Castle Palooza 2009

Topping the bill on the Saturday was festival favourite David Kitt, who decided not to deliver the mellow, acoustic guitar-driven singer-songwriter fare you might have expected. This was a dancey, electro set – really more Spilly Walker than David Kitt.
Kittser was preceded on the main stage by electro duo Project Jenny, Project Jan. All the way from Brooklyn, New York these two were the odd men out in an overwhelmingly Irish line-up.
Live, the singer + guy with laptop set-up, so beloved of electro acts, can often feel a bit sterile – but Project Jenny, Project Jan made it work, performing with as much energy and charisma as a six-piece band. Possibly because they’d come such a long way, they played on Sunday too. Both sets went down a storm.
Earlier in the day, over on the second stage, indie newcomers The Ambience Affair delivered a fantastic half-hour or so of tunes. Considering their name, I’d expected lashings of Eno-esque indulgence. Thankfully, that doesn’t seem to be what they’re about – more like the Angsty Affair. Great riffs, driving rhythms and all tighter-than-tight – it added up to the most enjoyable set of the day.
Speaking of tight, there was tough competition for the most ridiculous jeans prize. In the end it had to go to The Spikes’ frontman Tom Dunne. These guys graced the main stage early on Sunday with some guitar-driven, ‘70s-style rock & roll.
Weekend highlights?. First up, Lauren Guillery & The Claws who were Sunday’s first act. Despite the rubbish time slot, they were deadly. I wished this could have gone on for another hour. They have a unique sound: heavy, dark rock, with a bluesy edge.
The other highlight for this reviewer was electro-rock outfit Robotnik, on the main stage on Sunday night.
Last time I saw this guy he was weirding out some earnest indie types who had only gone to Whelan’s to see Grand Pocket Orchestra, not to be yelled at by an angry man with a mullet.
The Castlepalooza crowd seemed divided – some people rocked out to ‘People Walk Away’ and ‘Pat The Baker’ during which a loaf of Brennan’s bread was subjected to violent abuse. Others looked nonplussed and wandered off to check out the other stage. Well, I thought it was great.
Prediction for next year’s headliner: Le Galaxie, who completely packed the tent. This hard rock/electro act seem to have been doing a phenomenal amount of gigging over the last few months and they’ve built up a hardcore following. Their festival set started off rocky and morphed into trance weirdness at the end – all very good.