It’s the first rainy day after our sunny spell and looking out, I can’t help but be reminded of the wonderful festivals awaiting us!

Batching photos from last year’s Castle Palooza, I got thinking about the sheer variety of events planned each summer. Mega-fests like Oxegen and Electric Picnic dominate the music calendar but there really is so much more going on and often at a much cheaper rate. If, after a day and night of bright music and new friends, you’ve found yourself longing for mashed potato or dry loo roll at 4am, you’re better off going indie. It’s the small stuff that counts!

 

So here’s my festival wishlist 2008…chip in and rate your own favourites or recommend a band!

30 May - 2 June - SHAKEFEST - Tullamore, Co. Offally.
Irish music : some.
More a celebration of global unity in dance than musically-orientated, Shakefest at Charleville Castle this weekend promises an action-packed schedule: twenty workshops and short courses range from fire hula, jive, break-dancing and african drumming to gypsy flamenco and even burlesque! Family-friendly and focussed, Shakefest is a positive and peaceful environment: all proceeds go to the Ethiopian Community Development Project Gach Duine which works alongside NGO ‘Hope for Women and Children Association’ in the town of Adaba in Ethiopia. Raising awareness for the UN campaign aimed at a 24-hour global ceasefire in conjunction with International Day of Peace on 21 September, a special peace concert features reggae and dance alongside rock from Leanne Hart and Lauren Guillery on Saturday 31 May. Tickets for the whole weekend are €40 and camping costs €10 per night. Other prices across the weekend vary in concessions. Further details available from Charleville Castle’s blog. TICKETS!
GO IF : you need some sharp new moves.
DON’T GO : if Fatboy Slim’s Praise You brings on the cold sweats.

 

 

12-15 June - FUTURE DAYS - Dublin
Irish music : some.
Indie promoters Forever Presents and Foggy Notions team up for this urban/aural three-day sprawl of visionary music. Less than a month away, Future Days features sharpshooters Low, Dan Deacon, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Deerhunter, Matmos and Metronomy, backed up on home territory by Si Schroeder, Jape, Holy Roman Army and the Kitts‘ Spilly Walker. Previous performances left gig-goers gasping for more: Deerhunter disassembled their Dublin crowd twice in the last six months while Dan Deacon’s Whelans gig baptised the newly renovated space by breaking the sweat barrier. Keying into demand for breakthrough music without festival brouhaha, comfort is certainly a factor in the residence of two select venues, Vicar Street and ALT, recognised for atmospheric and acoustic merit. Saturday night’s Dan Deacon show is one one to watch and tickets (per-gig) throughout the weekend are very reasonable with Low’s ALT gig at €22.50 and cap-stone electronic Metronomy €15 on Sunday night. TICKETS!
GO IF: you’re making a stand against Tom Waits ticket prices. Maverick Will Oldham AKA Bonnie Prince Billy wraps up Vicar Street with Baby Dee on Sunday night.
DON’T GO : if your She-Pee and Bucky are packed.

 

18 - 20 July - ANALOG - Dublin
Irish music : some.
Of summer events planned for 2008, Analog is the one stirring a hush underground: tongue-in-cheek choice of opening act for the festival of the fabled Docklands happens to be sea-shandied Hal Wilner and the Rogues’ Gallery, a bawdy nod to the sailors and merchants who gave Grand Canal Dock its history An extra-special guest has been confirmed Lou Reed. ‘Chquerboard‘ supporting Iceland’s electronica compatriot Johann Johannsson followed by Arctic Circle sets the tone on Friday before the daring billing of post-rock Tortoise and Efterklang at the airy expanse of GCD. Dublin label 9-pt Records conduct Saturday to a close with Thread Pulls, enigmatic side-project of Cap Pas Cap’s Gavin Duffy and Peter Maybury. Draw of the weekend must go to Analog’s commission of caustic novelist Jonathan Coe and the High Llamas‘s multi-faceted production Say Hi to Rivers and the Mountains on Sunday night in chq. Considering the impact HL had on Irish rock history (they were recently rated in The Ticket’s Top 40 Irish Albums), my gut says it will be a remarkable finale to the weekend. TICKETS!
GO IF : you love sound across glass and water.
DON’T GO : if you’re expecting Irish DJ duo Analog. They run Club AC30 Dublin now.

 

15 June - 5 July - CORK MIDSUMMER FEST - Cork City
Irish music : plenty!
Running a staggering twenty-one days, Cork Midsummer Fest casts off with boat rides and facepaint at the fifth Lord Mayor’s Picnic in the Park. Aiming for as broad an audience it can cater for with popular culture, this year’s predictions already estimate attendance to reach 90,000. Secret events and locations will be announced day-to-day and include debut appearances of Dutch play Braakland and notable photographer Spencer Tunick, whose work with the human nude en masse was used to highlight concern for Greenpeace. An Irish installation of Tunick’s work will be composed at this time and interested parties can enroll at www.spencertunickireland.ie. Events are staggered throughout locations in Cork city, the Irish Examiner Spiegeltent providing a hub for serious action from The Fall, Faust, Camille and local lads The Frank and Walters, who’ll perform The Grand Parade in its entirety before particpating in a Q&A session. Also with a look-in are Rulers of the Planet and Jodavino. TICKETS!
GO IF : Dark Side of the Moon dubbed to Wizard of Oz rocked your socks at EP.
DON’T GO : if chatty audiences drive you mad.

 

4 - 6 July - LIFE FESTIVAL - Galway
Irish music: some.
Set amongst a lake and landside steeped in history (the Fir Bolg and Tuatha De Dannan warred in the region and relics of early Christianity abound), Life Festival prides itself on capturing a vitalic side of summer. Reggae stalwart Max Romeo is joined by trance outfit Hallucinogen, psychedelic Ocelot and other high-octane acts along with some Irish involvement from Green Monitor. While branching out towards roots and reggae, Life is geared more to electronica/dance than the ambience of global-music contemporaries. Security will be tightened this year after a severe bout of fence jumping in 2007 threw the event’s future into doubt and anyone without a ticket will meet a frosty reception so be warned!
GO IF : it was a crying shame about HiFi. TICKETS!
DON’T GO : near the fence!

 

24 - 27 July - KNOCKANSTOCK - Valleymount, Co. Wicklow
Irish music : loads!
If you love the jaunt and flair of a certain knot of bands - I think of them collectively as SHMM : SickHotMurderMerchants - this three day sojourn to the Blessington Lakes is your one. Closely involved with HumanMusic.ie, who’ve conjured a flow of life into Dublin’s McGruders and Voodoo of late, Knockanstock’s set to fill hallowed Wicklow valleys with more loud, musical heathens than St Kev could shake a Celtic cross at. A genuinely homespun event operated on a voluntary basis, Knockanstock’s cheerful and cheap as matchsticks, its sole aim to showcase anti-pop potential. UK bands The Prelude, Rook and the Ravens and Whiskycats will show their support on the schedule which looks set to feature firm favourites Sickboy, Hot Sprockets, Murder of Crows and Lauren Guillery. Official line-up and ticket prices are revealed on 27 May.
GO IF : showers aren’t an issue.
DON’T GO : if denim makes you look fat.

 

1- 3 August - INDIE-PENDENCE - Cork
Irish music : loads!
Based at Mitchelstown’s New Square, it’s third year lucky for Indie-Pendence. Inaugral years ‘06 and ‘07 cemented its stature as a fun weekend and some of the coolest new bands are on hand to chill out in the deep south heat: already on the line-up are Alphastates, Cathy Davey, Ham Sandwich, The Flaws, The Blizzards, Fight Like Apes and New Amusement. Organised for fans and bands, the festival runs on a completely free basis depending upon sale of merchandise and donations to keep afloat. Plans for a full-scale camping event were nixed earlier this year but sure, if it works, why fix it?! FREE!
GO IF : there’s more to life than cheese.
DON’T GO : if you’re sick of Dirty Epics.

 

2 - 3 August - CASTLE PALOOZA - Tullamore, Co. Offally
Irish music : loads!
Charming as a genuine boutique festival with better facilities, in just three years Castle Palooza made its mark on the summer calendar. Intentionally limited to a capacity of 2000, the weekend acts as a barometer for the hottest Irish bands and cool international headliners. 2007’s Sister Sledge are given a run for money by Yaz Alexander this year and geek-pop Buen Chico come for a lesson in cool. Also courting the castle are Kormac, Fight Like Apes, Robotnik and DJ sets from Republic of Loose and London’s Mystery Jets. If you fancy sharing a beer with a bassist or surf pop from a tree-swing, this festival promises all the fun and variety of the Picnic without miles of males pissing on graffiti. The overall atmosphere is a glorious gaff party. Three-dimensional as a creative venture, Castle Palooza also prides itself on a wide array of art, dance and alternative therapies to indulge the sensitive side. A massage booth is an astute move considering the campsite sits on ancient ruins, so bring a bedroll! Food’s above-standard burger fare with gourmet pie, crepe and salad stalls. TICKETS!
GO IF: parapets and crenellations send you tizzy.
DON’T GO: if you need 40,000 people to hide your come-down.

 

1 - 3 August - MANTUA PROJECT - Roscommon
Irish music : plenty!
Established from humble dreams of a group of friends, 2008’s Mantua could just be the best yet. Seaming the festival into an independent, intense experience are five stages - main, Alphabet Set, Rootical Reggae, Dionysus and The Low End - each with inspired line-ups. Farmers will rush to lock up their livestock as thrilling international acts from America (Daedelus, Build An Ark), Iceland (Múm), Germany (Poets Of Rhythm), South Africa (BLK JKS) and the UK (Gravenhurst, The Victorian English Gentlemens Club) converge on the heart of Ireland with intent, Festus Coxsone and Levi Roots - I grew up with his Reggae Reggae Sauce in Brixton! - being truly unmissable as pioneers in the early UK sound system scene for three decades. Our raggy bunch will storm close behind: SuperExtraBonusParty, GiveAManAKick, Jinx Lennon, The Infomatics , Terrordactyls, Los Langeros, Green Monitor, Estel and Ham Sandwich are all confirmed across the weekend. Reach and !Kaboogie/Wobble will oversee the Low End stage. One schedule absolutely bursting with talent, Mantua Project would be my ultimate festival choice for 2008. Art installations are yet to be announced but a cinema is definite and the food/drink lesiure area has been significantly expanded. Ticket tax is a reasonable €85.50 for three days including camping. TICKETS!
GO IF : you’re so over neon.
DON’T GO : if earthquakes ain’t cool. The ground will pound….

 

11 - 16 July - BELSONIC - Belfast
Irish music : some.
Another new contender for the urban fest is Belsonic, a series of large scale out-door events at Custom House Square in Belfast. The Flaming Lips are always welcome on our shores especially when they bring Mogwai in tow! Joined by Jape and the north’s own Oppenheimer to kick-start the celebrations on Monday, a further four nights are planned for the convenient city location. Information is limited at time of writing although The Zutons and The Go! Team are confirmed to wrap up the week on Friday 15th. Watch this space for more or visit the www.belsonic.com…admission looks set at £35. TICKETS!
GO IF : human hamster balls and aliens Santa are your stuff of dreams.
DON’T GO : for relaxation. As a city-centre event, the square will throng.

 

16 - 17 August - SOLAS - Huntingdon Castle, Co. Carlow
Irish music : loads!
Skim larger events’ feel-good factor of staggered stages and line-up diversity, layer it over the intimacy and buzz of independent fests and you get Carlow’s ambitious Solas. Bright and cheerful as the name suggests, the organisers strive to cosset every taste with compelling results: I guarantee you won’t see The Coronas share the bill with God Is An Astronaut again. Dublin-based Human Music again command one of the seven stages, resident criminals Hassle Merchants and Sickboy set to take hostages across the weekend. Stand-out act of the weekend is Japan’s A Guy Called Gerald on the electronic Spectrum stage. Charged sets from Noise Control, Electric City DJs and Johnny Moy/Arveene collaboration Clampdown while extra stages put on world and roots music, after-hours, acoustic and dramatic performances from the Druids’ Theatre Co.
On-site showers, free camping and Solas’ efforts to promote alcohol tolerance by teaming up with local pubs to provide a varied bar and off license service - yes, you can bring your own! - sees a key element of relaxation and friendliness emerging. TICKETS!
GO IF : you love early hours campfire sing-alongs.
DON’T GO : if you rather liked €8 Electric Picnic pint glasses.

 

22 - 24 August - FESTIVAL OF WORLD CULTURES - Dun Laoghaire
Irish music : some.
Maintaining a pivotal role as a portal of Irish history, Dun Laoghaire’s famous seafront blazes colour every summer for a celebration of global diversity, bringing pomp, glory and human music from all over the world. If you ever watch adverts for rum and wish to be the smooth mover with the lime, now’s the chance. Line-up and tickets are announced 16 June though sultry Chinese songstress Sa Ding Ding is confirmed as headline act to wrap the August weekend in the Pavillon Theatre.
GO IF: you love Vampire Weekend’s afro-beats or gaudy Gogol Bordello.
DON’T GO : if you loathe Hippie merch….

 

Sadly there’s no info on MCD’s Cois Fharraige other than it will definitely go ahead this year. Let you know more when I do!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 at 12:23 pm and is filed under Festivals, Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.