City-based festivals have distinct advantages over green-field sites, notably in terms of access, location and not having to be too concerned about how the weather will turn out. Beatyard, taking place this weekend in Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, is an annual family-friendly favourite for those people who would rather not schlep it to this year's newbie, All Together Now, or who are rather longer in the tooth for the likes of Castlepalooza and/or Indiependence.
Beatyard is also hipper than most – and we mean that in a good way. Yes, it has its mainstream acts (The Jacksons, The Wailers on Friday, August 3rd), but for the most part it has a genuinely chic/cool collection of high-end music acts that tick the classier end of the scale. Seriously, what's not to respect about a line-up that includes Kamasi Washington, Little Dragon, Django Django, John Talabot, Daphni, Bad Bones, Le Boom (Saturday, August 4th) and Orbital, Kiasmos, King Kong Company, Loah, and I Am the Cosmos (Sunday, August 5th)?
The trick up the sleeve, however, is Beatyard’s approach to the family-friendly aspects. As every parent knows, when the kids are happy, everyone is happy, and so between the music and the weird-looking musicians, between Studioyard (art, design and tech bits and bobs), Eatyard (over 50 food and beverage vendors, including rum and gin bars for the elder lemons) and Gamesyard (sports and games for all ages – go on, Dad, embarrass yourself!) you can be guaranteed that attention spans will be filled very nicely.
Eatyard
The street food collective, Eatyard, usually located next door to the Bernard Shaw pub on South Richmond Street in Dublin 2, returns to its roots as the food space at Beatyard in Dún Laoghaire this weekend.
As well as being the place to head to for refuelling, the Eatyard stage will host a fun line-up of food and drink talks, tastings, rants and reviews over the weekend.
Wines Direct bring the curtain up on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 2pm with “Debunking Wine for Day Time Drinking”. Are they pro or anti daytime drinking? Hard to tell from that title, but given that they are wine merchants, chances are they’ll have a few suggestions for daytime glugging.
Pairings for wine and cheese, and the far trickier wine and crisps, will be explored by Rory Craig of Station to Station Wines on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Craig recently returned to Dublin after a spell working in the wine trade in Melbourne. Crisps take the stage again for a crisp sambo championship on Sunday afternoon.
The oh so trendy Pet-Nat wines will be discussed as part of a natural wines presentation by Quintessential on Saturday, and Jameson Caskmates also have a Saturday slot for a talk and tasting.
James Kavanagh and William Murray, whose Currabinny Cookbook is out this autumn, will be on stage with entertaining tips, about, er, entertaining, at 4pm on Saturday. They will be followed by beer experts Susan and Judith Boyle, whose presentation is called Champagne Supernova.
According to the Urban Dictionary, Champagne Supernova refers to: “A martini glass full of Champagne with cocaine on the rim, as salt would be on a margarita. Very popular in the late 1980s.” Well, who knew?
On the refuelling front, prepare to queue for Pizza & Prosecco, with the well known Big Blue Bus churning out its stonebaked pizzas and a Citroen H van parked alongside to dispense a variety of bubbles.
There will be a taste of the Eatyard Wine & Cheese Festival too, with Quintessential Wines, Wicklow Way fruit wines, Corleggy Cheese and The Wooded Pig charcuterie on site.
Eatyard alumni parking up for the weekend will include Box Burger, Jaru, and How Bao Now, who will be joined by Cloud Picker Coffee, Teddy’s Ice Cream, Sweet Churro, Zukos Bakery, The Vegan Kitchen, Pieman, Dog House, Donut Trike, Flamin Marvellous and Tram Chowder.
And when it's all done and dusted by 10.30pm? Easy – bribe the babysitters, hop on a DART to Connolly Station, and walk towards Middle Abbey Street, to Wigwam, where the likes of Kelly Anne Byrne (Friday, Admission free), Daphni, Le Boom (Saturday, €15) and Joy Orbison, Andrew Weatherall (Sunday, €15) will be kicking out the jams until the early hours. Beat that.
Are tickets still available?
Yes. Three-day Weekend tickets are €150 (including a booking fee of €11), while adult single day tickets are €59 (including a booking fee of €5.31). Children single-day tickets are €5 (including a booking fee of €0.45). Children under the age of two years have free admission. Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable, as name changes cannot be administered. Visit the-beatyard.com/tickets for details on ticket prices. Tickets will be scanned at the gates. Please have a valid photo ID. If you have a printed ticket or a screenshot on your smartphone, go immediately to the site entrance. If you wish to purchase tickets at the gate, there is a box office on site all weekend.
What time does everything kick off?
- Friday: 4pm.
- Saturday/Sunday: noon.
- The event concludes each day at 10.30pm.
Who are playing on the main stages and at what time?
Friday, Aug 3rd
BODYTONIC MAIN STAGE
4:00pm: Jenny Greene
6:15pm: The Family Stone
7:45pm: The Wailers
9:15pm: The Jacksons
HIDDEN AGENDA STAGE
6:00pm: The Reflex
7:30pm: Mr Scruff
The Back Page presents Gamesyard
4:00pm: The Back Nine
4:00pm: Adventure Rooms
Throughout the day: Ping Pong All Stars
Saturday, Aug 4th
BODYTONIC MAIN STAGE
12:00pm: Beatyard Pictures presents "Finding Nemo"
2:30pm: Sean OB
3:45pm: The Scratch
5:00pm: Le Boom
6:15pm: Little Dragon
7:45pm: Kamasi Washington
9:30pm: Django Django
HIDDEN AGENDA STAGE
12:00pm: Midnight Disco DJs
1:30pm: Bad Bones
2:30pm: Jacques Greene
4:00pm: New Jackson
5:00pm: John Talabot
7:00pm: Daphni
9:00pm: Modeselektor DJ
Sunday, Aug 5th
BODYTONIC MAIN STAGE
12:00pm: Beatyard Pictures presents 'The Little Mermaid'
1:15pm: Loah
2:30pm: Confidence Man
3:45pm: The Sugarhill Gang
5:00pm: The Skatalites
6:30pm: King Kong Company
8:00pm: St Germain
9:30pm: Orbital
HIDDEN AGENDA STAGE
12:00pm: UFO Club Dj's
2:00pm: I am The Cosmos
3:00pm: Andrew Weatherall
5:00pm: Joy Orbison
7:00pm: Daniel Avery
9:15pm: Kiasmos Live
Sounds good, but what about the weather?
According to the weekend weather forecasts, Friday will have highs of 22 degrees (clouds, some showers); Saturday: 20 degrees (partly sunny), and Sunday 21 degrees (partly sunny). As this is an open-air event, however, you are recommended to dress appropriately.
How do I get there?
- Dart: Dún Laoghaire Dart station is right opposite the site. From Dublin city centre train stations (Connolly Street, Tara Street, Pearse Street) take the southbound. From the Greystones/Bray/Shankill/Dalkey areas take the northbound.
- Bus: Bus routes 46A, 7 and 8 all serve Dún Laoghaire from Dublin city centre. The bus terminus is directly opposite the festival site.
- Taxi: The main rank is located on Marine Road, which is 200m from the festival site.
Is there public car parking available, and do we have to pay for it?
There is no on-site parking. The closest car parks are located at Bloomfield Shopping Centre, Dún Laoghaire Shopping Centre, DLR Lexicon Library, and Queen's Road car park. Charges are applicable to all.
Are there any age and/or ticket restrictions?
No. This is a family-friendly event, although children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Weekend ticket holders can come and go as they please. There is no readmission for single-day ticket holders (although exceptions will be made for parents/guardians who need to bring their young ones home or to a babysitter).
As Beatyard is a family-friendly event, will the music be too loud for children? Can I bring a buggy?
The main stage area will have a high volume of sound. If you are planning to come into this area, you are strongly recommended to place properly secured and protective headphones over their ears. You are allowed to bring a buggy – and folding chairs too.
Can I bring my own food/beverages into the site?
No. The on-site food area, Eatyard, has an abundance of food/drink options.
What am I not allowed to bring onto the site?
Animals (other than registered guide or hearing dogs). Items that may reasonably be considered for use as an offensive weapon. Fireworks and flares. High-powered torches. Lasers, laser pens. Flagpoles. Illegal substances and/or illegal merchandise of any description. Unauthorised professional film or video equipment.
Will there be ATMs on site?
No. There are numerous ATM dispensers in the centre of Dún Laoghaire, so please take out cash prior to entering the festival site.
Is there access for wheelchair users?
Yes, and there are toilets for wheelchair users. The main festival site is a yard, so accessibility is good. In the building, however, there are two levels connected by stairs. If you wish to bring a carer with you, a free ticket will be arranged for them. Email your request, and proof of the ticket you bought, to info@the-beatyard.com
I need to contact the organisers – how do I get hold of them?
Email info@the-beatyard.com. The website is the-beatyard.com
And the social media accounts?
instagram.com/beatyard
facebook.com/thebeatyard
twitter.com/beatyard
