Hozier stars as Longitude gets off to a cracking start

I was met by a pair of Cuban twins…

Yes, I know it sounds like the first line of a drug-smuggling memoir (or a misguided erotic story) but it’s exactly how my Longitude experience began. Ibeyi are one of the buzz acts of 2015, and have consequently drawn a sizable crowd by the time I escape HP Towers and hightail to Marlay Park. It might just be Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi on stage, but it’s quite the noise; a positively Bjork-esque sound combined with charm that could haul the birds from the trees.

If Ibeyi bring the eclecticism, then Young Fathers bring the party. The boot-shaking bass of ‘Get Up’ and ‘War’ ensure that anyone with a loose tooth will be visiting their dentist ASAP, while ‘Queen Is Dead’ prompts a full-on rave atmostphere, much to the delight of the David Guetta fan in front of me (it takes all sorts)…

Crossing the Jeff Bridges to the Main Stage (yeah, we had that same laugh/cringe reaction ourselves), it was time to reacquaint ourselves with The Vaccines. They were punctual, at the stroke of 8pm, then punchy with a flawless rendition of ‘Handsome’. ‘Wreckin’ Bar’ has Justin Hayward-Young on his knees by the second song – by the time ‘20/20’ and ‘If You Wanna’ ring out, we’re barely capable of keeping our feet either.

I have a strange relationship with Nick Mulvey; about a week after his pre-Christmas Whelan’s gig convinced me of his genius, David Cameron professed to being a fan. Nothing is less cool than that. Thankfully, the Whelan’s Stage witnesses a showcase in delicate, intricate tunes, ‘Fever To The Form’ and ‘Cucurucu’ particularly impressive. A six-year-old next to me sings every word while sat upon his dad’s shoulders; hats off to top parenting or the Young Tories stepping up their game.

After all of that, Hozier’s return to an Irish stage is less a concert and more a mutual hugging session. It’s three songs before he starts chatting to the audience. Then again, when those three are ‘Angel Of Small Death’, ‘From Eden’ and ‘Jackie And Wilson’ who needs chat?! ‘Sedated’ sounds more charged than ever, while Wyvern Linguist Karen Cowley ensures ‘In A Week’ hits home.

There’s a chuckle when Andrew Hozier-Byrne himself refers to ‘a little place called Wicklow’ in the style of a man who’s been in the States for too long. But to be fair, it feels like we’re a million miles away. Roll on Day 2!!