Roll with the Punchestown: Oxegen A-Z

Alphastates – No matter what the name, date or location of the big summer festival, it has always had a strong Irish bent to it. Alphastates are one of the bands to benefit, coming back each year stronger and more fully rounded, culminating in this year’s sparkling debut album of pristine electronic pop.
Look out for: Catherine Dowling – sexiest voice of the weekend

Ash – Ash’s defection to the cause of ROCK has, in the past (Nu-Clear Sounds time in particular) heralded something of a career slump yet the four piece now look pretty much untouchable.
Look out for: lots of head crushing newies, a rocket up the arse of the old stuff and Tim Wheeler’s fetching capped sleeve T-shirt/Flying V combo.

Autamata – Some bands are really not designed to venture out of the studio, let alone emerge into the blinding light of a festival but Autamata seem better equipped than most to cope with the stresses of such a transition, putting together a full band to make the most of Ken McHugh’s vision.
Look out for: guest spots from Carol Keogh and Cathy Davey

Basement Jaxx – To a lot of festival goers, the idea of dance music is still a foreign field. Basement Jaxx, however, offer the rock fraternity an opportunity to wave their hands in the air and pull silly faces to a great live show, proper musicians and a stack of belting tunes that you can singalong to.
Look out for: a serious party.

Bell X – More locals return as conquering heroes. Bell X1 just get better, building on the success of the superb Music In Mouth. Could be among the stars of the weekend.
Look out for: Paul Noonan’s smile, at an even greater height than normal.

Bic Runga (pictured above) – Born in New Zealand of mixed Chinese and Maori heritage, 26-year-old Runga has been making records for seven years, only really making a splash around these parts in the last year. Hers is an easy going, singer songwriter style – but there’s substance there as well, in abundance.
Look out for: the curious seeking to get acquainted.

Black Eyed Peas – Genuine chart toppers are thin on the ground around these parts and your opinion on that particular state of play may well influence your feelings towards the BEPs.
Look out for: lots of arm waving and shouts of ‘Ireland, make some noise’ as well as a bunch of people hanging around to hear THE HIT. Don’t expect a JT cameo, though.

Bodytonic – A loveable band of Irish DJs, producers, designers, rogues and scoundrels, Bodytonic was set up in 2002. Since then, they’ve grown to include a variety of people all focussed on the same goal, the promotion of quality dance music.
Look out for: Cure fans looking lost.

David Bowie– Bowie’s Glastonbury set a few years back was one of those rare occasions when the event and the artist actually did each other justice. The fact that he decided to play all the songs that people wanted to hear didn’t hurt either. Since then, Bowie has returned to serious artist mode, so be prepared to look interested during the drum and bass interludes while you wait for him to do ‘Heroes’.
Look out for: ‘The Laughing Gnome’. You never know!

Buck 65 – Whatever you do, make time in your day for Buck 65, whose Talking Honky Blues album was one of last year’s most invigorating releases, a staggering blend of hip hop, country, funk and plain weirdness. Subsequent visits to Dublin have provoked excited murmurings and it’s to be hoped that he finds this a more conducive environment than his last Irish gig, the Trinity Ball.
Look out for: enigmatic genius at work.

Cartoon – A collaboration between producers and musicians Darragh O’Connor and Bob Jackson, Cartoon’s debut EP brought them to the attention of countless house DJs. Instead of slotting into the usual producer/DJ category Cartoon have formed a versatile eight piece live band complete with a powerful horn section, two highly experienced jazz/funk guitarists, three singers as well as keys and percussion.
Look out for: a big noise!

Paddy Casey – Casey is perhaps the domestic success story of the year and rightly so, yet it’s hard to imagine that he would be sharing a stage with N*E*R*D and Massive Attack anywhere except in Ireland. More power to him.
Look out for: A mass singalong to ‘Saints & Sinners’
Chemical Brothers – If any band has managed to straddle the rock/dance divide successfully, it’s been this lot. Ten years of the same haircuts notwithstanding, they’ve constantly taken their music to new places, neatly sidestepping each pigeon holing scene in the process.
Look out for: two blokes behind a mass of equipment.

The Chalets – From slightly novelty origins, The Chalets are fast developing into one of Dublin’s most distinctive bands. The irreverent sense of fun remains, now coupled with the realisation that it’s the quality of songs that keep people coming back. Expect them to be one of the most talked about local bands of the weekend.
Look out for: ‘Theme From The Chalet’ – all bands should have one.

Jimmy Cliff – While there’s a danger that he may stick out like a sore thumb musically, there’s no doubting that Jimmy Cliff stands alongside Bowie as one of the true legends of the festival. If you wanted to know where all these punk bands dug up their ska influences from, look no further.
Look out for: ‘The Harder They Come’

Complete Stone Roses – With the CSR doing their lookalike thing, you too can enjoy your annual bout of nostalgia, do that funny open mouthed dance and shake your air maracas.
Look out for: ill-advised flares.

The Cure – Presumed missing in action, the reappearance of The Cure has provoked more excitement than would have perhaps been imagined. There is a huge raft of great songs to choose from, if they decide to play it that way, and the summer could well signal their overdue resurgence.
Look out for: Proper goths, none of yer Marilyn Manson hokum.

The Darkness – They said it wouldn’t last, but the Darkness rollercoaster shows no sign of derailing just yet. There’s something fitting about an appearance alongside David Bowie and you can be sure that he would appreciate the approach of a certain Mr Hawkins. Let talk of a second album crisis wait for now, just enjoy the moment.
Look out for: those darling catsuits.

Cathy Davey – Unlike many of her peers, Dubliner Davey has appeared on the scene almost readymade and carrying the double edged sword of the next big thing tag. With an impressive debut EP under her belt, though, as well as a handful of well received live shows, this particular date should pose no problems to her.
Look out for: a rising star.

Tim Deluxe – Tim Deluxe’s productions are renowned for quality, diversity and above all, making them move. From the classic, garage stormer, ‘Rip Groove’, to the seamless ‘Sirens’/‘We All Love Sax’, to his Latin Inspired, house monster, ‘It Just Won’t Do’, his dancefloor speaks for itself. Remix-wise he recently did his thing on Basement Jaxx’s ‘Do Your Thing’.
Look out for: a packed dancefloor.

The Divine Comedy – Perhaps the antithesis of The Darkness, although Neil Hannon did have that unwise flirtation with the grunge look a few years back. Now he’s back how he belongs, neat and tidy, and indulging his Scott Walker fixation.
Look out for: Hannon pushing a pram backstage!

Maria Doyle Kennedy – Having come to the attention of the world via The Commitments, Maria Doyle Kennedy has turned into a one-woman entertainment industry. Stints in the Hothouse Flowers and the Black Velvet Band led to a solo career, many acting roles and the launch of her own Mermaid label, the home to last year’s Sirens compilation. One of this country’s most distinctive voices, her music takes in rock, soul and all points in between.
Look out for: her twinkling mic stand

Delays – Despite looking like a set of extras from that long awaited Kula Shaker bio-pic, Southampton’s Delays have been building nicely over the past year or so. Their debut Faded Seaside Glamour album continued the work and suggests that they might be in it for the long run. Shimmering guitars, gorgeous melodies and second best falsetto of the weekend.
Look out for: a wall of sound.

Elbow – Manchester’s musical legacy has never really faded and bands like Elbow are a good clue as to why. Thoughtful and unhurried (debut Asleep At The Wheel took a mere ten years to come together), the band are reaping the rewards for their patience. This will be their Irish debut.
Look out for: their none more Northern cover of ‘Independent Woman’.

Electric Six – Despite having seemingly spilt up half a dozen times, Electric Six keep choogling on. Have they got anything else to offer apart from some witty videos and a taste for excess? We’ll see, but they should at least kick-start the party.
Look out for: bad hair, bad clothes, big sunglasses.

Darren Emmerson – A true dance innovator, Emmerson was DJing at the age of 16 before he joined up with Karl Hyde and Rick Smith to form Underworld. The rest, as they say, is dance music history – reaching a peak with their Trainspotting-aided commercial crossover. With the band now taking longer breaks between records, Emmerson has gratefully seized the opportunity to get back behind the decks.
Look out for: ‘Born Slippy’

Faithless – You’d think we might be getting slightly tired of Faithless by now, especially as they seem to have been releasing the same well meaning, anthemic dance track for about ten years. The fact that they are so amazing live, however, has kept them in the game and Oxegen is just the kind of event that they revel in.
Look out for: the keyboard riff to ‘Insomnia’ sweeping across the field

Felix Da Housecat – One of the most successful house producers of recent times, Felix Da Housecat (possibly not his real name!) has, of late, diversified his style to take in hip hop and work with French chanteuse Miss Kitten.
Look out for: gurning

Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club – Ten years ago, Ger Whelan would have been thrashing away at events like this with An Emotional Fish. His current incarnation, however, is far more fun and as last year’s early Sunday slot at Witnness proved, perfect for this kind of event. All round entertainer and lounge king – it’s a role he was born to play.
Look out for: natty dressing

Franklin – The South Africans have been dismissed by some as little more than an attempt by Brian McFadden (who manages them) to distance himself from the manufactured pop of his former colleagues which is unfair on all counts. No matter: an opening slot for Incubus a few weeks ago and now this might give them a chance to step out of the shadows.
Look out for: Brian, side of stage, nodding his head.

Michael Franti & Spearhead – Political activist, rapper, musician, poet – Michael Franti has done it all over the years. Following the industrial soundclash of the Beatnigs and Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprosy, Spearhead is his funkiest incarnation and perhaps his best. A seriously good live band too.
Look out for: party vibes

Franz Ferdinand – One of the weekend’s biggies, Franz Ferdinand arrive on the festival circuit just as they start to peak, replacing the initial hype with the realisation that, yes, they are actually amazing. Do not miss under any circumstances.
Look out for: ‘Take Me Out’, surely one of the songs of the festival.

Future Kings Of Spain – FKOS are the kind of band that Oxegen is made for. Loud, energetic and Irish, their following has grown at a rapid rate. So much so, indeed, that they can look forward to a rammed tent while other, perhaps higher profile acts, gaze out on a mere handful of punters. A growing phenomenon.
Look out for: mass teenage hysteria

God Is An Astronaut – GIAA don’t play live that often but, when they do, it’s always a memorable occasion, as they mix their intelligent dance music with a live band and stunning, thought provoking visuals. A glow stick free zone, be part of it if you can.
Look out for: intensity

Goldie Lookin Chain – Not since the Polyphonic Spree has an Irish festival thrown up such a potential curve-ball as Newport’s finest – indeed only – hip hop crew. It could be genius, it could be shit, it will definitely be memorable. And you just have to hope that they bump into the Wu Tangs backstage.
Look out for: kitsch!

HAL – Another Irish outfit who have been making a name across the water, Hal appear to have launched a concerted effort to shore things up at home too. Sole single so far ‘Worry About The Wind’ suggested a penchant for all things from the US West Coast but that hasn’t done others any harm and the Rough Trade stamp alone suggests the mark of quality.
Look out for: a happy homecoming

Halite – Too long the musical foil for others, Graham Hopkins has finally emerged as an impressive perfomer and writer. After recording the Head On record almost totally solo, he’s put together a band that give the material a new lease of life. Expect him also to know at least one person in every other band on the bill.
Look out for: at least one beard!

PJ Harvey (pictured below) – Polly Jean’s return to the fray with Uh Huh Her has been a strangely pitched affair, especially in comparison to the commercial clout of Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea. Still, she has never been an artist to take the easy route and a high billing here should ensure at least a smattering of crowd pleasers amongst the gothic angst. A potential highlight.
Look out for: Natty frock for PJ, suits

Hothouse Flowers – When the Flowers appeared on the new bands stage a couple of years ago there were, it has to be said, a few raised eyebrows. At the time, their reunion seemed a slightly slap dash affair, restricted to the odd gig here and there. With a new album and serious touring under their belts, both here and abroad, it would seem that this is a genuine second coming.
Look out for: Liam’s dancing.

Keane – The open air suits epic indie music and they don’t come much more epic at the moment than Keane. With only drums, piano and vocals, they’ve still managed to create a 21st century version of the big music. Expect to be stirred.
Look out for: good manners on-stage.

The Killers – Another American band? Not quite. The fact that they were inspired to form by, of all things, an Oasis show in, of all places, Las Vegas shows that this isn’t your average jump up and down outfit. The Gallagher influence is still quite pronounced but there’s enough going on to suggest that they’re not just copying the copyists.
Look out for: Brandon Flowers – good name.

Kings Of Leon – At last year’s Punchestown bash, the Kings found themselves wandering onstage to a tent that was a third-full at best, competing with The Frames on the main stage. By the end, however, it was strictly crush room as the band battled through sickness and fatigue to produce a performance of epic proportions. Catch ’em!
Look out for: hair, lots of hair

The Libertines – The Libertines have been to hell and back and are now stronger than ever. Mind you, their debut album Up The Bracket was a real let-down and their first Witnness show a similarly damp squib. They could be one of the most important bands of their generation, so let’s see them start to earn the rep.
Look out for: Pete and Carl’s brotherly love, not even the small matter of burglary can divide them.

The Madchester Experience - Put on your Reni hat, grab your maracas and get ready to do your Bez dance – the spirit of Madchester is alive again! A seven-piece band featuring some of the finest musicians in Dublin, with rock journo Kevin Courtney up front, The Madchester Experience bring you tripping right back into the Haçienda, and shimmying straight onto the dancefloor. Or if they don’t, they give it a damn good try! Can you dig it?
Look out for: the man in the hat at the front.

Massive Attack – With Blue Lines recently voted one of the best British albums ever, Massive Attack return to prove that their influence has not diminished over the years. Seemingly shedding members each time they reappear, the chances are that this won’t be a good time, party set.
Look out for: brooding melancholy

Erin McKeown – Award winning 25-year-old singer songwriter Erin McKeown is a rare find. Hailing from Virginia, she has just released her third full length record Grand, a necessity in any music lover’s collection. Besides Garland, she counts Edith Piaf and Patsy Cline among her favourite vocalists. But ask her what’s in her CD player now and she responds, “Missy Elliot. I’ve been on a big hip hop kick lately.” She loves Radiohead, too.
Look out for: sensitivity

Mohair – Watford hasn’t offered the world much to date but Mohair are a down to earth bunch, always up for a laugh. Take a good slug of guitars, a Hammond organ, bass and drums, mix with four astounding voices and an x-factor of energy you can’t put your finger on – and you have the full on rock and roll sound of Mohair. If you’ve never seen ’em, now’s the chance.
Look out for: the exuberance of youth

Muse – Just when it looked like ambition in music was going out of fashion, along came Muse. Initially written off as Radiohead copyists, they’ve developed a sound of their own, where it’s OK to become the most over the top band since Queen. If they only bring a fraction of their recent stage show to Punchestown, this will still be one not to miss.
Look out for: Matt’s glow in the dark piano

N.E.R.D. – Confusion abounds – as The Neptunes, the duo of Hugo and Williams have created some of the freshest, funkiest music around. As N.E.R.D., they sound as though they’d rather hang out with Limp Bizkit than Britney. A curiosity.
Look out for: Pharrell Williams’ six pack

Ocean Colour Scene – Memories of Britpop, Euro 96 and more guitar bands than you could shake a stick at abound. But, unlike most of them, Ocean Colour Scene managed to outlive the scene and keep on doing what they do. Go for the old tunes for sure, but remember that their last album was the best thing they’ve ever done.
Look out for: lads with arms around each other, singing ‘The Day We Caught The Train’

Orbital – Farewell then, baldy blokes with the funny torches on their heads! But let this last appearance remind you of a time when we used to run around looking for parties in a field, phoning non-existent mobile numbers, get lost twice and arrive just as everyone had either passed out or gone home. Good times.
Look out for: Two more blokes behind masses of equipment

Pink – Despite running very publicly with the punk rock crowd, Pink’s recent Dublin show was a baffling mix of theatrics and pop gimmicks, with the music coming a poor second. No room for such shenanigans here but she has the songs and personality to carry it off. Token pop act or genuine rock queen? Could go either way.
Look out for: ‘Totally unscripted’ Christina put downs for the boys.

Razorlight – Equal parts American, English and Swedish, Razorlight are a transatlantic/North Sea meeting of angular, electric guitars here, a voice as English as cricket there. A band whose tunes apparently make grown men go weak at the knees and it is said they also have an effect on the damsels.
Look out for: Young girls with trembling knees.

Republic Of Loose – You can’t move at the moment without encountering some hyperbole regarding ROL and their debut album. Encouragingly, they’re also making waves abroad, dispelling the notion that there’s nothing more to musical life in Ireland than a few earnest strummers. Their live show veers between chaos and genius.
Look out for: White boy Dublin funk

Saucy Monky – Fans and press alike have embraced the distinctive meshing of Irish and American cultures behind Saucy Monky. Annmarie Cullen was born and raised in Dublin, while Cynthia Catania is from New Jersey. Currently based in Santa Monica, their music fuses those geographic reference points superbly. There’s a strong indie feel, great songs, brilliant voices and soaring harmonies a go-go. With a new album set for September release, they’re about to make big waves. See for yourself why.
Look out for: Swooning teenage boys

Saville – While others have garnered the hype, Saville have spent the last ten years doing the business without fanfare. The band’s history goes back to ’95 when their first recording was nominated as “demo of the year” by hotpress. They were the first ever unsigned group to appear on Top Of The Pops 2 in ‘97 with the track ‘Vinyl’, followed by video appearances on MTV Brand New. Two well received albums have led to a recent successful raid on the singles chart.
Look out for: The quiet ones.

Scissor Sisters – How a seemingly outrageous New York outfit have embedded themselves in the cosy mainstream is one of the year’s oddest stories, although it might have something to do with a distinctly conservative musical outlook – more Elton John than Fischerspooner. Still, you have to admire them.
Look out for: Fancy pants.

Simple Kid – Such has been his musical genre-hopping of late, it’s hard to say which version of the Kid will show up. Probably a little bit of all of them! Underneath the surface capers, however, is a writer of rare wit and vision so it’s worth persevering.
Look out for: Robotic cover of Johnny Cash’s ‘Hurt’

Snow Patrol – If any band look set to recapture the incredible atmosphere of The Frames’ set last year it must be Snow Patrol. Having appeared at Fairyhouse and Punchestown in the past, they’re coming home to claim their prize and no-one could begrudge them a single second of it.
Look out for: ‘Run’ – they’ll probably hear the roar in Dublin.
Sons & Daughters – Aware that sibling love and competition has engineered some of the greatest songs ever made, a little fact like not being actually from the same family isn’t going to stop Glasgow’s Sons & Daughters. Related in every sense but blood, the band take their cue from early traditionalist Scottish folk, Johnny Cash and time spent in bands like Arab Strap.
Look out for: fun for all the families.

Stellastar* – So much is implied in being a “band from NY”, that the music can get lost in the shuffle. But to put the nature versus nurture debate back out on the floor, stellastarr* is proof positive that it isn’t where you’re from that determines your music, but where you’re going.
Look out for: bucket loads of New York attitude

Stoneocean – Together a mere eighteen months, Stoneocean have been doing all the right things to make a name for themselves and Oxegen should be the culmination of all the hard work. The kind of band that the industry needs to encourage, so get out of bed and give them your support.
Look out for: David Bowie’s keyboard player, who has played with the band before.

The Strokes – The Strokes’ Irish account so far includes one gig at the Temple Bar Music Centre, when we were more focused on support act Moldy Peaches, a fairly shambolic Olympia show and a Belfast appearance put together in seemingly five minutes that rocked the house like a mutha! But most of us missed that one. Thus do the New Yorkers owe us a far more categorical demonstration of why the world is still falling at their feet. We know they’re great, we just need to see it in action.
Look out for: all that faith being repaid.

The Radiators (plan 9) – A new version of a very familiar name, The Radiators (plan 9) formed to play two songs at a Joe Strummer memorial concert in Dublin last December, and liked the experience enough to try some more. Apart from a one-off benefit show in 1987, this will be the first show anywhere by The Radiators in 24 years.
Look out for: hotpress’ own Steve Rapid back on stage for the first time in, well, a while.

The Rapture – Any band that can coerce Bez out of retirement to do whatever he does has got to be worth a look and The Rapture certainly mine a rich vein of US punk funk. Suspicions that ‘House Of Jealous Lovers’ was the only trick up their sleeve have been allayed, helped by a fantastic show at the Village.
Look out for: The upside down bass player.

The Saw Doctors – They might not be the hippest group on the bill but few other Irish bands can have enjoyed quite such sustained success as The Saw Doctors. They love what they do and their fans love them right back which, at the end of the day, is really all you need.
Look out for: Everyone forgetting their cool and going nuts to ‘N17’.

The Shins – Lead by singer/songwriter and guitarist James Mercer, The Shins have become one of the US indie scene’s success stories in recent years. Selling around 150,000 copies of their debut album Oh Inverted World, which features tracks of glorious ’50s & ’60s inspired sunshine pop and formally installed them as Gary Lightbody’s new favourite band.
Look out for: neither sight nor sound of Gary Lightbody, who’ll be stuck in Scotland, missing them play.

Turn – Although we seem to be perpetually terming Turn a band going through the wheels of change, this time it’s more accurate than ever. While this show will literally mark the debut of a new member on bass, it will also see them steering a new musical path, as they turn down the volume and let the heart of their music shine through. You may as well get used to it – nothing stays the same forever.
Look out for: the dawning of a brave new era.

Tychonaut – Who they, we all wondered. The answer is surprisingly simple yet still surprising. The Tycho Brahe are no more, long live Tychonaut. Name aside, the band’s world is still intact – Carol Keogh’s stunning vocals taking you on a musical journey that reaches places that few others could even contemplate.
Look out for: bemused faces and the penny dropping.

Ricky Warwick – Warwick used to front the Almighty, a band so damned rock that they had a drummer called Stumpy and songs with titles like ‘Full Force Loving Machine’. Things are a little mellower now, with the Dublin resident restyling himself in troubadour mode. Still has a LOT of tattoos though.
Look out for: the trademark Warwick quiff.

Wilco – Jeff Tweedy has not been having the best times of late, which means that neither have Wilco. Record company wrangling plus an enforced treatment for severe migraines have left him bloodied but unbowed, however, and he has emerged the other side in an almost sunny mood. Well, comparatively…
Look out for: Tweedy smiling, once anyway.

Wu-Tang Clan – The big question here is: who will actually make the trip? If it’s the full Clan contingent, then this quite rightly could be one of the highlights of the whole event. Yet there’s also every chance that it might just be Ghostface Killah, his cousin Dave, their manager’s next door neighbour and two blokes they met at the airport.
Look out for: ODB, quite possibly still on the run from the law.