JIM CARROLL previews this summer's outdoor gigs and festivals
SUMMERTIME, the song goes, and the living is easy. That is, unless you intend to take in every Irish rock and pop festival happening over the next few months. A chat with your friendly credit union may be in order because it's probably going to cost you the guts of €2,000 - and that's just for tickets.
If the last few years have shown us anything, it's that we have an insatiable appetite for gigs in the open air. Just when you think there can't possibly be a demand for another festival in a field, along comes, well, another festival in a field.
Indeed, there are a quite a few new entrants on this summer's event calendar aiming for a slice of the festival pie. And at the time of writing, there is no hint about who, if anyone, will play Slane. Given the bizarre variety of headliners there in recent years, it could be well be Green Day or Mariah Carey, or both.
But the sheer amount of outdoor events ahead is good news for music fans. While some would argue that we still have a way to go to match such international fests as Primavera, Benicàssim and Roskilde, the choice and variety of acts on show has dramatically increased in the past few years. All that remains now for you to do is to join the queue.
ANDREA BOCELLI
Pearse Stadium, Galway, July 1, €55-€155; Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, July 2, €55-€155
Proof that the worlds of GAA and opera may have something in common after all. Last year, Bocelli sold out shows in Cork and Dublin, so naturally he's back for more of those Irish standing ovations.
BON JOVI
Croke Park, Dublin, May 20, €61.50-€76.50
Dublin 3 residents are advised to stay indoors as New Jersey soft-rock monsters Bon Jovi take over Croke Park. Support from the equally pointless Nickelback.
DAY OF DARKNESS METALFEST
Ballylinan, Co Laois, July 7-8, €35-€55
The annual gathering of the death metal, black metal and thrash metal tribes celebrates five years of devil signs this summer. Acts set to play Ireland's Metalstock include Primordial, Hexxed, A Distant Sun, Primed, Nothing Is Sacred and Mass Extinction.
BOB DYLAN
Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, June 24, €50-€70
Dylan's now a frequent visitor to these shores he's also in Cork this summer) so something special was needed here. Enter the Flaming Lips, hitting Kilkenny with beachballs, furry animal costumes and top-drawer psychedelic pop. Odds on Dylan donning a bear suit: 33/1.
THE EAGLES
Lansdowne Road, Dublin, June 10-11, €70-€91.50
It's part of the band's "Farewell 1" tour, so we haven't seen the last of them yet. You can take it that the pension funds of Messrs Frey, Henley, Walsh and Schmit will be heartily boosted by this visit.
ELECTRIC PICNIC
Stradbally Hall, Co Laois, September 1-3, €175
Last year's Picnic was the best festival of the summer by far, so this year's newly extended three-day bash has much to live up to. Line-up announced to date includes The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, DJ Shadow, Gnarls Barkley, Antony & The Johnsons and the Gang of Four.
FAITHLESS
Marlay Park, Dublin, August 17, €49.50
Rave kingpins Faithless proved their crowd-pulling prowess last summer at Dublin Castle, so deepest suburbia should be a pushover for such hits as Insomnia and God Is a DJ. New-school baggy types Kasabian do the supporting.
FATBOY SLIM
East Strand, Portrush, Co Antrim, June 17, £33
Fatboy Slim likes his beach parties, but it's unlikely that this one will pull the same crowds as previous sandy forays in Brighton (250,000) and Rio de Janeiro (360,000). Given Fatboy's penchant for smiley anthems and the fact that he has a new Best Of to flog, this could be a real winner.
FESTIVAL OF WORLD CULTURES
Dún Laoghaire, August 25-27
The most family-friendly event of the summer, the Festival of World Cultures pulls the crowds to Dún Laoghaire with the promise of all manner of world grooves, music workshops and street performers. Line-up to be announced in July.
GARDEN PARTY
Ballinlough Castle, Co Meath, June 4, €65
A one-day hop in an 18th-century walled garden from the people behind the Electric Picnic. Acts enticing punters to wave their hands in the air like they don't care will include Toots & The Maytals, 2 Many DJs and Asian Dub Foundation.
GREEN ENERGY
Dublin Castle, April 29-May 1, various prices
The first outdoor bash of the summer. Headliners this weekend are Snow Patrol (Saturday), Ian Brown (Sunday) and The Kaiser Chiefs (Monday) with able support from Richard Hawley, Republic of Loose and The Chalets.
GUNS N' ROSES
RDS, Dublin, June 9, €54.50-€75
Bullet for My Valentine and To My Surprise are also on the bill, but all eyes (and ears) will be on the current version of Guns N' Roses. Expect to hear plenty of songs from Chinese Democracy, the album that has taken Axl Rose some 13 years and many millions of dollars so far to produce.
HI-FI
Belvedere House, Co Westmeath, August 5-6, €130-€150
This newcomer to the festival scene promises music for the iPod generation, provided there's room on your digital music device for Prodigy, Ian Brown, Razorlight, Tiesto, Paul Oakenfold, Sasha, and Ferry Corsten
BILLY JOEL
Croke Park, Dublin, July 29, €66.50-€86.50
Billy Joel's current US tour has been a howling success, but it remains to be see if there are enough Irish fans of the Piano Man around to fill Croker. This is his first show here in eight years, and you can be sure your wireless will be pumping out the hits and ads) for the next few weeks.
LIFE FESTIVAL
Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Co Offaly, June 9-11, €85-€95
Located on the same site as the late, much missed Mor festival, Life will draw its musical highs from the experimental/ambient side of the fence, with acts such as Sun Project, Eskimo, Shiva Chandra, SBK, Sean Quinn and many, many more. Jugglers are promised too, which may not be a good thing.
LIVE AT THE MARQUEE
The Showgrounds, Cork, June 23-July 7, various prices
One of the few success stories from Cork's tenure as City of Culture was this 5,000-capacity tent pitched in The Showgrounds. This year's happy campers include Kanye West, David Gray, The Frames, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant and Roxy Music.
METALLICA
RDS, Dublin, June 11, €54.50-€75
Besides headliners Metallica who are taking a break from recording a new album), this Download day out in Dublin 4 features Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, Stone Sour, Alice in Chains, Bloodsimple and Ten Years.
MIDLANDS
Ballinlough Castle, Co Meath, July 28-29, €65-€120
All country roads lead to Athboy for some of the kings and queens of country (and Van Morrison). In addition to Kenny Rogers, Glen Campbell, Nanci Griffith, Emmylou Harris and Dwight Yoakam, there's also a Foggy Notions stage featuring Lambchop, The Jimmy Cake and others of an alleged alt.country bent.
MORRISSEY
Marlay Park, Dublin, August 22, €49.50
The Mallard and Muscoy ducks who call Marlay Park home won't know what's hit them as all-round miserabilist Morrissey plugs latest album Ringleader of the Tormentors. At least, there's a decent support bill, with The Magic Numbers, The Dandy Warhols and The Dears.
OXEGEN
Punchestown Racecourse, Co Kildare, July 8-9, sold out
Son of Witnness and grandson of Féile, Oxegen sold out within minutes of tickets going on sale, thanks to a well-established track record. This year's attractions include Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Who, The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, Bell X1 and Sigur Rós.
RADIOHEAD
Marlay Park, Dublin, August 24, sold out
The biggest band in Oxford hit the festival circuit as work continues on a follow-up to their Hail to the Thief album. If you have a ticket, expect to hear hints of a new direction, or perhaps a return to their vastly over-rated but hugely lucrative OK Computer sound.
SLIGO LIVE
Sligo Racecourse, June 2-4, €35-€100
Three-day beano featuring Dervish, Sinéad O'Connor, The Proclaimers, Solas, Declan O'Rourke, Duke Special, Ron Sexsmith and others. There's also nightly free sessions in the town's pubs.
TAKE THAT
RDS, Dublin, June 28, €43.70-€75.50
It will be interesting to gauge the demand for an open-air show featuring four-fifths of Take That, especially after two shows already in The Point. After all, the foursome probably had no real plans for the summer until that ITV documentary was aired. Support from The Pussycat Dolls.
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
Croke Park, Dublin, June 9, sold out
One of the most consistent live draws around, Robbie Williams has sold out shows at Slane Castle, Lansdowne Road and the Phoenix Park in the last couple of years, so filling Croker was a cinch.
