Live Review
State @ Bestival 2011 – Sunday
Galleries by Claire Weir: Friday | Saturday | Sunday… Four days in and I’ve still got a few goosebumps left in the tank. James Blake is nearing the end of his early evening Big Top set, and as the bass tremors burrow up through the grass my soles are vibrating. Blake’s live set, like...READ »
State @ Bestival 2011 – Saturday
Galleries by Claire Weir: Friday | Saturday | Sunday… I think we’re out of luck with the weather. The clouds look like they’re about six feet above our heads and they’re getting blacker by the minute. After yesterday’s techno crusade it’s time for a well-earned siesta, which means we sacrifice a few bands to...READ »
State @ Bestival 2011 – Friday
Galleries by Claire Weir: Friday | Saturday | Sunday… Most of your plans evaporate at festivals. The so-called ‘early’ night on Thursday turns into a wake-up call on Friday morning with my face stuck to a plastic bag in the corner of a mate’s tent, eyeballs sewn in with red thread. A quick glance...READ »
State @ Bestival 2011 – Thursday
Galleries by Claire Weir: Friday | Saturday | Sunday… Bestival arrives at a funny old time – a few days after the Electric Picnic we’re still finding bruises, chasing lost sleep and scraping muck off our boots, while packing for the last big hurrah of the festival season. And we really can’t kid ourselves...READ »
Dolly Parton – Dublin
Ever since I was a little girl, Dolly Parton has been on the top of my list for Dream Next Door Neighbour. Even now, I could imagine being out in my garden, just chilling, maybe feeling a bit contemplative. Then I’d see Dolly over the fence. She’d come over and say hey, decked head...READ »
Electric Picnic 2011: Underworld, Oh Land, Japanese Popstars & Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Oh Land – Electric Arena The body had now taken a two-day pounding and it’s almost by accident we walk on site and into the Electric Arena where Oh Land is serving some morning pop. On stage is just Ms Øland and two guys either side on keys, for this, her first Irish gig....READ »
Electric Picnic 2011: Moths & Austra
Moths Heart-pumping electronica from the 18 year-old producer representing the Newbridge massive. From complete unknown to much-hyped Irish producer and remixer of a marquee name like Interpol (all while pumping out enough study to respectively finish his Leaving Certificate exams) in just over six months, Jack Colleran hasn’t had much time to catch up...READ »
Electric Picnic 2011: Beirut & Pulp
Beirut – Main Stage Dusk is falling on the final day in Stradbally and revellers are weary, and a little bit woozy – a perfect combination for the music of Beirut. Zach Condon has just released his third LP. Cultured by his trips around the Balkans, France and Mexico, The Rip Tide… is somewhat...READ »
Electric Picnic 2011: The Cast Of Cheers, Gemma Hayes, The Minutes
The Cast Of Cheers, Cosby Stage There’s a warm Sunday afternoon welcome home for the recently relocated The Cast Of Cheers, who overcame the unfortunate saga of equipment theft to but on a powerful a set in on the Cosby Stage. One of the most talked about bands of 2010 thanks to their distinctive...READ »
Electric Picnic 2011: James Vincent McMorrow, Best Coast, The Danger Is
James Vincent McMorrow, Crawdaddy Stage The Crawdaddy Stage is at capacity long before James Vincent McMorrow makes his appearance – what a difference a year makes, as a man who had an opening slot on the same stage in Stradbally last year is now one of Electric Picnic’s most anticipated acts. McMorrow is a...READ »
Electric Picnic 2011: I Am Kloot, John Grant, OMD
I Am Kloot, Crawdaddy Stage Quite an early start for the notoriously heavy-drinking I Am Kloot and John Bramwell does confirm to us that he did have a big night. We get a long, orchestral introduction and then sweep into the most recent album’s opener, ‘Northern Skies’, just tender enough for the aching heads...READ »
Electric Picnic 2011: Arcade Fire, Chemical Brothers
Arcade Fire, Main Stage Aah, the weight of expectation. Reasons why 2005’s legendary tented gig at EP was a success: they got a much bigger crowd due to word-of-mouth for the slowly-catching-on Funeral… album. They had more-or-less come from nowhere. They did what they do best, brilliantly, spurred on my the bigger-than-they imagined crowd....READ »
Electric Picnic 2011: Grouplove, Le Galaxie,Tieranniesaur
Grouplove, Cosby Stage Grouplove are probably used to their early slot, having spent the summer at various festivals across Europe. Like Oxegen before it, the Electric Picnic totally falls for their charms. It’s not rocket science (just damn good songs played by a damn good band) still they are immensely engaging. Given that their...READ »
Electric Picnic 2011: Adebisi Shank, The Rubberbandits & Yuck
Adebisi Shank, Cosby Stage In terms of live acts in Ireland, Adebisi Shank are hard to beat. They could have definitely benefitted from a later time slot – the 3PM mark was perhaps a bit too early for some revellers who were suffering from the night before, given the amount of noise this trio...READ »
