultural space”.
The line-up is set to include Khidyie, an Irish-Hong Kong singer-songwriter. Her sound is described as a blend of folk and indie dream-pop, shaped by artists such as Norah Jones and Jeff Buckley. She was named one of Ireland's "criminally underrated artists" by District Music and declared the "Best New Contemporary Folk EP of 2026 " by Paper Media.
Khidyie Press Photo
Also involved are HotGirl, the Drogheda-based band created by vocalist Ashley Abbedeen, guitarist Sophie Boxwell, drummer Nick Stanley and bassist Jake Hurley. The group’s take on alternative rock has led them to sold-out shows in venues such as Dublin’s Olympia Theatre and Brixton’s Windmill.
Hot Girl Press Photo
Also playing is Jake Moran, known as JKE. He’s a Drogheda-based DJ, promoter, as well as the co-founder of Drogheda Groove Movement. JKE plays an extensive range of electronic music, including genres such as IDM, Jungle, Early Gabber/Techno, Deep house and more.
JKE Press Photo
CABL, the self-proclaimed “indie rock band put through a broken dishwasher,” are also involved. Their members include guitarist Ben Mooney, vocalist Ava Durran, drummer Cian O’Donnell and Torann founder Luke White. Since their debut in 2021, the group have secured support slots with bands such as Pillow Queens, The Scratch, Ulrika Spacek, Robocobra Quartet and Kynsy. They have also headlined sold-out shows in The Grand Social, Sin E, Whelan’s and Workman’s.
CABL Press Photo
Other acts included in the lineup are Quasi Collective, Bot Mars, Clur, General Operative, Sly Bacon and Julian Knows, the newest era of Indie-Rock music released under Irish artist David San Clair. The genre-bending bbft, will also be making an appearance. They’re described as “Sometimes glitchy. Sometimes harsh. Sometimes soft and dreamy. Always unexpected.”
“We got funding from Louth County Council to help put this on, but we’re not going to be seeing any of that,” said Jordan Bohan of Drogheda Groove Movement. “All the money is going straight to the artists”.
“We’re very DIY when it comes to the set-up,” he added. “We supply a lot of the production equipment ourselves. We have our own lighting rig, lighting jock, and our own PA”.
“The night is going to be accessible for everyone. People who might not be into the heavier side of music will still find something that resonates with them. We’re gonna try to show them something new.
“The goal is to highlight the talent that exists here. This will hopefully be the start of a new music scene in Drogheda. Something more community-based.”
The Faa Side Showcase is happening on August 8th in Odd Mollies. Doors open from 4 pm to 1:30 am.
BBFT Press Photo
Tickets are priced at €5 per person, and free if you’re wearing a Drogheda jersey.