Hard Working Class Heroes - review & galleries

Hot Press had a busy weekend of it, covering all the action from Hard Working Class Heroes 2014. Check out the photo galleries for Thursday and Saturday.
Planet Parade kicked things off at Meeting House Square on Thursday evening, the six-piece presenting a set that blended indie-rock, soul, harmonies and edgy rhythms. Around the corner in Bad Bobs, a sizeable crowd was already being impressed by Leanne Harte, drawing from her recent Restless Sleepers EP. Another standout release was showcased at the Button Factory, as God Knows + mynameisjOhn hit the stage. Their game-changing take on hip-hop and grime on Rusangano/Family is certainly something different; a truly captivating act. Also different was the sight of SOAK with an electric guitar. The Derry lady is usually a master of the acoustic, but the fuzzy tones brought an extra depth and character to an impressive set.
The rain on Friday meant an extended stay in the Twisted Pepper, where Contour gave one of the performances of the weekend, with heavy bass and house-style vocals combined in a glorious hybrid. A masterclass in vocal sampling followed as Kilkenny’s Replete tested the sound system with a mix of house, synths, old-school acid and driving rhythms. Braving the elements to sprint across town was rewarded in The Mercantile, as Cork dream-pop merchants Elastic Sleep showed just why they’ve been the subject of so much recent praise.
Saturday once again started on Middle Abbey Street, where Benihana’s atmospheric set was well-received by a massive audience. The agreeable conditions outdoors, though, meant it was the perfect opportunity to dash around town for some power gigging; husband and wife duo Low Sea were first to impress, Elaine Mai’s remixes went down a storm, and Cloud Castle Lake’s performance suggested the sky is the limit for the Dubliners. Meltybrains? continues to supply one of the best, most chaotic live shows in the country, while veterans Fight Like Apes closed the show in style.