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nightlife · Saturday 11 July 2026 · 8:00pm 
Kells Summerfest 2026 - Outdoor Country Concert at Headfort Arms
At Headfort Arms Hotel Garden · Headfort Place, Kells, Co. Meath
At Headfort Arms Hotel Garden · Headfort Place, Kells, Co. Meath
An outdoor country party in the walled garden of one of Meath’s most welcoming town-centre hotels, Kells Summerfest 2026 brings two serious tribute acts to Kells on a July Saturday evening. If you have any fondness for outlaw country or Chris Stapleton’s brand of gravelly modern Americana, this is a well-put-together night out - proper live music, food on site, and an open-air setting that makes the most of a summer evening.
Two tribute acts perform back-to-back from 8pm in the Headfort Arms Hotel garden. First up are The Highwaymen Reincarnated, who cover the outlaw-country catalogue of Cash, Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kristofferson - the songs that defined a particular strain of American roots music and still fill any room they play. The second act is Tennessee Whiskey, billed as the ultimate Chris Stapleton tribute, bringing the big voice and the heavy-soul sound that made albums like Traveller and From A Room such a word-of-mouth phenomenon.
An outdoor bar runs throughout the evening alongside a pizza service on site, so there is no need to eat before you arrive or queue at the interval. Country attire is encouraged - which is part of the fun of a night like this. Doors open at 7pm, giving you time to get a spot and settle in before the music starts at 8pm sharp.
Kells sits on the N3 Dublin to Cavan road, roughly 55 kilometres north-west of Dublin city centre. By car it is about 50 minutes from the M50, with straightforward parking available in the town. Bus Eireann route 109 connects Kells with Busáras in Dublin, with a journey time of around 70 minutes - a reasonable option if you want to enjoy the outdoor bar without driving home afterwards. The Headfort Arms is on Headfort Place in the centre of town, a short walk from the bus stop.
Kells itself is worth arriving early for - the town is home to an early medieval monastic site, a round tower, and strong connections to the famous illuminated manuscript. A summer Saturday afternoon exploring the town before an evening concert makes for a full day out. There is more to see in Kells and across Co. Meath.
Heading to Headfort Arms Hotel Garden in Kells? Meath has plenty more to see. Read the Kells area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.