Featuring a rather fetching stripey circus tent serving as the new home for the G Sessions stage, an additional dance-oriented area sponsored by Red Bull and, most importantly, the strongest line-up they’ve had in their 12-year history, the self-proclaimed “small but massive” shindig they call Glasgowbury is rapidly maturing into something of a monster.
With shed-loads of Irish acts on the bill, 2012’s festival has something for everyone and business really picks up with the arrival of the all-conquering punk-infused rock ‘n’ roll group Empty Lungs. Now a four-piece thanks to the recent arrival of guitarist Sam (“The fucker looks like Ryan Gosling and has a massive cock,” offers singer Kev Jones by way of introduction) the boys are in world-beating form and belt out the likes of ‘Identity Lost’ and ‘Nothing Left To Lose’ with a belief and passion that marks them out as one of the best unsigned acts on the island right now.
Donegal’s Mojo Gogo are also on the cusp of greatness and their utterly infectious indie songs go down a treat on the Main Stage. Boasting a live sound that’s as solid as Godzilla’s sofa, the quartet impress thanks to numbers such as the stunning ‘Romance In The Lie’: this time next year they’ll be much further up the bill and that’s a promise. While the rather languid in comparison Master & Dog struggle a little following the Mojos, and Katie & The Carnival’s performance suffers thanks to the elements, NI’s greatest party band Pocket Billiards arrive onstage to perk us up and blast out some absolutely righteous ska-punk, with ‘Dirty Money’ and ‘Belfast Town’ in particular sounding anthemic in the open air.
Meanwhile over on the Red Bull Generator Stage, DJs Viasidus and Casion spin tracks alongside local radio talent – including Rigsy, Stephen McCauley and Paul McClean. Red Bull Bedroom Jam winners Icon On Fire are one of the highlights of the day on the G Sessions stage, wowing the crowd with their infectious blend of pop/rock: the Mullingar five-piece are definitely ones to watch!
Over to the Eagle’s Rock stage next to check out the rootsy sounds of Farriers, whose country/bluegrass-tinged songs are a perfect, chilled-out precursor to the madness to come. By “madness,” we of course mean those riff lords LaFaro, whose turn in the G Sessions tent is a masterclass in sonic thuggery. In fact, there are more than a few punters who’ll definitely need a neck brace the next day after being pummelled by the punk-metal sounds of ‘Easy Meat’ and ‘Full Tilt’. Expect them to headline Glasgowbury sooner rather than later.
Speaking of headliners, NI legends Therapy? are left to bring the day to a close and they do it in style. Opening with the awesome one-two punch of ‘Rust’ and ‘If It Kills Me’, the trio (which includes stand-in drummer Alan from LaFaro) are clad in suits and prowling the stage like street-walking cheetahs looking just as up for it as the crowd. It’s great to hear the likes of ‘Nausea’ being dusted off for a live airing and newbies such as ‘Living In The Shadow Of A Terrible Thing’ sit happily beside now classic noise-rock cuts like ‘Meat Abstract’ and ‘Potato Junkie’. In case you’re wondering, James Joyce is still fucking his sister, the dirty sod.
In short – for 70 minutes the band brought the thunder and gave us the best Glasgowbury performance we’ve ever seen. File under “H” for Heroic.