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Now that the mud has dried and the portaloos are but a distant memory, here are a few personal highlights from the Electric Picnic. Like most people I missed as many acts as they saw, but the swampy ground did not lend itself to moving at any great speed! ...

Lykke Li took to the stage Friday evening like a demented Scandinavian Stevie Nicks. She captivated the Crawdaddy tent, whirling around in a swathe of black scarves and complementing tracks from her ‘Youth Novels’ album with numbers by Lil’ Wayne and Kings of Leon.

Rhode Island multi instrumentalists The Low Anthem impressed with their sepia-toned, intricate Americana on Saturday afternoon, lead singer Ben Knox Miller coming off like a wide eyed young James Taylor. They played a selection of songs from their album ‘Oh My God Charlie Darwin’ to a reverential hushed Cosby tent.

Whitest Boy Alive brought a massive grin to everyone’s face when they played a euphoric set Saturday evening in the Cosby tent. Lead singer and King-of-Convenience Erland Oye was clearly in his element, unleashing his jazzy-disco-funk side project, and some awesomely bad dancing. Throwing in a smattering of cover versions including Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’ and 90s dance classic ‘Show me Love’ by Robin S, we’ll forgive them for the few bars of U2 (shudder)...

Despite flagging a little in the middle, the nutty boys Madness did a solid job of headlining the main stage Saturday night, aided by an impressive backdrop spelling out their name in giant lit letters.

Florence and the Machine’s Florence Welch pleased a bursting-at-the-seams electro arena, delivering songs from her album ‘Lungs’. The leggy redhead was clearly taken aback at the adulating crowd who roared along with every line.

Passion Pit played a stormer Sunday night. Lead singer Michael Angelakos has really evolved as a front man recently and bounded about the stage, name-checking Irish folk singer Mary O’Hara, the source of the sample on their massive tune ‘Sleepyhead’ and making a decent stab at pronouncing her original track ‘Oro mo bháidin’. Closing number ‘The Reeling’ nearly lifted the roof clean off the Cosby tent.

The Flaming Lips rolled out their usual epic stage show and festival friendly good vibes as the weekend began to wrap up, and wowed the Electric arena with lasers, streamer rocket launchers and giant balloons. Other highlights included Cap Pas Cap, Halfset, Fleet Foxes, The Sugarhill Gang, Flock of Seagulls (really!), and Dinosaur Jr.

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For anyone who missed Monotonix tear up Crawdaddy a few weeks back , here they are doing there thing in France


(Via grandcrew.com)there loads more of the gig over at grandcrew check it out

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Now that Damon Albarn & Graham Coxon are bestest friends again (above), Blur seem to be setting themselves up for the summer festival circuit. So in an announcement bound to be conflicting for Evil Bob, the band have been confirmed as one of this year's Oxegen headliners. Blur will join Kings of Leon, Bloc Party, Snow Patrol, The Script, Katy Perry and (according to some reports) The Killers on the 2009 bill. Now for an amusing few days of watching Bob hum and haw over whether or not to play it safe and buy an Oxegen ticket, or just keep his fingers crossed in the hope that they'll announce for Glastonbury.

Tickets for Oxegen go on sale Friday March 6th, but are open to pre-sale for those registered at oxegen.ie from Wednesday February 26th.

The mystical Jim Carroll has made some predictions on other acts we can expect to see added soon enough, and as we all know, Jim has a tendency to be right about these kind of things. Here's his list: Franz Ferdinand, Keane, Kaiser Chiefs, Passion Pit, Glasvegas, Doves, Maximo Park, Justice.

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All Tomorrow’s Parties have just announced on there website that "THE JESUS LIZARD have reformed and will perform at the Fans Strike Back festival in 2009.
In what has to rank as one of the most unlikely developments in rock, the awe-inspiring primal force of the Jesus Lizard will return, briefly, in 2009. The original lineup of David Yow, Duane Denison, David Wm. Sims and Mac McNeilly will reform for a very limited series of live dates in 2009, starting with the All Tomorrow’s Parties event dubbed The Fans Strike Back in Minehead, UK on May 9 and 10 and ending with a final appearance in Chicago in late November. These shows will be the Jesus Lizard’s first since disbanding in 1999 and the first in twelve years to feature the original storied quartet. As anyone who has experienced the Jesus Lizard live can attest, they are one of the most intense and visceral musical assemblies to ever stalk a stage. This fleeting reunion offers an incredible opportunity to either be blown away all over again or to immerse yourself in the sweaty power and driving mayhem for the very first time.

In celebration of this event, Touch and Go Records will reissue four full-length releases from the Jesus Lizard in May 2009. Remastered recordings of Head, Goat, Liar, and Down will be available on both LP and CD, all with expanded packaging and liner notes. Bob Weston is heading up the remastering process with Steve Albini, the original session engineer, sitting in."

the line up for ATP: The fans strike back now looks like this
THE JESUS LIZARD
DEVO
SLEEP performing Holy Mountain / selections from Dopesmoker + more
SPIRITUALIZED
YOUNG MARBLE GIANTS perform Colossal Youth
ANTIPOP CONSORTIUM
GRAILS
SLEEPY SUN
THE CAVE SINGER

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The Leccie Piccie line-up grows and grows with the following bands been added to it today: The Gutter Twins (Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan), Stephen Malkmus with The Jicks, Florence and the Machine, Leila, Late of the Pier Black Acid, Laura Izibor, Ham Sandwich, Wallis Bird, Kissy Sellout, A-Trak, La Rocca, New York Fund, These New Puritans, The Flaws, The Dodos, Pivot, Johnny Flynn, Cowboy X, Oppenheimer, The Urges, The Radio, Arno Carstens, Pinky, Liam O’Maonlai and Wolfgang Haffner.

Ireland's best festival gets better and better and makes me start to get worried that I may not get a ticket in time. Please god help me please.
Anyone not going or not trying to go is a fool and should be hung drawn and quartered. Unless you've got other festivals to go to in which case you can get a stay of execution.

Comedy line-up has also been announced and is in the read more.



Friday 29th August
MC: Des Bishop
Carol Tobin
Colm O’Regan
Aidan Bishop
Ian Coppinger
Damien Clark
Andrew Stanley
Andrew Maxwell
David O’Doherty

Saturday 30th August
MCs: Aidan Bishop & Barry Murphy
John Colleary
John Lynn
Gerry Mallon
Colum McDonnell
Jarleth Regan
John Bishop
Kevin Gildea
Bernard O’Shea
David McSavage
Adam Hills
Des Bishop

Sunday 31st August
MCs: Des Bishop & Aidan Bishop
Eleanor Tiernan
Willa White
Tommy Nicholson
Eric Lalor
Paddy Courtney
Maeve Higgins
Karl Spain
Colin Murphy
PJ Gallagher
Joe Rooney
Jason Byrne

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The line up for Hard Working Class Heroes Festival 2008 has been announced (some real gems in this years line up and some well not so great ones as well) and this year there is a download chart featured on www.hwch.net where you can download songs for the bands. This year the download sponsors entertainment.ie are giving some special help to the bands that finish first, second and third in the download chart. They are offering three dream ProTools MBox 2 Pro recording packages each worth over €900, to each of the top 3 bands, so get downloading
The top 20 bands will also be on a 'Best Of' compilation CD, which will be available during the festival.
(full list of the line up in the read more)



202's
79Cortinaz
A Lazarus Soul
Alphamono
Angel Pier
Armoured Bear
Autamata
Bats
Bravado
Carly Sings
Caruso
Chequerboard
Cian
Class Of 1984
Crayonsmith
Cutaways
David Turpin
Deaf Animal Orchestra
Distractors
Dolbro Dan
Dublin Duck Dispensary
Exit: pursued by a bear
Fiach
Fighting With Wire
Fiona Melady
Fred
Gorbachov
Grand Pocket Orchestra
Groom
Halves
Headgear
Heartbreak Cartel
Heathers
Hooray for Humans
Hybrasil
John Shelly and the Creatures
Kill Krinkle Club
Le Galaxie
Lines Drawing Circles
Little XS For Eyes
Mackerel The Cat
Mark Austin
More tiny giants
My Brother Woody
Nakatomi plaza
Nick Carswell & The Elective Orchestra
Noise Control
Not Men But Giants
One Day International
Panama Kings
Pilotlight
Pocket Promise
Robotnik
Sickboy
Sideproject
So Cow
Sounds of System Breakdown
Sparks Fly
Super Extra Bonus Party
Supermodel Twins
Sweet Jane
The Aftermath
The Ambience Affair
The Beat Poets
The Brothers Movement
The Cades
The Dagger Lees
The Followers of Otis
The Holy Roman Army
The Hot Sprockets
The Kinetiks
The Last Tycoons
The Minutes
The Parks
The Rags
The Revellions
The Spook of The Thirteenth Lock
The Vinny Club
Tidal District
Tiger Empire
Tom McShane
Valerie Francis
Vodkopter
Walter Mitty & The Realists
Youre Only Massive

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Live stream of 2008 Pitchfork Music Festival here

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So despite having a wretched year in 2006 and complete avoidance last year I found myself once again in the Irish answer to the Calcutta slums, that is Oxegen, for one reason and one reason only. Rage Against the Machine. Naturally a whole day can't be spent in complete anticipation of this awesome band so to pass the time other bands were viewed.

Click below for a belated account of stuff.



Arrive to what turns out to be far too bloody early and continue drinking until a state of almost complete inebriation is reached by the time the gates open (12.00). Decide that there's fuck all on of interest so wander to campsite red to find compadres that are unfortunate enough to have spent the weekend there. Turns out the campsite has changed not a jot since the last time I was there which is very much a bad thing. The smell of decay is in the air.




Onwards to first band time who luckily happen to be Does it offend you, yeah? I haven't been bigging up this band for a while for no reason at all. They are actually shit cool and they put on a great fucking show. Its a shame that a) "the company" have chosen to once again hold the Dance 'tent' in that big sweatbox of a warehouse and b) that the sun is splitting the sky outside and even in that dank place the bright light permeates, ruining the effects of the lightshow somewhat. The chaps do their best however and wisely keep their rocking stuff until last where the crowd have reached the peak of their (possibly drug-aided) frenzy.

Does it Offend You, Yeah? - Dawn of the Dead




Finding one with a loss of anything in the way of good stuff to watch its decided to have a curious gander at We Are Scientists. Luckily that we're far enough away that we can ignore them because of all the boring shite that I've seen at various festivals over the years this is certainly up there. Such a promising band that three years ago brought out a quirky little rock tune (The Great Escape) has now been reduced to samey boring muck. Raised slightly in estimation by ending the set with the aforementioned classic.

We Are Scientists - The Great Escape





Indie's bright shining new stars MGMT are being viewed for the third time in as many months by yours truly and are now at the stage where I'm starting to not give a fuck about them anymore. They come out with their silly little bandana's and seem completely underwhelmed by the rapturous reception that they receive. All songs are played well but with the degree of don't-give-a-fuckness that make you want to hit the cunts. At one point the crowd gets to the stage of excitement that people are hanging off the pillars supporting the tent. While this initially receives much cheering from the crowd the tables are quickly turned when it transpires that the band aren't allowed to play anymore unless people get the fuck down. One stupid bint ignores the hoots and hollers from the crowd and proceeds to climb all the way up to the top of the pillar and through the hole in the tent. Cheers luv. One less song for us to hear. Spa. With barely any time left to play the band come on and finish with their trio of known songs, Electric Feel, Time to Pretend and Kids. The last song being where my largest bone of contention lies with the band. That everytime they play this song its as if they are doing Karaoke. I fail to believe that its not possible to reproduce this song live as other bands have done better with less. I predict this song being dropped from the set before long if it can be helped as their discomfort with performing it clearly betrays that this may be their Bohemian Rhapsody or Teen spirit.

MGMT - Electric Feel





You don't need me to tell you that Fight Like Apes are rising up the scene quicker than one of my belches after downing a nasty pint and they do certainly know how to perform live, that much is certain. The between song banter is infectious and gives off the impression that they are very much at ease with playing live and songs are short enough not to overstay their welcome. To be watched.

Fight Like Apes - Lightsabre Cock-Sucking Blues





So finally the hour comes. One that I've been waiting for for 15 years. Rage Against the Fucking Machine. I don't think I can possibly describe how much I enjoyed this gig. Not quite as well as Nialler does in his review anyway but suffice to say that after it ended I had bruises all over me and the next morning all my joints were stiff. It was great to find a mosh pit that was not only huge but violent (in that good way) and untainted by the thugs and oafs that "the company" likes to hire as security.

Every possible song is cranked out and it all ends too bloody fast. A big "Fuck you" goes out to the guy who couldn't fix their sound, which kept cutting out every now and then but apart from that little glitch they made it worth taking the trip to Punchestown for what will hopefully be the last time.

Rage Against the Machine - Bulls On Parade (DJ Kue Remix)


Cheers to James Goulden at State.ie for unwittingly supplying me with photo's

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The dispute between IMRO & POD concerts over royalties has been resolved, ensuring this year's Electric Picnic will definitely be going ahead. Woo hoo!

Here's the statement released this morning by POD:

"A settlement has been reached between IMRO and POD Concerts relative to the dispute on royalties in respect of multistage events including the Electric Picnic. The proceedings are to be adjourned to allow IMRO to conduct a review of its concerts tariff and, if necessary, to allow the tariff to be ruled on by an arbitrator. Electric Picnic 2008 will be proceeding."

Via State

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The Éthiopiques play the festival of world cultures on Friday 22 August 2008 - 8.00pm.




The line up includes
Mahmoud Ahmed
Mulatu Astatke
Alemayehu Eshete & The Either/Orchestra

I only really know Mulatu Astatke off one cd i have Ethiopiques Volume 4 which is devoted entirely to his music, his music was also used in the Jim Jarmusch film Broken Flowers with Bill Murray. Mulatu Astatke is known as the father of Ethio-jazz. Born in 1943 in the western Ethiopian city of Jimma, Astatke was musically trained in London, New York City, and Boston, where he was the first African student at Berklee College of Music. His music combine jazz and Latin music influences with traditional Ethiopian music.


Yegelle Tezeta - Mulatu Astatke



Tickets are €32 (OUCH still gonna try and go)

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So after months and months of chatter about it, Glastonbury is finally here. All of you who looked at the line-up and said "Jay-z *scoff*" I feel sorry for you. While he'll be peddling his own tiresome brand of Hip-Hop on Saturday night I will be at a completely different stage far from him watching MGMT, Battles and CSS back to back while getting very drunk on pear cider.
Irish acts representing this year include Jape, Ham Sandwich and Warlords of Pez.
Recognise.

See in you in a week

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So says the official website and Phantom FM at least but if you go to Ticketmaster you can still seem to buy them. In anyway if you head over to Toutless you can find some folks flogging theirs for face value so hope is not yet lost.

Check out the awesome line-up in the read more.



Click on pic for bigger version n' shit

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So Electric Picnic have announced some additions to the lineup, and as usual they've managed to throw in a handful of smaller acts that make the whole festival unmissable.

Highlights include Santogold, Digitalism & Super Extra Bonus Party, but the big news is the inclusion of The Faint, playing (I'm pretty sure) their first ever Irish show.

For me, this is pant-wetting news, and almost worth the admission alone. Kudos, picnic folks, hella kudos.

All the additions in the readmore.


Santogold
Crystal Castles
Chromeo
Elbow
Cut Copy
Digital Mystikz
Tiga
Hercules & Love Affair
Antibalas
Gomez
Gemma Hayes
Giveamanakick
Super Extra Bonus Party
The Black Lips
Carbon/Silicon
The Faint
The Presets
Digitalism
The Congos
The Herbaliser

I know what you're thinking, and to save you time just click here for tickets.

Thanks to State for being Johnny on-the-spot with the updates.

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...comes courtesy of Tara:

Birdy Nam Nam are a French DJ crew whose aim is to use turntables as full on instruments, rather than just a medium. They're former DMC Technics World Team Champions, and released their self-titled debut album in 2006.

The video below is a live performance of Absesses, and is pretty damned amazing. Check it out:



Birdy Nam Nam play Andrews Lane Theatre on June 28th as part of the Let's French festival.

Birdy Nam Nam on myspace

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As if you had to be reminded, the poster's right there in the sidebar, but tonight sees the Dead Clubs take over Katie Gallaghers in Bray.

Do it...

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What looks to be the best lineup for Irish festival goers this year has gotten even better, with late additions including MGMT, The Ting Tings & dEUS.

The day by day breakdown so far has also been released, along with the Dance stage lineup. Details in the read more..


Thanks to State for posting!

Friday 11th July 08:
Kings of Leon, Interpol, Editors, Aphex Twin, Bell X1, Cat Power, Paddy Casey, Groove Armada, The Coronas, dEUS, Battles, Future Kings of Spain, Unkle, Calvin Harris, Annie Mac, MSTRKRFT, Koze, Kosheen, Burns, Sneaky Sound System and many more.

Saturday 12th July 08:
R.E.M., The Verve, Amy Winehouse, The Prodigy, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Counting Crows, The Zutons, Newton Faulkner, Panic at the Disco, Feeder, Richard Hawley, Seasick Steve, The Hoosiers, Scouting For Girls, The Charlatans, Powderfinger, Declan O’Rourke, My Morning Jacket, The Ting Tings Camille O’Sullivan, British Sea Power, Black Kids, Delays, Concerto For Constantine, Paul Heaton, Pendulum, Justice, Bowling For Soup, Boys Noize, Mylo, Slam, Michael Mayer, Kavinsky, The Japanese Popstars and many more.

Sunday 13th July 08:
Rage Against The Machine, Kaiser Chiefs, The Swell Season featuring Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová, The Fratellis, Ian Brown, The Kooks, MGMT, The Feeling, Kate Nash, Roisin Murphy, Tom Baxter, Reverend and the Makers, Band of Horses, Lightspeed Champion, The Pogues, The Subways, The Stranglers, Ryan Bingham, The Courteeners, Alabama 3, David Guetta, Luciano, Kaz James, Crookers, Radioslave, Quiet Village, Does It Offend You Yeah?, Carl Craig and many more.

DANCE STAGE LINEUP

Fri 11th July:
Unkle, Calvin Harris, Annie Mac, MSTRKRFT, Koze, Kosheen, Burns and Sneaky Sound System.

Sat 12th July:
Justice, Boys Noize, Mylo, Slam, Michael Mayer, Kavinsky and Japanese Popstars.

Sun 13th July:
David Guetta, Luciano, Kaz James, Crookers, Radioslave, Quiet Village, Does It Offend You Yeah? and Carl Craig.

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New Foggy Notions festival- line up via On The Record

Thursday June 12 - Matmos and Si Schroeder - Andrew’s Lane Theatre

Friday June 13 - Low, Atlas Sound and The Holy Roman Army - Andrew’s Lane Theatre

Saturday June 14 - Dan Deacon, Jape, White Williams, High Places and more - Vicar Street

Sunday June 15 - Bonnie Prince Billy, Baby Dee and Paul Curreri - Vicar Street

Sunday June 15 - Metronomy and Spilly Walker - Andrew’s Lane Theatre
live videos for some of the acts in the read more


Matmos - Roses and Teeth for Ludwig Wittgenstein


Atlas Sound: live @ The FADER/AT&T Sideshow


White Williams - Route to Palm


Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - "May It Always Be"


Metronomy - Heartbreaker

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Some crud in here but enough to keep me interested for the whole weekend and only three of the main stages are here.

Afer the jump for full line-up



June 27:

Pyramid Stage

Kings Of Leon
The Fratellis
Editors
The Gossip
The Feeling
KT Tunstall
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
The Subways
Kate Nash

Other Stage

Panic At The Disco
The Enemy
We Are Scientists
Foals
The Hoosiers
Ben Folds
Joe Lean And The Jing Jang Jong
Vampire Weekend
Hilltop Hoods

John Peel Stage

Jamie T
The Cribs
Reverend And The Makers
MGMT
The Ting Tings
Young Knives
LIghtspeed Champion
Glasvegas

June 28

Pyramid Stage

Jay-Z
Very Special Guest TBC
Manu Chao
The Raconteurs
James Blunt
Crowded House
Seasick Steve
The Hold Steady
Shakin' Stevens

Other Stage

Massive Attack
Hot Chip
Elbow
Duffy
The Wombats
Neon Neon
Black Kids
The Golden Silvers
The Travelling Band

John Peel Stage

Biffy Clyro
The Futureheads
Band Of Horses
The Courteneers/The Black Keys
Vampire Weekend
The Teenagers

June 29

Pyramid Stage

The Verve
Leonard Cohen
Goldfrapp
Very Special Guest TBC
John Mayer
Gilbert O' Sullivan
TBC

Other Stage

Groove Armada
The Zutons
The Pigeon Detectives
Mark Ronson
Scouting For Girls
Jack Penate
Newton Faulkner
Black Mountain
Hoodoo Gurus

John Peel Stage

The National
Spiritualized
Crystal Castles
Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Stars
The Courteneers/The Black Keys
Rocket Summer

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stage times in the read more

FRIDAY MAIN STAGE

WEEN - 9PM - 12AM
SEBADOH - 7.30PM – 8.

30PM
VAMPIRE WEEKEND - 6PM - 7PM
THE CLIENTELE - 4.30PM - 5.30PM

Doors - 4pm

FRIDAY 2ND STAGE

HOT CHIP DJS - 1.30am - 5am
GLASS CANDY + DJS - 12.30 – 1.30AM

REDD KROSS - 10.45pm - 12am
FUCK BUTTONS - 9.15pm - 10.15pm
SHIT AND SHINE - 8.00pm - 8.45pm
CAR SICK CARS - 6.45pm - 7.30pm
MAN MAN - 5.30PM – 6.15PM
JAY REATARD - 4.15pm - 5pm

Doors - 3.45pm

SATURDAY MAIN STAGE

HOT CHIP - 11.00pm – 12.30am
LES SAVY FAV - 9.30pm – 10.30pm
THE BLACK ANGELS - 8.00pm – 9.00pm
LOS CAMPESINOS - 6.30pm - 7.30pm
YEASAYER – 5pm - 6pm
BON IVER - 3.45pm – 4.30pm

Doors - 3.15pm

SATURDAY 2ND STAGE

DJS - 2am - 4am
VARIOUS PRODUCTION DJS - 12.30am 2am

BLACK LIPS - 10.30pm – 11.30pm
DEERHUNTER - 9.00pm – 10.00pm
DIRTY PROJECTORS - 7.30pm – 8.30pm
HOWLIN RAIN - 6.00pm – 7.00pm
BORN RUFFIANS - 4.30pm – 5.30pm
TIMES NEW VIKING - 3.15pm – 4.00pm
EVEN - 2.00pm – 2.45pm

Doors - 1.30pm

SUNDAY MAIN STAGE

HARMONIA - 11pm – 12.30am
GIRLS AGAINST BOYS - 9.30pm – 10.30pm
THE HOLD STEADY - 8pm – 9pm
OF MONTREAL - 6.30pm – 7.30pm
BLACK MOUNTAIN - 5pm – 6pm
A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS - 3.30pm – 4.30pm
JENS LEKMAN - 2.00pm – 3.00pm

Doors 2.30pm

SUNDAY 2ND STAGE

DJS – 12.

15am - 3am

CARIBOU - 11pm – 12.15am
MEAT PUPPETS - 9.30pm – 10.30pm
NO AGE - 8pm - 9pm
WOODEN SHJIPS - 6.30pm – 7.30pm
PISSED JEANS - 5.00pm –6.00pm
MARISSA NADLER - 3.30pm - 4.30pm
APSE - 2.15pm – 3.00pm

Doors - 1.45pm

not too many clashes in it so im very happy and a 3hous set from ween fucking hell yes

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