Indiependence Day 2: Hot Spot Round-Up

There were a lot of tired legs in the Hot Press Hot Spot first thing this morning, mainly due to some serious moshing at ASIWYFA last night, and of course all the hard work done throughout the day.

Fuelled by a hearty full-Irish breakfast, and plenty of coffee, the team soon had the tent looking fantastic and ready for another busy day at Indiependence.

Nanu Nanu were the first act through our doors shortly after 2pm, with Laura Sheeran and Marc Aubele in spritely form ahead of their set in the Maxol Big Top Stage later in the afternoon. Laura and Marc spoke about their alter egos: Glitterface and Mirror Man, as well as the importance of visual arts to the Nanu Nanu project.

Hot Press favourites Leaders Of Men were up next, doing the acoustic thing. We hope the lads (lead singer Bashe in particular) make it back to Dublin in one piece, after they revealed details of an unfortunate incident involving alcohol, a bathroom stop and a ditch, on a recent trip home from the Rebel County.

Foy Vance, who overcame an epic battle with a vicious and persistent wasp, was next up and delivered a couple of beautiful tracks before sitting down with Craig Fitzpatrick for an entertaining chat that took in everything from Foy gigging in prisons to him touring with chart-topper Ed Sheeran.

The Le Galaxie lads dropped in before their set later in the evening for a chat with Dave Hanratty. Movies and TV shows were the order of the day, and it was all going so well until our trusty journalist revealed his dislike for The Sopranos. Obviously Dave was in a minority of one, but he backed up his claims with some insightful analysis of the series finale. He’s a brave man!

Young Wonder, VANN MUSIC and We Cut Corners also swung by the HP Hot Spot for a couple of fine acoustic sessions, before we broke our attendance record when word spread around the site that Kodaline would be on the couches at 5.20pm. The tent was already jam-packed by 5pm, and the lads from Swords didn’t disappoint, hanging back to sign t-shirts, Hot Press issues and just about anything else their fans could get their hands on.

The world’s greatest beat-boxer, Beardyman, definitely paid the most chaotic visit to the HP tent today. Therapy, religion, politics, lots of audience participation and of course beat-boxing were all kept under control by Roe McDermott, before lots of keen fans pounced for photos and signings. We can’t wait to see him later!

Funnyman Colm O’Regan made the short hop from the nearby comedy tent for a hilarious chinwag with Roisin Dwyer before main stage headliners Bell X1 arrived to close out proceedings of day two at the HP Hot Spot.

We’ll be back again tomorrow with a line-up that includes Sorcha Richardson, Windings, The Original Rudeboys, Toby Kaar, SOAK, Ryan Sheridan and lots lots more.