In The Meadows brought the second edition of their festival to the IMMA grounds yesterday, delivering attendees a wild day filled with rock and roll.

First up on the In The Middle Stage was Dublin four-piece, Really Good Time. Filled with fuzzy production and ear-splitting melodies, the band certainly lived up to their name. Diolmhain Roche gave the audience feral, shrieking vocals, quickly filling the tent with movement.

“Let’s give a quick shout-out to our sponsor… Our sponsor is the CIA,” said Roche. “Thank you to the CIA for sponsoring this event. And our second sponsor is your weird problematic dad who posts strange things online. So thank you to him!”

Adrian Garvey’s crashing drums created an absolute wall of sound, complimented expertly by Alex Conway’s catchy guitar riffs. They began playing ‘Bob Dylan Was On Pawn Stars in 2010,’ a playful track about the unlikely crossover between a great folk icon and a 2009 television program. Their entire set was free-spirited and fun, with bassist Jack Hitchcock eventually jumping the barricade and launching himself into the crowd.

“Thank you so much, we’ll be back!” said Garvey. “Trans rights are human rights! Free Palestine!”

Next on the West Stage was Warmduscher, a London-based group filled with power and energy. The post-punk band eased gently into their set, starting off with ‘Standing on the Corner’ from their 2018 album Whale City. The groovy track was melodic and dance-worthy, but lacked that wild energy that was quickly approaching.

Things picked up with ‘Fashion Week’ off their 2024 album Too Cold To Hold. Clams Baker Jr. hurled lyrics into the mic, prowling the stage with confidence. ‘Burner’ was also a real highlight, with an intoxicating bassline stealing the show. The crowd delved into a churning mosh, losing themselves in the music.

“We push back,” said Baker Jr., pausing to speak on their 2022 track ‘Wild Flowers.’ “We show them where we come from. We stand up to the motherfuckers that keep us down, right?... That’s what this song’s about!"

It certainly excited the audience, who danced and grooved along. Angsty lyricism and thumping melodies drove the song forward, perfectly encapsulating Warmduscher’s sound.

Before they left, Baker Jr. jumped into the audience and began crowd-surfing, certainly leaving fans with a memorable set.

Warmduscher at In The Meadows festival, RHK, Dublin 7.6.2025 Copyright Colm Kelly

Next on the same stage was Gilla Band, filled with static fuzz and wild guitar riffs. It didn’t take long for the crowd to start moshing, clearly excited for the iconic Dublin band.

They kicked off their set with ‘Backwash’ off their 2022 album Most Normal. Lead vocalist Dara Kiely possessed a commanding voice, shouting stream-of-consciousness lyricism into the mic. A crunchy guitar and booming drums united to create an otherworldly atmosphere, feeding into their unique sound.

The band didn’t converse much with the crowd, opting instead to rock out without interruption. The mosh grew more and more untamed, with fans tossing around a lone sneaker lost in the frenzy.

Kiely’s vocals also became more raspy and guttural as their set continued. They ended their time with ‘Eight Fivers,’ an intense but short track about wasting money on “shit clothes.” Their presence was undeniably fun, and their simple lyrics were refreshing and new.

“Thank you very much,” said Kiely before leaving the stage.

Gilla Band at In The Meadows festival, RHK, Dublin 7.6.2025 Copyright Colm Kelly

One of my favourite sets of the night was easily Slowdive. Their ambient shoegaze stood in stark contrast to the excitement of Gilla Band, but were no less captivating. Waves of sound washed over me, with dreamy melodies slowly building into a cacophony of excellence. Trippy visuals danced in the background, building worlds around the band's sonic beauty.

They began their set with 'shanty,' the opening track off their 2023 album everything is alive. Rachel Goswell's hypnotic vocals echoed with delicate charm, as pulsating guitar lines filled the tent.

"Thank you!" she told the crowd.

The band continued on, playing Slowdive classics like 'Souvlaki Space Station,' 'Alison' and 'When The Sun Hits.' The pacing of each song was impeccable, with the final note from every track feeling rewarding and complete.

They wrapped up their set with a cover of 'Golden Hair' by Syd Barrett– a rock legend and co-founder of Pink Floyd, who passed away in 2006. Psychedelic visuals ebbed and flowed on the screen behind them, displaying a picture of Barrett in the center. It was a beautiful way to end the show, and certainly touched the audience.

Slowdive at In The Meadows festival, RHK, Dublin 7.6.2025 Copyright Colm Kelly

On the main stage, the final act of the night was the legendary Iggy Pop. Blowing kisses into the crowd, the 78-year-old musician absolutely rocked the festival grounds. Drinks flew into the air, fans stumbled to the ground and dozens crowd-surfed above a vicious and fervent mosh.

The audience went wild for 'Lust For Life,' the title track off his 1977 album. He played the song pretty early into his set, and fans pushed against each other in celebration. Shirtless and confident, the rocker absolutely dominated the stage. He was supported by a full band, including a trombone and trumpet player.

Iggy Pop, alternatively known as James Osterberg Jr., transitioned to 'I Wanna Be Your Dog,' a 1969 track from his former band The Stooges. It was fast-paced and exciting, inviting fans to scream the lyrics right back at him.

"This is a song. I did it with The Stooges," he told the crowd before playing '1970.' "We started in 1969 and then all of a sudden it was 1970, and I couldn't think of a better idea than to write a song about what did it feel like to be alive in 1970. Hit it!"

The mosh continued to gain momentum, with many crowd-surfing fans being dropped to the ground in the commotion.

His final song was 'Funtime' off his 1977 album The Idiot. Fans howled on in tune with the beat, insistent upon keeping the party alive.

"Goodnight everyone!" Osterberg Jr. exclaimed, before throwing his mic to the ground, tossing his jacket and strutting off stage. Countless listeners dwindled behind, chanting his name and begging for one last encore.

Iggy Pop at In The Meadows festival, RHK, Dublin 7.6.2025 Copyright Colm Kelly

With loads of iconic sets, In The Meadows 2025 was an undeniable success.