JOE's music heads Joe Harrington and Paul Moore were in Stadbally last weekend and they run us through their highs and lows of the festival...
Top Five Bands of the Weekend
Flume
The Australian producer was one of the few artists I had to see over the weekend and I wasn't disappointed. I lodged myself dead centre about 10 rows from the front and it was non-stop dancing for 50 minutes. I left the tent sweating which is always a great sign of a gig.
Jungle
Everyone I spoke to ahead of the festival urged me to check out Jungle and that advice must have spread all over the site because the Electric Arena was mobbed for them on Sunday evening. Just like Flume there was a lot of dancing by me so apologies to anyone who had to witness that.
Metronomy
The slick, electro-pop kings were always going to bring the house down they delivered. The Bay, The Look, Reservoir, Heartbreaker were all scattered among an amazing set. It was brilliant.
tUnE-yArDs
Friday night at Body and Soul was packed to capacity for tUnE-yArDs. I managed to make my way down to stage level and looking around at the crowd up the hill along with the bands music, it was a really special moment.
Wild Beasts
I'm always wary of a band like Wild Beasts playing on the main stage in the afternoon. Their music, in my opinion, is more suited to a small intimate venue where the effect of their layered sounds can really be appreciated. However, I have to admit their set on the main stage at EP worked a charm,
Biggest Surprise
Glass Animals played the little big tent on Sunday afternoon and the atmosphere in the tent was just incredible. The crowd were die-hard fans and the noise after every song was incredible. They finished with their big hit 'Pools' and the place went insane. They play Whelan's in October, make sure you get a ticket.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1jVyNEAY50
Biggest Let Down
I was a little big disappointed with the headliners. Chic were amazing but the others were just okay. That's just my opinion and people say I'm wrong all the time so don't get too angry at me.
Favourite Non-Music Moment
I spent some time in the comedy tent over the weekend with Al Porter, Kevin McGahern and JOE's Eric Lalor the standouts but just outside the comedy tent was this tribute to the late Robin Williams. A nice touch.
Favourite Food at the Festival
Pieminister - I must say one of the most satisfying moments of the weekend was sitting in the grass eating a pastry pie, mash, peas and gravy. Pieminister have a new fan in this Kerryman.
Highlight of the Weekend
The late night action in Salty Dog and Body & Soul in general over the weekend was just amazing. The music and the all round atmosphere was so good and hence you could end up staying there until the early hours of the morning. After writing this, I want to go back right now.
Top Five Bands of the Weekend
Chic
Not so much a performance as an exquisite 90 minute lesson in the history of music. As soon as Nile Rodgers put those gifted fingers to his guitar and played the opening chords of 'Everybody Dance' the whole crowd knew that they were in for something special. Within the space of about 15 minutes they played Diana Ross, Sister Sledge, Sly and the Family Stone, Madonna and Daft Punk. Who else can do that?
London Grammar
This was the 3rd time that I got to see the Nottingham trio in slightly over a year and to be honest it could have been the 33rd time and I'd still never get bored. What was truly amazing is that their gifted singer Hannah Reid clearly still hadn't fully recovered from a recent bout of illness yet she was still utterly mesmeric and captivating.
Fans of the band should be happy because if their live showing at Laois is indicative of the direction that they are taking, then the follow up album to the excellent 'If You Wait', should be much heavier on the drum 'n bass and more upbeat.
Drenge
The brothers Loveless just arrived at E.P and blew the roof off the tent. No hello. No goodbye. They just went on stage, f#*ked shit up and left. Rock 'n Roll with mosh pits. You will hear a lot about the two piece band from Brighton, Royal Blood, in the next few weeks and and just how loud they can be. I guarantee you that Drenge are harder, better, faster and stronger.
Glass Animals
Their set at E.P was full of trippy guitars, chilled beats and hip swaying rhythms. Lads, all I'll say is that when you get a girl back to your place then stick on their album. Thank me later.
Sleep Thieves
'You Want the Night' is one of the best Irish albums that I've heard in a while and their cinematic, haunting but entirely danceable set was brilliant from beginning to end. Sorcha Breenan effortlessly owns the stage and her voice is just superb. Looking at her I was constantly reminded of Roisin Murphy. Yes, they're that good.
I'll cheat a little and give massive shouts also to Le Galaxie, James Murphy, St Vincent, Metronomy and Jenny Lewis.
Biggest Surprise
Clean Bandit
I had the album but was unsure about how their unique mix of classical, acid house dance and hip-hop would play live but it proved to be absolutely perfect for a festival crowd. Maybe their niche style will be ruthlessly copied and bastardised by other acts but Clean Bandit's performance at EP 2014 was a superb mix of energy and fun. Highly, highly recommended.
Biggest Let Down
Outkast
They constantly thought that they were playing in Dublin and I felt that their energy lagged during those times when Andre Benjamin wasn't at the fore. The crowd lapped up the hits like Miss Jackson, B.O.B and Hey Ya! but I was left wanting more.
Favourite Non-Music Moment
Nile Rodgers announces that he is 100% cancer free and delighted to be alive before proceeding to crack a smile as wide as the Stradbally field in front of him. The whole crowd then started dancing in unison as the opening chords of Get Lucky were played. Just wonderful.
Favourite Food at the Festival
Garlic and cheese chips - I'm a man of simple tastes.
Highlight of the Weekend
Managing to see 31 acts in total despite my bus breaking down on the Friday night which forced me to miss half of the wonderful Foals' set.
Pictures via Rory Coomey.
