Longitude Sunday: Live Report - Father John Misty, Courtney Barnett, Rusangano Family & Rationale

Limerick’s Rusangano Family hit the stage running, for their Sunday afternoon set at Longitude. It was like they were headlining the whole shebang.

MuRli, God Knows and mynameisjOhn whipped the tent into a frenzy with a set that was heavy on tracks from their excellent debut Let The Dead Bury The Dead.The level of lyrical and literal gymnastics on display was a bit gobsmacking and by mid-set God Knows had given up on the stage, vaulted the barrier and was delivering his rhymes from the middle of the crowd. Having solidifyied their reputation as one of the island’s most exciting live acts, Rusangoano Family will be moving up the bill at future festivals –and fast.

Next up was Rationale at the Whelan's Stage, the London-based producer’s brand of silky soul funk a perfect accompaniment to those seeking shelter from the blazing sun. It has to be said that the man has an incredible voice, and the crowd were quickly won over and grooving along to the excellent backing band.

Courtney Barnett brought some much needed grit and swagger to the main stage, the Aussie commenting with a smile, “This is nice here, just us.” Big hits ‘Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go To the Party’ and ‘Pedestrian At Best’ from last year’s Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit had the crowd singing along, while slower numbers like ‘Depreston’ were easy to bliss out to in the afternoon sunshine.

The red velvet curtain descended and, ahem, church was well and truly in session; Father John Misty was here to kick off a set filled with stretched up, rapturous hands and thrusting snake hips. The man delivered his California-soul with such passion that you have to worry if he keeps dropping to his knees like that, he’s gonna suffer some serious issues in later life. But, the opening trio of ’Hollywood Forever Cemetery’, ’When You’re Smiling And Astride Me’, and ’Only Son Of The Ladies Man’ set out his stall (pulpit?) early and in the consummate style the man is known for. A great show...