Suncream, raincoats and glitter: What to pack for Irish music festivals this summer

Sartorial Matters

While festival season is a time to don your best gladrags, do remember that an Irish summer’s day is more than capable of running through all four seasons in the space of an hour. For this reason we recommend a poncho, waterproof shoes and a trusty bumbag to carry all your essentials. Truly, the cornerstones of festival fashion. If it’s comfort and style you’re looking for, we suggest ditching the denims and going for some slick, quick drying athleisure – there’s none better than Irish brand MCINO, who specialise in urban streetwear.

Wash Bag Essentials  

A few simple make up bags essential can go a long way to keep you fresh and fragrant on day three, with wet wipes, hand sanitiser and toilet roll always packed by shrewd punters. A little bit of pampering also won’t go astray, with make-up, perfumes and glitter all the order of the day at any Irish music festival worth its salt.

The Hot Tip

If you have the wherewithal before tucking yourself in for the night, go to a chippy/coffee van and get your hot water bottle filled up. It’s a lifesaver in Ireland where temperatures drop sharply at night, and usually vendors will do it for the price of a cup of tea – it lasts a lot longer than a cuppa too!

Trailer Park at Electric Picnic.

Earmarked  

If you want to let loose at all your favourite sets this summer, you should consider picking up some kind of ear protection. Different kinds will be handy for different purposes, such as noise cancelling when you’re dozing off, or for getting right up to the speakers at an epic rock set – our current favourites are the Dynamic Ear Filter.

Hydration Salvation 

To make sure you can get as much hip swinging action to your favourite artist’s sets- drink plenty of water. As a general rule, bring a reusable water bottle and a packet of electrolytes. You can buy sachets of dissolvable electrolytes from your local pharmacy – these little packets help you better hydrate and replenish minerals you may have sweated out.

Lost & Found

It’s never easy to locate your friends by screaming into a phone while Kylie Minogue plays in the background, with the festival bingo card including perennial favourites “I’m by the thing that looks like a tent!” and “No! The other one with the blue flag.” A lot of festival campsites are massive, making it all the more difficult to find your pals. It’s good practice to select a designated spot – a food truck, a landmark, the ticket office – to reunite with your rogue mate.

Travis Scott at Longitude 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

In The Bank 

Your phone is the one absolutely essential piece of festival going equipment, whether it’s to scan tickets or ring your friend or to pay for an emergency, hungover chicken fillet roll. To keep it charged, make sure you bring a power bank (and make sure you charge your power bank before you go too!). Your day-three self will thank your foresight and planning.

Creme de la Creme

While there’s no better combination than a cold pint on a hot day with some great live music - There’s no worse duo than a headache and a sunburn – the latter of which is easily preventable. Hot Press’ hot tip is to buy a spray or stick sunscreen, which will apply more easily without the need to be rubbed in, especially when your access to sinks might be hindered. Our favourite is Bahama Skin’s Glow Sun Stick with Factor 50 protection.

Credit: Celeste

Chemical Brothers

While the safest course of action is to not take drugs, if you are, some ways are safer than others. Cardinal rules you should observe: never smoke something you haven’t seen rolled; don’t mix substances; and where possible, get your drugs tested.

The HSE will be running a drug testing service at Mother Pride Block Party, District 8 Garden Party, Electric Picnic and District X this year, following last year’s successful pilot at the Picnic. If you or someone in your cohort experiences an adverse reaction, seek medical supervision immediately. All major festivals will have a medical tent to deal with these kinds of situations.

From Pharmacy To Farm  

As with packing for any holidays, a quick root through your medicine cabinet or trip to your local pharmacy can set you up for good. Antihistamines, insect repellent, painkillers and dry shampoo are all sworn-by favourites here at Hot Press.

Dance Yrself Clean

While decent footwear is essential when throwing shapes, sometimes it’s not enough. Blister plasters are always a useful go-to and will enable you to dance all night, as well as make the long walk between portaloos, food trucks and festival stages. Footwear essentials also include clean socks – a couple of spare pairs will keep you from, er, going spare when your feet are soaked.

Jealous of The Birds at All Together Now 2023. Copyright Trevor McGrath.

Leave No Trace

A lot of festivals in Ireland take place in fields or large parks that don’t usually accommodate such big crowds, so be mindful of what you leave. Take your rubbish with you and dispose of cans, cups and cigarette butts as responsibly as possible. Also, beg, borrow or blag your festival gear – invest in a tent that you can reuse year after year, minimizing waste and maximizing value.

Living La Vida Loca  

Of course, it would be an irresponsible festival guide if we didn’t tell you to let loose. Shake what your mother gave you to Doja Cat, sing your heart out to The National and dance with reckless abandon to KNEECAP. Festivals are joyous celebrations of music and life and should be treated as such.

Jane Hannigan, Mia Murray, Paul Carey and Aoife Harte at Forbidden Fruit Festival 2024, Dublin, 1 June 2024. Copyright Gary Ibbotson/hotpress.com

No Festival Tickets? No Problem!

This summer, Hot Press will be rocking Instagram with a series of competitions, where our followers will be in with a chance to win tickets to sold-out shows and other highly desirable goodies! Check out hotpress.com/competitions and follow us @hotpressmagazine to be within a chance to win!

 

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