Some cracking artists and there are even more playing this weekend.
Longitude is making its extremely welcome return to Marlay Park as Kendrick Lamar, Major Laser and The National all headline three stunning days of music. Since the festival made its debut in 2013, Irish music fans have been treated to some of the very best bands and singers around with Longitude playing host to a stunning array of international and domestic artists.
2016 is shaping up to be one of the best years in its history and if the performances are anything like these ones below, music fans are in for a treat. Here are a few of our favourites and please let us know if you’ve got your own ones to share.
Foals
Year and slot: 2013, Friday at 19:30
Longitude got off to the best possible start with a stunning performance from a band who always seemed destined for global domination. Ever since Foals released Antidotes in 2008, the indie rockers have cultivated a hardcore fanbase in Ireland and every time they return, the crowd gets bigger and noisier. Holy Fire was an album that signified the stadium-sized ambitions of Yannis and co. but if anyone had any doubts that Foals wouldn’t be able to make the leap from smaller venues to festival crowds, they were proven wrong with this wonderful performance.
It helps that they have this absolute belter of a song to finish their set on.
Clip via – Foals
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Year and slot: 2013, Sunday 19:30
Very few albums can be deservedly hailed as an instant classic but Fever to Tell by the New York punk darlings is definitely one of them. The 2003 album catapulted the Karen O led band into the stratosphere and they followed this up three years later with Show Your Bones, a record that dispelled the infamous ‘second album syndrome’ myth. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are that rarity, a band who haven’t made a bad album to date but they only make music or go on tour when things are 100% right.
With this in mind, their gig at Longitude was an event that wasn’t to be missed – who knows when we might see them again? – and they didn’t disappoint.
Clip via –lb. barrett
London Grammar
Year and slot: 2013, Sunday at 16:15
While it’s incredibly enjoyable to watch some of your favourite artists play the songs that you love and know so much, there’s something wonderful about discovering an up-and-coming band that are about to make the breakthrough from the underground into the mainstream. Without a hint of hyperbole, Hannah Reid of London Grammar has the most original and mesmerising voice since Amy Winehouse first emerged .
The trip-hop trio were already getting airtime with their wonderfully melodic track Metal and Dust, but everyone that saw them in this tent left the gig with just one thought in their head. This band are going to be huge.
Clip via – Dave O’Regan
Hozier
Year and slot: 2014, Saturday at 15:00
Grammy nominations, sold-out tours, critical acclaim, number one singles, record breaking streaming figures and global stardom. Despite all of these things, Andrew Hozier Byrne has still managed to remain humble, down to earth and incredibly passionate about performing to a live audience. Then again, we really should have known this after seeing his very first Longitude performance because he stayed back afterwards to sign autographs for his fans!
After this wonderfully soulful show, Irish fans knew that there was someone new on the scene and that his talent was off the scale. Further proof came the next summer when Hozier returned to Marlay Park and headlined the the event.
Clip via – Samantha Green
Glass Animals
Year and slot: 2015, Saturday at 17:15
Hype can be a very difficult thing for any emerging band or artist to live up to, but in the case of the Oxford indie-rockers, it’s entirely justified because very few bands have perfected a sound that strikes the sweetest of sweet spots for festival goers. Glass Animals’ debut album Zaba was a wonderful cacophony of trip-hop beats, psychedelic imagery, chilled out vibes, seductive vocals and a bevy of daring arrangements.
Quite simply put, there’s nothing quite like them because it’s impossible not to sway your hips at a Glass Animals gig. Every show that they’ve done in Ireland has been memorable, this one certainly was, and we’re certain that they’ll be back very soon.
Clip via – jzargo3
Supported by Three. Music Lives Here.
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