Who is Luke Combs, the country music star headlining Slane Castle next summer?
Luke Combs will play Slane Castle next year
US country star Luke Combs will headline Slane Castle next summer, MCD confirmed on Thursday.
He will be joined at Slane Castle by The Script, as well as country acts Ty Myers and The Castellows, for what will be the first gig at the historic venue in Meath since Harry Styles graced the stage in 2023.
Rumours had been swirling that U2, Oasis, and Fontaines DC could headline the venue next year, leaving many surprised to see the name of Luke Combs announced as the venue’s next headliner.
This will be Comb’s second time in Ireland, having sold out both the 3Arena and Belfast’s SSE Arena in October 2023.
The gig will take place on July 18, with tickets going on sale next Friday at 10am.
Country music stars are no strangers to Comb’s signature sound, a mix of traditional country, Southern rock, and a hint of bluegrass.
His storytelling, often reflecting themes of love, heartbreak, and the everyday struggles of life, has resonated deeply with audiences worldwide.
He may be unfamiliar to some, but the 35-year-old North Carolina native is a giant of country music, sitting alongside Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton and Zach Bryan as contemporary pioneers of the genre, and boasts more than 25 million monthly listeners on Spotify, placing him in the top 250 artists on the platform.
Luke Albert Combs was born in North Carolina in 1990, the only son of Rhonda and Chester Lee Combs, whom he credits with instilling a strong work ethic in him and working tirelessly to give him everything he needed growing up.
Growing up, Combs showed an early interest in music, but when he attended Appalachian State University, his musical aspirations began to take shape.
Influenced by country music legends such as Brooks & Dunn and Garth Brooks, he began performing at local bars and honing his craft.
As his career progressed, so did his music, breaking into the music scene in 2014 with his EP
Combs really began making a name for himself in 2016 with his single , which sold 15,000 copies in its first week of release.
A deal with Sony Music Nashville followed, and when it was re-released, soared to the top of the Billboard charts.
In 2019, Combs was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry, and several more albums and a collaboration with Ed Sheeran later, he has continued to make waves on the music scene.
Combs is a father of two, married to his wife Nicole Hocking, whom he met at the 30A Songwriters Festival in Santa Rosa Beach in Florida in 2016.
Two years later, they announced their engagement while on holiday in Hawaii and a few days later, he released the hit about his bride-to-be.
In August 2020, they tied the knot at their home in South Florida in front of friends and family, and in June 2022, the couple announced that they had welcomed their first child, Tex Lawrence Combs.
In August 2023, their second son, Beau Lee, arrived in the world. In September, Combs revealed that they were expecting his third child this winter.
MCD Promotions confirmed on Thursday that Combs would be taking to the stage in Slane on Saturday, July 18.
Combs will return to the road this spring with his My Kinda Saturday Night tour, which includes stadium shows across North America and Europe.
Newly confirmed stops include Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, South Bend’s Notre Dame Stadium, Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium, Columbus’ Ohio Stadium, Green Bay’s Lambeau Field, London’s Wembley Stadium, Amsterdam’s Johan Cruijff Arena, Edinburgh’s Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium and Slane Castle.
Special guests for Slane Castle include The Script, Ty Myers, and The Castellows.
Tickets will be limited to eight per transaction and priced from €121.25, including a booking fee.
They will be available for pre-sale starting next Wednesday, October 15 at 10am, with general on-sale following Friday, October 17 at 10am.
