Living in a city with such a vibrant music scene, the Happy Days Festival should be at the top of any music enthusiast’s to-do list. Featuring five independent artists on a secret running order, Happy Days Fest fosters an electric energy both on and off the stage. With dynamic acts meticulously curated to harmonize with one another and with the theme of the night, the festival transforms the intimate venue of Workman’s Cellar into a showcase of Ireland’s best up-and-coming talent. The March 20 showcase, which sold out, featured Sharkro School, Little Known, Digdeep, Gag Reflex, and CABL. A destination for grassroots acts and new music lovers alike, Happy Days Fest is a one-of-a-kind music event that simply cannot be missed.
Created and curated by the incredibly talented Maja Chiara, Happy Days Fest was conceived out of a passion for showcasing emerging grassroots acts within the Dublin music scene. With the festival growing continuously over the past two years, it sold out for the first time in March. Chiara’s dedication to introducing new talent to eager audiences has resulted in an event renowned for its vibrant energy. With a sharp eye for talent and an ability to harmonize bands across genres, anything bearing Chiara’s name is sure to be a roaring success. The latest installment of Happy Days Fest was no exception.
“While each act shared grunge and alt-rock influences, they all brought something unique to the stage, performing a mix of unreleased tracks and crowd favorites”
The theme for the night was “Throwback Thursday”, a fitting tribute to the best of Happy Days Fest to date. While each act shared grunge and alt-rock influences, they all brought something unique to the stage, performing a mix of unreleased tracks and crowd favorites. The night opened with Little Known, who took the stage shortly after 8:30pm. Featuring several tracks from their debut album As It Is, the Cork-based band’s music spanned the shoegaze spectrum — from indie anthems like Listen to deeper alt-rock vibes in Don’t Worry. Opening for any event can be daunting, but Little Known did not disappoint, creating an energetic atmosphere in the intimate venue and setting high expectations for the acts that followed.
Next up was Gag Reflex, an emerging band that has yet to release any official music. One of my personal favorites of the night, they paired poetically profound lyrics with heavy grunge and rock-infused beats, straddling the fine line between chaos and catharsis. The lead singer, Lili Karrenberg, whose star potential shone brightly even amid a band brimming with talent, stepped into the crowd halfway through the performance to soak up the energy alongside their fans. With music set to drop in April, Gag Reflex is definitely a band to watch.
Following Gag Reflex, DigDeep took the stage, maintaining the high-energy momentum. Leaning into the grungy chaos left behind, DigDeep brought their self-proclaimed “Bog Rock” out of the swamp and into Workman’s Cellar. Frenzied, hypnotic, and frantic, their set explored their post-rock roots and jazz influences. Special mention goes to Mort Bogman, the band’s “swamp creature” character, whose face paint was almost as captivating as the music itself.
The final two acts of the night, CABL and Shark School, had a high standard to live up to — and as you may have guessed, they did not disappoint. First was CABL, a band that has opened for acts like Pillow Queens and The Scratch, while also selling out headlining gigs at venues like The Grand Social and Sin É. Their indie rock sound, paired with folk revival undertones from the lead vocalist, evokes the early works of The Cranberries. Throughout their set, the band seamlessly blended a wide range of genres — from shoegaze to pop rock to indie folk — showcasing their unique sound.
Closing the show was the renowned Shark School, who may have been last, but were certainly not least. The Galway-based band brought their abstract grunge sound back to Dublin, playing to a crowd familiar with their energetic sets and sarcastic wit. Playing mostly unreleased music, the female-fronted band left the crowd on a high with their grunge and alt-rock vibes as the night wound down. With such an incredible lineup, it’s no wonder that Happy Days Fest was a resounding success.
Besure to grab your tickets early for the next edition of Happy Days Fest on June 19, just in time for Pride month — you won’t want to miss it!
