Hot Press Chatroom - Stradbally, Co Laois

Kilkenny’s Neon Wolf opened a weekend of fun and frolics in the Hot Press Chatroom on Friday evening swiftly followed by the ever-dapper chappy Miles Kane. A bromance blossomed with interviewer Craig Fitzpatrick as the gents discussed his new record and pals Paul Weller, Leighton Baines and Alex Turner. The rest of the eve was session-tastic with Cronin, In Their Thousands, Husdson Taylor and Soak keeping the punters happy with some top tuneage.
Deep Vally kicked off Saturday’s proceedings with tales of meeting Jimmy Page and Josh Homme. They also let the cat out of the bag re: Matt Bellamy’s secret knitting addiction. Their forthcoming EP was up for discussion when Two Door Cinema Club dropped in. Alex also re-iterated his stance on the Stones – past it, Mick! Ellie Goulding charmed us all and even invited some fans up to join her on the Chatroom couch. Some light relief came courtesy of Reginald D. Hunter who also spoke at length of his love for jazz cigarettes. Aidan Gillen popped in later to wax lyrical about Game Of Thrones, The Wire, Love/Hate and his adventures in music.
Sunday visitors Noah And The Whale regaled us with many a festival yarn and told us ace album Heart Of Nowhere was inspired by the ‘suspended adolescence’ of being in a band. Teenage susperstars du jour The Strypes were all coy when discussing their meteoric ascent then blew the tent roof off with a blinder of a performance. Jagwar Ma spoke about covering Solange and why she is the funkier of the Knowles sisters as well as their upcoming adventures in Ibiza with pals Foals. Kodaline spoke to a jammed Chatroom and then patiently posed for pics with a throng of fans. Snow Patrol’s Nathan Connolly popped in to tell us about his excellent new project Little Matador and Vann Music played us out for EP 2013. And that wasn’t even the half of it! See hotpress.com for the pick of the Chatroom action...