As Team HP joined the throng heading from beautiful Mitchelstown towards Deer Farm on the outskirts, we couldn't help but get excited to launch ourselves headlong into this year's Indiependence festival.
While early acts on the Main Stage such as Cronin and Elephant entertained those few early birds mulling around the place, it was The Strypes who pulled the sluggish from their tents and really kick-started proceedings. They fired full tilt into their set, only pausing before the third song to introduce themselves: "We're The Strypes, and we're from Cavan". Tunes including 'Still Gonna Drive You Home', and 'Blue Collar Jane' made an appearance but it was the crowd joining in on 'Scumbag City' that finally prompted the young rockers to stop and grin at their delighted audience.
Exhausted from that charged set, Team HP set across off across the field to catch the end of CC Smugglers. The British outfit had already amassed a lively crowd and showed their street performance roots with their engaging and exciting show.
As the day came to an end, it was headliners Bell X1 who took the stage with colourful renditions of 'Great Defector' and 'Velcro'. Speaking to the crowd about "minding each other" and "lost legends", the band started into an unexpected but welcomed cover of David Bowie's 'Lets Dance'. This inevitably lead to chants of 'Bowie, Bowie' echoing around the audience. Finishing up with the classic 'Rocky Took A Lover', the Dublin lot made sure they sent everyone back to their tents in high spirits.
On Saturday morning, falling in with our fellow campers, Team HP made the pilgrimage from Deer Farm into Mitchelstown where supplies were replenished and ice creams were enjoyed in the sunshine. After being suitably revitalised by the atmosphere in town, we headed back up the Main Stage where Kilkenny band Neon Wolf had begun their set.
Northern Irish five–piece Pleasure Beach showed that you don't have to be dead serious to put on a good show, covering Springsteen's 'I'm On Fire' before unleashing debut single 'Go'. The band's presence on stage was something to behold; aloof yet completely natural, you couldn't but enjoy as they unwound their anthem set.
Behind the Main Stage a tired festival–goer could go find some respite in the relaxed charm of the Beer Hall. It was here Team HP was kicking back with our first beer of the weekend (ahem) when Barq front–woman Jess Kav walked on-stage. Delivering a tight set of psychedelic R&B-infused rock, the group were mesmerising to watch. Despite intending to leave early to get in before the crowd for the next act at the Main Stage, Barq kept us holding on right until the end.
Racing back to the main arena, we arrived just as Walking On Cars (pictured top) began their show. The Dingle group didn't have far to travel for the night's gig but it seemed that every soul within shouting distance of Deer Farm was packed into the tent. For the duration of their performance the crowd sang along as they delivered hit after hit including 'Always Be With You', 'Catch Me If You Can', and 'Speeding Cars' – and as people spilled out into the night, the buzz was practically visible.
However, The Kooks by no means coasted on this energy as they took the headline spot on the Main Stage, building up the atmosphere themselves. Firing off hits like 'Always Where I Want To Be', 'She Moves In Her Own Way', and 'Naive', they left little doubt that they retain the chops required to take top billing.
Any fatigue that might have been setting in by Day 3 was blown away by a grungy set from Bitch Falcon, starting the day with an almighty wallop. Perhaps even more enthusiastic were Ash, who'd only just begun their Main Stage set when halfway into 'Girl From Mars', their sound completely cut out... twice. Good natured as ever, they returned shortly after boldly stating that they were: "Too powerful for this PA system", and they proved as much. With added vigour, they trio delivered their set to an adoring crowd, pleasing old fans and certainly gaining some new ones along the way with renditions from their last year's Kablammo! sitting alongside classics 'Oh Yeah', 'Kung Fu', and 'Burn Baby Burn'.
Editors soon followed, but seemed to pale in comparison; despite the best efforts of the group, the crowd were largely disinterested. Luckily, there was no shortage of alternatives, and catching the end of King Kong Company's set was the perfect way to recapture the festival spirit, the group's eclectic mix of dance and live performance paired with a stunning visual show.