A round up of Galway and Cork city and Bandon town, Co Cork festivals during the month of July in Galway and Cork.
Galway International Arts Festival 11th – 24th July 2022.
My good festival friend, Cork Dave was talked into going to Forever Young Festival, a retro eighties pop festival in Kildare by his wife, he already had a ticket to go and see the Pixies at the Galway Arts Festival which he gave to me, when we met up at at the Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets gig in April in Dublin. Doolittle is one of my desert island discs and having never saw the Pixies, I was going to enjoy this gig.
The Festival Garden in Eyre Square.Festival Garden Eyre Square.Festival Garden Eyre Square.Festival Garden Eyre Square.
Pixies – Galway Heineken Big Top 9.30 – 11.00 PM14th July.
The big top was packed out and there was a true sense of joy in the tent as this was supposed to happen in 2020 but of course the pandemic happened, so the sense of occasion was incredibly heightened for this. Met Cahill Johnston there a good musician friend of mine, I didn’t realise he was a Pixies fan, he told me he saw the original band back in the 90s. Both himself and Dave considered the original band with Kim Deal on bass and vocals as the real deal.
They opened with Cactus from their debut album Surfer Rosa, a good rollicking rock n roll number and then straight into their big hit Here Comes your Man, a sort of rockabilly style surfing number with its old time guitar signature and the Galway audience singing along with the band. The band went through their various albums, Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, Bossanova, Trompe Le Monde and about six numbers from their most recent album Doggerel released this year. Black Francis still has an amazing voice and Joey Santiago is an amazing guitarist who seriously rocks the very foundations, Paz Lenchantin does a nice job as the replacement for Kim Deal, who left the band in 2013, Lenchantin was resplendent in a white boiler suit tonight and more than a match for the rest of the band, David Lovering keeping a nice steady beat on the drums.
The band threw in a rousing cover of Jesus and the Mary Chain’s Head On followed by some classics from Doolittle with Gouge Away, Crackity Jones, Debaser, Hey among other tracks. I noticed that Black doesn’t really communicate with the audience as such, but as someone noted from the Boards EP thread, they have such a back catalogue of tracks that its relentless, they just pummel you with their amazing amount of music. And I think they earned their name as one of the classic alternative rock bands to come from the States who done this nice extensive tour of Ireland in the European leg of this tour, they were playing in Cork in the next few days and then Dublin and coming back to Ireland in early September for an appearance at Electric Picnic. My only regret was that they didn’t play my favourite Doolittle track No. 13 Baby, when I was Youtubing their previous tours they last played it in 2019, but there you go. What can I say, this was my first time catching them and they made a big impression on me, that I bought the Doolittle tee shirt. Long may they continue.
Joy in the Park Sunday 17th July Fitzgerald Park, Cork City.
Just went for a few hours to this with my brother in law Brendan and his son Oisin, organised by the Cork Mental Health Foundation as an awareness campaign the festival had as its headliners, Jerry Fish, Kila, ska band Pontius Pilate and the Nail Drivers and John Spillane among other acts.
They certainly got the weather for it at about 28 degrees and a great crowd gathered in the park, caught some of the action and side shows, but we didn’t stay long to catch some of headlining music, we did catch some of the main stage opening acts, young rapping acts from the Music Generation Cork City. There was various stages as well as the main stage, there was the Joy Sylvie Spoken Word Stage where we caught some of Cormac Lally’s poetry set where he done the Tullamore Poem, a humorous look at his hometown and a pride he shared with us. Cormac was about to go into another poem when he was interrupted by a pop up brass band marching through the park called Rebel Brass, I think another poet, Bubba Shakespeare was inspired to invade the stage and grabbed the microphone and sing along to the brass band’s melody which we thought was very spontaneous and fun and I don’t think Cormac minded either.
Cormac Lally at the Joy Sylvie Spoken Word Stage.Brendan in the gorgeous Fitzgerald Park.Fitzgerald Park in that lovely 28 degree sunshine.
There was some nice pop up attractions throughout the park such as the Pompous Creatures who would appear at various locations.
Pompous Creature traipsing through the park.Pompous Creatures.Pompous Creatures.
Caught some acrobatic action from a troupe of performers called the Circus Factory who had a nice crowd of onlookers gathered, very entertaining stuff.
We had to run off again to Bandon in time to catch the end of the annual Make Your Mark On Cancer walk, organised by Carol Crean. Managed to catch their end-up event, The Shruggs at the Shambles despite a 20 k walk in the blistering heat, the harmonising duo had folk up dancing in no time.
The Shruggs – Make Your Mark in Cancer – Bandon 17th July.
I’ve saw the Shruggs a few times now, courtesy of my sisters organisation previously at Culture Night last year in Bandon and at this event. The Shruggs are an acoustic duo, both are vocalists with one playing guitar and one playing the cajon, they are James Downing and Kees Hendricx. They play easy going and catchy pop hits of the Beatles, Paul Simon, The Everly Brothers, The Kinks as well as their own compositions and they are a perfect accompaniment to a balmy summer afternoon and evening here in Bandon that you can drink ice cold pints to sitting in the grass at The Shambles.
The Glasshouse Ensemble play Aphex Twin – Galway International Arts Festival – Roisin Dubh 23rd July.
Finally my July was bookended by going to another gig at the GIAF on the second last day of the event, this time to see the Glasshouse Ensemble perform the music of Aphex Twin. Glasshouse Ensemble are a bunch of classical musicians who work alongside a few electronic musicians to recreate works of contemporary musicians and bands.
Being a big Aphex Twin nut I couldn’t resist attending this, the ensemble covered a fair bit of Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient Works 1985 – 92. Xtal, Tha, Ageispolis, We Are the Music Makers and a whole bunch of other stuff, Polymonial C from Classics, Fingerbib (a minor hit in the British charts for Richard) from Richard .D James. The ensemble has two violinists, a cello player, a drum kit player as well as two people on keyboards and laptops and they make a swelling impressive sound that done justice to the original tracks. Something to keep me going until Richard decides to tour again. I was delighted to hear Glasshouse again at ATN where they performed the music of Kate Bush and Prince a week later. Check them out if you can.
This year I decided to do most of my journey by train as I was now living in Oranmore, so taxi to Oranmore train station and from Ceannt station in Galway city to Portlaoise where fellow volunteer John Dooley picked me up and brought me to the festival site. John prepared a nice chicken curry for the arriving volunteers and we got wristbanded at production when we met Aaron Cleary. Ann Delaney arrived and I helped her set up my tent, a beautiful black out tent that was snug, she also supplied a torch, sleeping bag and hot water bottle, so I was all sorted. It was so emotional to be back at Stradbally after three long years, the pandemic and the post pandemic hopefully.
Duties this year was working with Dan Rainey, the day shift zone manager for the crew camp, I was working with Alan from Kilkenny and others. We were on hand to give information to arriving crew workers. On Tuesday till Thursday we helped out DC security at the staff car park, to ascertain if arriving crew were just parking for their accreditation or if they were there for long term over the weekend. Of course, you got the odd idiot who didn’t listen to us or the DC guys and parked where they wanted to, but you will get that anyway in other lines of work. Thursday was the busiest day, the line of traffic relentless and the dust from the dry weather, it was nice to complete the shifts and to get the cloth wristband. Both Ann and John fed us all through the days, John set up his cinema briefly for a few nights with Trainspotting and Brother Where Art Thou? The crew camp was rearranged in such a way since 2019 that a crew campervan overflow site needed to be created, so a bit of a mess in that respect. JD gave me a lift to Portlaoise where I was able to grab a pouch of tobacco and skins and he also bought me a coffee in the town before we set out to Stradbally to start the back shift till 8 in the evening.
On Wednesday I made it onto the festival site to take some photos of the site build as an exclusive for readers of the Boards.ie Electric Picnic thread as some would be arriving on Thursday and I wanted to set their excitement levels up. I managed to message JD on Thursday when he was going to Portlaoise to buy me some Guinness and tobacco and papers and to withdraw some cash for me which was very handy as I just made the accreditation window at the end of my shift to get the cloth wristband and I would’ve been too jaded to do the trek to Stradbally at night time. The EP campervan lads are the bhest.
The road from the Hendrix campsite site to festival site with the Fosset’s Circus Marquee.Beautiful Intricate Artwork.Earth Spirit Art in the Mind & Body Area.Earth Spirit Area.One of my all time favourite areas The Haunt, Mind & Body.The new 15,000 capacity Electric Arena Marquee.The Main Stage.The Rankin Woods Marquee
Friday 2nd September.
On Friday met loads of folk that I met through the various festivals I worked over the year, Kiwi Tracey and Heather from the Campervan Girls and Rod McCreesh, Craig, Donagh from Galway among others. Today we were wondering if there would be booze checks into the arena, I was going to bring 4 cans of Guinness and my EP 2009 eco-cup. I was sitting having the craic with Jenny the Pink Lady, John, JD and Carol, Jenny was bringing a hydration pack hid in her unicorn headdress filled with a bottle of pink gin (It would have to be pink gin, aye!! Jenny) and tonic water.
Jenny the Pink and John Dooley.
We got to the crew search area and security found my Guinness and refused to let me through, luckily someone else was heading back to crew camp and took them back there for me. But Jenny saved the day and pumped me and Carol full of pink gin. Music wise my interest didn’t really kick off till about the time the Pixies were hitting the stage, of course, I could’ve went investigating other smaller stages but was content to float about Green Crafts and Trailer Park people watching and all that. Met Lucia Finnegan, one of my sisters friends from Bandon who had her Yarn Loft stall at Green Crafts. My pink gin inebriated self took a video clip of my wander through Green Crafts full of jolly stall holders.
Myself, Jenny and Carol, my attempt at a selfie is not great.Carol eventually got her flower crown, Midsommar aye!!!
Was having so much fun in the Trailer Park, Jenny was on a gin buzz so we ended up at the Gin Palace, a cool caravan that dispensed gin and a nice seating area perfect for people watching.
The Gin Palace at Trailer Park.
The first music I was to catch was a band called Scustin, they combine rock and pop music with a storytelling narrative, think of Blur’s Parklife with Phil Daniels narrating over the music and you’ve got a similar buzz. The Irish band had a nice gathering of nutters dancing away. Oddly I took the video of the group on stage. you can hear the vocalist but no where can I see him on video so he was off in the audience somewhere.
I also met Dave O’Connor at the Trailer Park or was it the Tiny Tea Tent, I forgot I went to too for a cup of tea and some cake.
Pixies – Electric Arena 9.15 – 10.15 Pm.
This was my second time catching the Pixies, first being at Galway Arts Festival this year at the Big Top, so here I was catching them again in another Big Top. This set was a much shorter set to the Galway one, but they done the festival proud, one of the great late eighties US alternative bands finally played the Picnic. Classic cuts from their back catalogue, five tracks from their new album Doggeral. Some people on Boards.ie were a bit miffed that they didn’t include Debaser or Hey in the set, which they did include in the Galway set. I kind of agree, maybe two or three new tracks but festival sets should be more a best of, like my argument with Groove Armada at ATN this year. Still I thought the Pixies were brilliant myself.
Fontaines DC – Electric Arena 10.45 PM – 12.00 AM.
Fontaines kicked proper ass and fair play to the lads, they have went on to bigger things since their last Irish festival outing at All Together Now 2019. Liberal dashes from their three albums, Dogrel, A Hero’s Death and especially the new one Skinty Fia released in April this year. I’m surprised that there is still room in the Electric Arena when you consider the size of the crowd they pulled at Glastonbury, but the 15,000 arena was more than free quarters full. Fontaines play post punk, or so the internet says. For me, loud raucous punk rock, the energy of the Dead Kennedys and the Virgin Prunes with thought provoking lyrics, Grian Chatten making a solid front man and his band the teeth. Yup Fontaines are going onto bigger and better things, check them out if you get the chance. Bumped into Kevin Keehan, Ken and Clare here, who were also riveted to the ground by this gig.
As always, this is one of the best venues at the festival and because it started to rain quite heavily, its a covered dancefloor and stage and that lovely corner with the really comfy sofas. The danced out, eyeing precariously at the corner hoping a seat frees up and seas of people streaming in with beaming smiles out of the mad rain to a wonderful warm place with amazing music. The clip I’m putting up features Colin Olwill and one of the fellahs from the Mary Wallopers on the DJ desk and the music, a scintillating De Danann rocking it out with the Master Crowley’s reel.
My feelings on Mind and Body, I’m happy the stages are still there. but it was sad not to see the wonderful Body&Soul decoration or the famed installations, parts of the area just laid bare. Its nice the Haunt is still there, the Tiny Tea Room and some of the Earth Spirit Collective. But, God, couldn’t have Desmond not nicked one or two ideas from Body&Soul just to keep it samey. After the Haunt myself and Kevin went over to the Mind & Body main stage where some indie pop band called 49th & The Main was playing. They had a fair crowd there, but the Kilkenny group’s music didn’t really appeal to me, they just seemed ill-suited to that stage and I don’t think the sites former curator would have chosen this act for Body&Soul. But there you go, its a different crowd, enough said, at least the stages were being put to use.
After this we headed back to Kevin’s camper, my god, the walk, it was the farthest point after all the main campsites, but lovely and comfortable when we arrived, we had a pretty late one sitting up and talking. Kevin was heading off to France in his camper on Monday so he was going to have to curtail his partying a bit to be in relatively good shape for Monday.
Saturday 3rd September.
Woke up quite late on Saturday, possibly 3 PM as we did have a late night and maybe it was just as well as there had been some tremendous rain storms. As soon as I heard a lull in the rain I headed for the crew camp and said my byes to Kevin and that really long walk back through the staff route. When I think about it now, I should have taken photos of the state of the path, parts that just looked like slurry. Can’t the festival authorities not put some wood chip down on it, it was ridiculous trying to negotiate that path especially in the dark.
I spent the next few hours under cover in my tent and at John’s awning area dodging heavy rain, it must have rained for about eight hours or something. At least there was a few stalls in crew camp, got a breakfast butty for a fiver, a bargain compared to the festival site and a 3 Euro Americano from the Stawberry Fayre cafe, a local Stradbally business. I heard reports later that some vendors onsite were selling lattes at a fiver a go.
When I did make it onto the festival site it was late enough at just after 9 PM, was trying to source a pouch of rolling tobacco and discovered the 18 plus stall near Trailer Park. I took a video of me walking the staff shortcut from the volunteer HQ to the middle intersection of the festival.
I met Dave O’Connor again, or Cork Dave as I usually call him at Trailer Park and himself and myself done the usual people watching thing for a while. Dave was taking the piss out of this area in Trailer Park called Doctor Leo. Dave had a mask on his chin and the people running the area was having a good slagging match saying ‘no masks allowed’, it was all in good banter and fun to observe.
I caught a lovely quirky ska band on the Trailer Park stage called Interskalactic, who had a great bounce and some exceptional musicians in the making and a suitably lively crowd stomping to the beat.
Went up to the Haunt for a while with Dave and there was an African girl, Hewan Mulugeta DJing playing some lovely rare African beats and Afrobeat music. I also got to meet fellow Boardsie in the Haunt, Rubick.
Myself and Rubick.
Tame Impala – Main Stage 11.30 PM – 1.30 AM.
This was my second time catching Tame Impala, the first being 2015 at the Electric Arena, I thought they put on a great set. Strong modern prog rock or post rock with a bit of surf and psychedelia, especially the visuals on the screens which was spectacular. There is so many good bands coming out of Australia, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard who I caught at ATN and Tame Impala. TI do borrow a bit from the Floyd and Beatles in fairness with their vocal harmony style and they like to use the phaser in their sound which reminded me of the Small Faces Itchycoo Park (I probably mentioned this in the 2015 review also), but at the same time it sounds original and refreshing. And they still play the heavyweights like Elephant which has a great wallop of a sound and some nice selections from Currents and the more recent The Slow Rush. Special mention to their back drop which reminded me of Pink Floyd’s circular screen rimmed with the vari-lights, I liked the way they could move it to look like a hovering UFO. Check them out if you get the chance.
Of course, Tame Impala must’ve bribed the weather as, as soon as they finished the clouds opened up again with a downpour which for me and Dave meant a trip back to the Haunt for the wonderful music, comfy seats and warm shelter. Also met the lovely Clidna who wasn’t volunteering with us this year but she was working at Green Crafts in a stall.
Myself and Clidna.
I must have left the Haunt about 5 in the morning and attempted the precarious journey back through the staff path to crew camp, it took me about forty minutes in my state, at times it was like walking on quicksand, nothing to grip and muck everywhere but no stable ground. I vowed for tomorrow that I’m just walking back the Timahoe Road rather than that path.
Sunday 4th September.
John the legend gave me a breakfast sandwich this morning and a few cups of coffee, John’s camper is like the focal point during day much like the Haunt is in the early hours. In some ways the festival comes to you, Tracey met John and I think Heather too and Rod got to meet John as well, while we sat out in the awning and I would call them over. I forgot also that I spotted Jeff and his woman the other night at the Haunt. Jeff that is of the Mandala Nature Installation from Body&Soul, but I was seated and didn’t want to loose my seat as I waited a while before nabbing it, so I wasn’t being anti-social just being careful as these seats are like gold in the Haunt.
Anyways I made it onto the site quite early today at four and headed up to the volunteer HQ for a quick coffee, there was a lovely jug of filter coffee waiting, cups (gold currency) and even a drop of real whole milk, fecking heaven. Was looking up the EP app to see what was on for the afternoon, not a hell of a lot until my eyes fell on Fishtown, I realised that the Mick Flannery and Susan O’Neill headlining gig was on in half an hour. I was at the perfect spot, the start of the festival staff crossroads, go straight down the path and through the fence gate and middle of festival, cross the path to next fence gate and down that path, turn right and viola you are at Fishtown.
Fishtown.
Mick Flannery & Susan O’Neill – Jerry Fish Tent, Fishtown 4.40 – 5.40 PM.
Having caught a bit of Mick Flannery in 2012 during my break at Liss Ard Festival in Skibbereen in County Cork and Susan O’Neill last year at Stendhal Festival in northern Ireland, I figured this would be a unique pairing of voices. I wouldn’t be too familiar with Flannery but my brother in law Brendan likes him very much. Anyway this gig was very much about the album In The Game, impassioned songs imbued with Americana melancholy. I enjoyed the gig immensely and will now seek out this record and their solo stuff as well. This gig opened my ears to other sorts of music I wouldn’t have thought to listen too, but both artists have glorious voices that truly compliment each other. O’Neill has hues of Gillian Welsh and Edith Frost in her style while Flannery has an original sound. At one point I think it was Susan who said we’re going to play one of the two happy songs on the album which got a bit of a laugh, there was also the moment where Flannery remarked that the keyboard wasn’t working which made them change their setlist and then a roadie stepped up and played a few notes on the keyboard and rescued the rest of the gig which I was still enjoying anyway. Check them out if you can get a chance. I also met up with a few Boardsies at this gig too.
Harrythespider, Mucker42, Coffee Impala, Kepler21, Stillill42 and myself (Bodhrandude) all Boards.ie posters.
I went a wandering after that to make up for the time lost during rain storms on Saturday and my gin boozing and people watching at Trailer Park on Friday, but covering as many of these areas as possible. It was onto Hazelwood for a gawk and not the Wild roots festival one but a trad and Gaelic inspired area with horse drawn caravans.
Hazelwood.A cute cottage in Hazelwood.Hazelwood.Hazelwood.The Liam O’Connor band giving shtick on the Hazelwood main stage.
Then it was off for a geek at the Salty Dog area that I didn’t have a chance to explore it yet and didn’t catch any acts there this year, but it was lively as ever.
The Salty Dog Stage.The Salty Dog area.
I moved beyond the Salty Dog to sample a bit of the Freetown area and take some clips and photos there. Jenny was telling me about the six secret bars in Freetown, but I was only going to take a clip, at 8 Euros a drink I’ll just have a gawk instead.
I chanced upon a graffiti artist who was doing a fine piece of work with a parrot, so pop up art if you like.
Freetown.Our Lady of Consumption Community Hall – Freetown.The Terminus Marquee in Freetown.
Whoriskey was the only dance act I caught at EP this year and he was the opening act for the Terminus schedule on Sunday starting his set at 6 PM. There was a fairly empty tent as yet but you could see that it could fill up fast, with pumping progressive house it was decent top shelf stuff. I can’t complain though having being at three other festivals this year I saw heaps of DJ’s and I glad that my EP this year was sort of guitar dominated with a bit of trad too and lots of other music’s.
My next excursion was bumping into an old Galway buddy in Freetown who was working at one of the stages at Trenchtown, so we trooped up there for a smoke back stage at Trenchtown. Twas good to hear a bit of dub again and a chill backstage. I forgot to take clips or pics of Trenchtown. As I headed out the other exit I found myself in the Mind & Body area and saw Mindfield, so I went in for a geek there.
Mindfield.
There was the Hot Press Chat Room, the An Puball Gaeilge tent, Today FM’s The Word tent with trad music, having just missed Galway’s Shaskeen Ceilidh Band, I did catch a bit of Harpano & Special Guests Buioch among the other areas.
On my way out of Mindfield I was passing the old Earthship stage which was blasting out the Jackson 5’s Blame it on the Boogie and then I noticed all the assembled dancers at the front were doing the Jackson 5 routine that they did for the 1978 video for the hit, so I had to film a bit of this.
Some of the volunteers gave me some meal vouchers, seemingly I was supposed to get one for Thursday as it was an extremely busy day, but thank you, you brilliant people. I used one on Saturday and got meself a lovely fish and chips with a soft drink included and after coming out of Mind & Body I searched for the Wood Fired Pizza stall and got a pepperoni pizza which was delicious, who did I meet at the same place with the same agenda but John Dooley, JD and his kids. we sat down at a table and had the banter.
I set off to the Rankin Woods Marquee as I wanted to get a good place in for the Khruangbin gig, but was mildly surprised by the the sub headliner Rejje Snow, the Drumcondra native had a captive audience eating from his hand, he is a fine rapper but also a fine singer too and with another fellow on the beats at the back he gave a pretty decent performance. With two albums under his belt Dear Annie and Baw Baw Black Sheep and a bunch of EP singles, this man is going places.
Ever since I first looked at that first line up announcement, this lot came screaming out at me, this band just make beautiful mind blowing music, having checked out their KEXP video clips and seen them on the telly at Glastonbury. They bring a world music slant to their psychedelia, with Thai influences including their name, Eastern, Spanish influences, surf and funk. Mark Speer is an exceptional guitarist, who can play just about anything from David Gilmour style to Indian Charkas, kind of like Omar Souleyman’s frantic keyboards. Laura Lee has to be one of the most gorgeous looking women in the planet and dressed up like a futuristic Cleopatra and she plays a solid bass and Donald DJ Johnson does exactly what he says on the tin, he keeps a sure steady beat in a beautiful downbeat way. the band from Austin, Texas has three albums released, The Universe Smiles Upon You, Con Todo El Mondo and the most recent one from 2020 Mordechai. At times they played a bunch of familiar melodies including Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game and a lovely funk version of Tom Tom Club’s Genius of Love. A fantastic gig and one of my ultimate festival highlights.
After frolicking about the Haunt for a while I sauntered down to the main stage to have a geek at the Artic Monkeys, the main stage arena was packed out and then I realised, this is why I don’t go to the main stage often, people barging into you or coming up from behind you, yeah I know, its a gig and that will happen, but its a pain when trying to film a clip. The Artics had a good buzz going and they had a good solid alternative rock sound. I wouldn’t really know anything about the band having give them a miss the first time round at EP 2013 in favour of The Knife, but gave a wee listen this time. They wouldn’t really be my bag to tell you the truth, but they are certainly popular and can rock out with the best of them. Then the rain kicked in again which meant abandoning my plans to go to the Terminus to check out Jeff Mills set seeing I missed Helena Hauff’s set in favour of Khruangbin’s.
Well because it was raining again I went, fuck it and retreated back to the Haunt where I met Dave and Clidna there and stayed till 2.30 AM, I knew that I had to get up at a decent time on Monday to make the 1.25 PM train from Portlaoise, so I said my goodbyes and walked down to the Timahoe road rather than the crew path and crashed out like a light bulb in my tent.
Monday 5th September.
Woke up about 10 and went over to John’s camper where he handed me a coffee and then he offered me a lift to Portlaoise which was absolutely perfect, thank you John for being the saviour of the Picnic again along with my other buddies, thank you to everyone who made my week and weekend effortless and hopefully I shall see you all next year at a whack of festivals including the Picnic. On my way back, we had to change trains at Portalington to get the Galway train, while waiting on the platform it started to rain, so one of the festival punters opened up his pop up tent and climbed into it on the platform. 🙂
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