The green, green class of home

As ever, Dublin Castle is the focus for the entertainment. The grand old venue has witnessed many memorable Green Energy shows over the years. Green Energy 06 promises to be up there with the very best of them.
Snow Patrol’s spot at the Castle kicks off a busy 12 months for the Belfast band. With new album Eyes Open on the way, the group are eager to build on the success of their 2004 breakthrough, Final Straw.
The last few years have been a whirlwind for Snow Patrol. They toured with U2, scooped a score of Meteor Awards and – oh yes – topped the charts, not only in Ireland (where they’d always had a following) but across Europe too.
Supporting the band for their sold out Green Energy show will be Richard Hawley, a sensitive north of England songwriter whose recent Coles Corner album pulled off the unlikely trick of bringing to mind both The Smiths and Roy Orbison.
24 hours later, Ian Brown follows Snow Patrol with what promises to be a typically entrancing performance. Anyone who caught one of his sold-out Ambassador gigs late last year will know the singer enters 2006 in super-charged form.
Having blanked the Stone Roses catalogue for much of his solo career, Brown treated the audience to a brace of baggy faves – among them ‘Made Of Stone’ and a ground-quaking ‘I Wanna Be Adored’. The prospect of him reprising those in the epic environs of Dublin Castle is enough to set one’s heart aflutter.
Opening for Brown will be Republic Of Loose, the funkiest Irish band since...well, it’s been a while. Their new Aaagh album sees the Dubliners’ build on the potential they’ve always displayed in their live shows. It might just be one of the break-out stories of the year.
Monday night sees Britrock kings Kaiser Chiefs play one of their largest headline gigs yet. Their good-natured retro-rock earned the Leeds band a huge international following in 2005. Refreshingly down to earth – no art school moodiness here – they specialise in sing-along crowd-pleasers with sunny hooks that get inside your head and refuse to leave. They predict a riot – we predict one of the most memorable shows of the year.
Fittingly, they’re supported by Graham Coxon, formerly of Blur – a band whose influence is stamped all over the Kaiser Chiefs songbook.
Having quit the Britpop founding fathers to make awkward solo records, Coxon has lately rediscovered his hunger for feelgood rock music. The resulting Love Travels At Illegal Speeds album is one of the best things he’s ever done, being loaded with hooks, melodies and fantastic guitar parts.
Ticket Information: In person: from 99 Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. 24hr Hotlines: Tel: (ROI) 0818 719 300 (NI) 0870 243 4455. Buy online: www.ticketmaster.ie

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A brief history of Heineken Green Energy
1996: The first ever Green Energy festival. The main stage is in the Point and is headlined by Lou Reed, Orbital and Goldie.
1997: The main stage is moved to Dublin Castle where Counting Crows, Beck and Suede top the bill.
1998: Finley Quaye, Catatonia and Texas headline.
1999: One of the most eclectic line-ups yet featuring The Cardigans, Catatonia, Faithless, UB40, Beautiful South, Reef and Mercury Rev.
2000: The Cranberries return from a world tour to play their only Irish gig of the year. The line-up also includes Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Van Morrison, Tracy Chapman and Brian Ferry
2001: Smithfield Square is added as a venue. Acts include Buena Vista Social Club, Manic Street Preachers, Ash, Morcheeba and JJ72.
2002: Back to Dublin Castle for the White Stripes, The Frames joined by Damien Rice, Bell X1, Mundy and Paddy Casey, The Hives, De La Soul and Evan Dando.
2003: This time it’s Beck, Moloko, Groove Armada and Stereophonics.
2004: Josh Ritter, Morrissey, Iggy Pop and The Streets headline the four nights in Dublin Castle.
2005: Black Eyed Peas, Paddy Casey and Faithless were last year’s Kings of The Castle.
In addition to the Dublin Castle headliners, Heineken Green Energy has also featured artists of the calibre of Alice Cooper, Supergrass, Jet, I Am Kloot, Beck, Moloko, Beth Orton, The Vines, Electric Six, Peaches and Craig David.