My one day at Oxegen got me back in the festival spirit, and while spending the whole weekend camping was out of the question, a bank holiday weekend camping in Tullamore sounds far more appealing... And unlike the Oxegen campsite, the chances of getting stabbed seem quite slim.
Castlepalooza returns for its sixth year, and the festival shows no sign of losing momentum as this year seems set to be its most exciting yet.
Held on the grounds of Charleville Castle, Castlepalooza brings a fantastic musical mix to the midlands, highlights this year include Hip Hop legends Naughty by Nature, and electronic superstar Hudson Mohawke. Homegrown favourites Jape, and up and coming flamboyant Bitches With Wolves are also on the bill, along with a host of other Irish and International acts....
Right now on Facebook, Castlepalooza are offering an amazing 30% off weekend tickets for all new Facebook friends, so add them and go have a great weekend in the woods...
Obviously that it as rhetorical question, because everyone knows that it is Queen B, who runs the world...
When I heard that a female global superstar would be headlining one of the nights of Oxegen, I knew straight away that a) It was going to be Beyonce, and b) I had to be there! Mostly because I'm almost sure that after the Summer Jay-Z is gonna knock her up, and she won't be touring again for a few years, so I figured lets go she her whilst I still can.
Her set at Oxegen was spectacular. Her voice carried over the enormous crowd, and kept her legions of fans entertained all throughout her set.
The set itself was a fantastic mix of anthems, ballads, and heritage, as she belted out some of Destiny's Child's greatest hits, much to the delight of her fans, myself included. As a performer she is like no other. From complex dance routines, to her crowd interaction and participation (To the left, to the left!) she is top of her game. (She also seemed to be genuinely bemused, and somewhat flattered by the 60k crowd chanting "Whoop, DAT ASS!")
Admittedly after the show my only regret was that I hadn't watched her at Glastonbury three weeks earlier, while she was equally incredible both night, the setlist was pretty much the same, so her show to me wasn't as surprising, as to someone who hadn't seen any of her previous Summer performances. Someone like my mate Alan, who turned to be at the beginning of every song, to tell me the title. "Single Ladies", "Girls", "Jumpin' Jumpin'", "SURVIVOR!". I was like I know Alan, calm down love...
Even material from her new album, 4, had the audience spellbound, and impressively singing along to Best Thing I Never Had, and entranced as she sang 1+1.
I don't know much about AL-GER-BRUH either Beyonce, but I do know you put on one hell of a show at Oxegen, 2011...
This is a great viral video for The Made in Temple Bar event...
From July 15th - 24th, Temple Bar Cultural Trust is teaming up with more than 20 of our cultural neighbours, over 100 artists and performers and some of the most exciting creative companies in Ireland to celebrate 20 years of unique culture and regeneration in Dublin's Cultural Quarter.
Over 70 events taking place in Temple Bar will include premieres of site specific theatre, outdoor movies, specially commissioned art installations, Grammy award winning artists and even a world famous high wire walker!
Temple Bar Cultural Trust is delighted to bring you an imaginative, dynamic and extra special 10 day programme that will also include opportunities for young and old to get creative and make their own works of art, watch thrilling new art being made and take part in a conversation about culture that will involve hundreds of people
Look forward to checking out some of the events... Full programme of whats going on is available at the TEMPLE BAR WEBSITE.
and Ireland has muddy Oxegen. Oh well, heres hoping we get an early September heatwave and Electric Picnic resembles Coachella rather then a halting site, alá Oxegen.
In the mean time lets look at trendy wendy celebrities in revealing outfits...
Left Field (Picnic has this thing of getting acts that were relevant 20 years ago, broke up, reformed and now put on half the show they would have done in their hay-day. It's like when Bob Dylan plays the Marquee in Cork, he should have been there back in the 70's when he was cool. Not 30 years later playing to the children of your original fans, who are only going to see your show because you might be dead next time)
The Frames (Ok who hasn't seen The Frames live by now. I've seen them 3 times.)
John Lydon (You sell butter now, and you were terrible Picnic 08)
LCD Sound System (Amazing at Picnic 07, but been there, seen that)
Imelda May (I love the May, I would happily see her set)
PIL (Public Image Limited) (Who wants to see these geriatrics on stage!)
Hot Chip (Again Ive seen them at Picnic twice. Both times the crowd was very confused to hear their low-fi album tracks. Its a festival, they came for the hits.)
Massive Attack (Saw em, good show if your coming down.)
The National
Modest Mouse (Heard them at Picnic 07, they had them on in one of the smaller tents that of course had people flooding out of.)
Mumford and Sons
Seasick Steve (I love the Steve, I saw him at the Roisin in Galway so I'd go see him again)
Gil Scott Heron
The Waterboys (Again, another cool band that were great back in their day, but not relevant at all now)
Fat Freddy’s Drop
Bad Lieutenant
Afro Celt Sound System
Booka Shade
Jonsi (I would go see Jonsi, Sigor Ros front man, espically after his cover of MGMT's Time to Pretend on Radio 1's Live Lounge)
Steve Earle ( I HATE GALWAY GIRL! So no)
Paul Brady
Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77 (ONE TWO WHOOP WHOOP! I would love to see the Beetroot boys, they'd be cool)
Fever Ray (Another act thats high on my list of people to go see, its all kinda depends on her time slot. Should be amazing though)
Low Anthem
New Pornographers
Villagers
Adrian Crowley
Messiah J and the Expert
The Big Pink (They have one song. Dominos. Which is now totally overlplayed)
The Horrors (I liked the Horrors back in 07, but really havn't heard anything from them since)
The Alarm
808 State
Redneck Manifesto (Ok who hasn't seen these lads live before?)
Monotonix
Liquid Liquid
Here We Go Magic
Field Music
Steve Mason
Cymande
Dublin Gospel Choir (Everyone likes to go see them on the Sunday morning. Oh and my mate totally shagged the lead singer. What would Jesus say?)
Caribou
Edan
Breakestra & Chali 2 Na
Mr Scruff (I love the Scruff, his set would be cool)
Memory Tap (who?)
And thats about it. I won't be going. It's always a great weekend but €240 is a lot of money. Might check out Bestival or Isle of Wight instead. Oh and the promotional video only makes me wish I had gone to Picnic last year, didn't make me excited about this year at all.
Well if you are getting tickets, which go on sale Friday @ 9AM, have a great weekend! And just go with the flow, that's what Picnic is all about.
