Of the many festivals that took place over the Bank Holiday weekend, Indie-Pendence – previously known as the Mitchelstown Music Festival, but since raised a level or three in the coolness stakes – had the most to offer, yet was the most precarious. As if it wasn’t enough to battle it out with the other weekenders, its free entry meant that the turnout was in the malicious hands of the weather gods. Just ask Saturday’s headliners Republic Of Loose, whose set was washed-out by all accounts.
Yet it was the Sunday, with the very creamiest of new Irish music from curiously-named Cork newcomers Exit: Pursued By A Bear to Dublin successes Director, which was naturally the biggest draw. No new music fan can ask for more than the stellar bill provided, but still, early acts were wasted on an audience comprised mainly of kids looking for somewhere to eat their Supermac’s, and elderly couples wondering what all the noise was about.
Thankfully, that didn’t stop those on the bill from strutting their stuff on the town square stage like it was Wembley Stadium. Certainly, Exit The Street followed the same vein as Muse, more so in Colin Kelleher’s soaring vocals than their pomp.
Two fifths of Television Room are former members of The Marshals – not that it’s possible to glean from the bubbly, retro pop they add to the mix. ‘Tokyo’ rounds off a set that shows a band unconcerned about fads, and dues must be given for that.
For fans who like to swap stories that start ‘I saw them when…’, watching The Flaws and Murphy’s Live winners Ilya K perform in a small pub on the square is the stuff of legend. Back out on the square, Fight Like Apes were busy playing an equally energetic performance. The star of their show is certainly MayKay, despite her shrieky vocals frightening the more disinterested of the crowd. And let’s not even discuss what happened when they played a cover of McLusky’s ‘Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues’.
Despite FLA delivering the highlight of the fest, once dusk set and the square filled up, it was clearly time for the big guns. Dublin’s Delorentos, with their shared vocals and rousing anthems, looked like old hats at this game. Their setlist contained ammunition as powerful as the danceable ‘Eustace Street’ and album highlight ‘Stop’, which certainly hit their targets. Top stuff.
Rounding off the festivities were Director, whose live performances seem to improve leaps and bounds with every gig. As they stand, they’re as confident as they are tight – and newies like ‘Moment To Moment’ indicate their trajectory isn’t about to curve off.
And all for free? Bargainous.