What can you expect?
A day of BBQ, pints and craic, with the From The Depths Metal Podcast lads spinning tunes, cooking grub, dishing out prizes and providing the banter.
A night of crushingly heavy music by eight bands from the Cursed Monk roster, and a monster raffle featuring prizes from the underground music, maker, and art scenes.
Why?
To raise money for the brave kids, and heroic staff at Temple St. Children's Hospital, and to honour the memory of my niece Ash who was so well looked after by Temple St. in her final months.
For the full story of how Monk Fest came to be, please check out our blog post Fear, Hope, Uncertainty, and Kindness: The Story of Monk Fest
BANDS
Tipperary based progressive sludge legends zhOra will be playing this year's Monk Fest.
zhOra is a progressive sludge metal band from Tipperary. Since 2011, they’ve twisted sludge, death, and post-metal into their own densely brutal sound.
With three records behind them, Almaz, Ethos, Pathos, Logos, and Mortals and appearances at Wacken and Bloodstock, zhOra has become a force in the European underground.
​A new album is coming in 2026 which will deliver a fitting evolution of zhOra’s unique brand of chaos.
Following the release of their outstanding new album Fust, Nomadic Rituals are set to return to Monk Fest and level it once again!
Nomadic Rituals are a powerhouse trio hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland, known for their crushing blend of heavy Sludge and Doom Metal.
Formed in 2012, the band consists of Craig Carson (Bass and Vocals), Peter Hunter (Baritone Guitar, Vocals and Synth), and Mark Smyth (Drum and Percussion). Since that time they have honed their talents for creating uniquely thunderous and immersive sounds that incorporate elements from the extreme breadth of Sludge and Doom Metal, along with layers of spaced out Psychedelia, and nods to Progressive Rock. The music delves into deep, expansive and resonant themes; each track offers a journey spoken through distorted guitars, booming rhythms, and guttural vocal accompaniments.
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Over the years, Nomadic Rituals has garnered a dedicated following with their relentless energy and uncompromising vision. Their discography boasts four albums and a split single, each pushing the boundaries of their genre and solidifying their place along the branches of metal music.
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Belgian Sludgy Post Metal trio OLDD WVRMS will be joining us for an exclusive show at this year's Monk Fest.
OLDD WVRMS offer a slow hypnotic & cinematic instrumental journey into the very depths.
‘Fear is the price for imagination’ these words can describe the descent into the depths of
this overwhelming instrumental landscape, drawing his inspiration from all things
obscure...
Feel the serpent crawl upon your flesh and embrace the haunting emptiness within.
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Coroza be joining us for this years Monk Fest, we just had to invite them back for round two after last years incredible performance.
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Playing a devastatingly heavy form of music, which encompasses heavy blues, metal, sludge, doom and stoner elements, Coroza was formed in Cork, Ireland in mid-2015 and over the course of two years honed their sound and style, leading to the release of their well-received self-titled demo in 2017.
Extensive gigging cemented them into the local scene and soon Coroza began appearing on bills around Ireland, landing support slots to international touring bands such as Conan, Bolzer and Tusker. 2019 saw the release of their debut album Chaliceburner which was met with positive reviews.
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Coroza's second album titled "As Within", was recorded and mixed by renowned producer Aidan Cunningham and mastered by Magnus Lindberg (Cult of Luna).
Formed in 2018 from the ashes of Coldwar, Mortichnia and Slave Zero, Fraught are a collective who pursue a vision for extreme music, encapsulating influences from Sludge, Death, Black and Doom Metal.
Their sound is expressive, suffocating, eclectic, yet cathartic. Their first EP was self-released in 2019 and was quickly succeeded by a second ep second EP entitled "Splitting Tongues" in 2021.
Their latest full-length album, "Transfixed on Dying Light" was released in Nov 2023 on Italian label "Argonauta Records" and accelerated Fraught's recognition on the International scene.
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No strangers to Limerick audiences, or Irish audiences for that matter, TOOMS will be tearing up the stage with their slippery brand of grindy sludge metal.
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Known for their explosive live show TOOMS have supported Crowbar, and Wolfbastard, toured England with Acid Throne, won the Metal 2 the Masses competition, played Bloodstock festival in England, as well as playing countless gigs around Ireland.
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You know them, you love them, it's fucking TOOMS
Molarbear are a bold and unpredictable take on sludge metal, fusing crushing heaviness with intricate, off-kilter rhythms to create a sound that is as intense as it is immersive.
Their music thrives on raw aggression and experimental depth, offering a sonic experience that is both challenging and rewarding.
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Since the release of their last full lenght (You Will Need Gods, Cursed monk Records, 2022) Molarbear have released a slew of singles, most recently the excellent A Light To Detonate The World. Molarbear are known for their high octane, crushingly heavy performances and are a live show not to be missed! Not only that, but they're also fuckin' gas craic!
With the help of Oliver Cunningham (Coroza, Astralist, On Pain Of Death) on drums, Alex Holzinger (TOOMS) on guitar, and Eoghan Galligan (Slung From A Tree) on bass, NOOSED will be fleshed out to a full band for the first time!
Originally started as a solo project in 2019 by myself, Rodger Boyle (Ruairi O'Baoighill, ÚATH, Cursed Monk Records) NOOSED has released 7 EPs, Noosed (2019), She of the Woods (2019), A Slow and Horrible Way to Die (2020), Butcher (2020, Trepanation Recordings), Rise (2020, Trepanation Recordings), and Omen (2023, Cursed Monk Records), and one compilation album consistng of rerecorded versions of the first 6 EPs, A Collection Of Filth (2021, Cursed Monk Records)
NOOSED music has been described as:
"A blown-out scuzz of a noise, fast fast fast where it needs to be and bloody furious." - The Sleeping Shaman
"Ireland’s NOOSED has come out with an album that we can build our mental, emotional, and physical strength to so that we’re prepared to push back at a desperate patriarchal power structure" - CVLT Nation
"This is the kind of release I can picture the band playing back to front as their set, with the mosh pit never being given the chance to rest." - Diaries of Doom
“Did I mention Noosed is fast? Because they are! Fast for a modern hardcore record even." - New Noise Magazine
CVLT Nation has also described NOOSED as a modern sludge band pushing the genre forward!
TICKETS & INFO
Tickets are available via the above QR code or by heading over to Eventbrite.ie here.
Tickets are €20 each and will allow access to the live performances upstairs in the venue beginning at 6pm with doors at 5.30pm.
The From The Depths Lane Party will begin at 3pm and will be free to attend.
There will be a BBQ at the Lane Party with fairly priced meat and vegetarian options.
A Cursed Monk Records stall, and a band merch stall will be upstairs in the venue.
The raffle will take place during the live performances with tickets available at the Cursed Monk Records stall.
WHERE'S MY MONEY GOING?
All money raised will be donated to Temple St. Children's Hospital and will be split between the Neurology Department and the Play Therapy Department.
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So how much of each sale is going there?
Ticket sales: All proceeds after costs.
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Monk Fest T-Shirt sales: All proceeds after costs.
BBQ sales: All proceeds after costs.
Raffle Tickets: All Proceeds.
Cursed Monk Stall: 50% of each sale.
WHERE AM I GOING?
Monk Fest 2025 will take place in Pharmacia Bar, Limerick City on July 5th 2025. Pharmacia is located at 9 Sarsfield St, Prior's-Land, Limerick, V94 E14K
Located a 13 minute walk from Limerick Bus/Train Station. For travel info to the station please check out the following sites:
For Bus - Bus Éireann
For Train - Iarnród Éireann
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Alternatively there is CityLink which runs the 712x bus service from Dublin Airport/City. This service picks up/drops off from Arthurs Quay which is a 3 minute walk from the venue.
They also have the 251 service which runs from Galway City, and from Cork Airport/City. This service picks up/drops off at Henry Street which is a 7 minute walk from the venue.
More info can be found here: CityLink.
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Accommodation in Limerick can be a bit tricky, and unfortunately quite expensive. Our advise would be to check the price comparison booking sites online and book somewhere soon as soon as possible!
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Hopefully we'll see you for Monk Fest 2025. THE HEAVIEST NIGHT OF THE SUMMER!!!
