Independence Festival

Indiependence mey be small, but it’s undoubtedly the nicest festival I have been to in years. You are literally two minutes from everything – the bar, the main stage, the food, the loos, the parking lot. Hassle-free and super-friendly, the atmosphere was wonderful. Much like Electric Picnic in the early days. Indiependence knows it’s about music, not making candles!
And there was a lot of music. With over 110 acts, there were some real gems. Ghostcat, a band I hadn’t heard previously, blew me away with a diet of lean pop-funk performed by their fantastic frontwoman. Live favourites And So I Watch You From Afar could have been heard miles away, and We Should be Dead played a cracking set, including an incredible cover of ‘Teardrops’ by Womack and Womack. Despite worries that the crowd wouldn’t hear Duke Special over The Coronas, who were finishing up on another stage, by the end of the gig the tent was packed with a reverential audience.
Other highlights included Ham Sandwich, who were delayed by a long soundcheck. Once they took off they had the crowd eating out of their hands. Meanwhile, it’s clear that Battle of the Bands winner Bobby O’Keefe has a great future. Great music, great weather, great crowds and gluten-free beer: what more could you want?