The line-up at this year's Oxegen festival
MAIN STAGE
Blur
In something of a coup for the festival organisers, the re-grouped Britpop stars make quite a few thousand tipsy people’s dreams come true by being in a field in the summer as they sing along to Girls and Boys, Country House, Song 2 and Parklife (“Oorrll da peepul, so many peepullll ...”)
Lily Allen
There is something rather brilliant about Lily Allen that manages to mix ordinary topics (having a cup of tea as she tucks into a chow mein) with effortless pop tunesmithery. Forget about Blur’s Parklife – the festival’s safe-bet singalong song is going to be Allen’s F**k You.
Snow Patrol
The people have spoken, and the people want Snow Patrol’s streamlined, literate, occasionally poignant and – damn the begrudgers – quite compelling, accessible rock music. It’s just, well, you know, the next album needs rougher edges. Doesn’t it, Gary?
Other acts: The Script, James, The Coronas, The Artane Band, The Brilliant Things.
OXEGEN STAGE 2
Keane
Three nice chaps from the stockbroker belts, Keane are the kind of contemporary band who couldn’t be edgy if they tried. The professional result is the sound of 1980s superior rock (cf David Bowie, Talking Heads) with a short back and sides and a starched white shirt.
Other acts: Pendulum, Therapy?, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Duke Special, The Answer.
HEINEKEN GREEN SPHERES
Fight Like Apes
From their song titles to their lyrics to MayKay’s voice to their general approach to life, the universe and record sleeves, we reckon Fight Like Apes have it sussed. We look forward to the day when we can say we knew them when they didn’t have a peachy arse in their trousers. And that day will come, mark my words.
Mogwai
“The best band of the 21st century” is how Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus described this lo-fi post-rock unit from Glasgow. He’s overstating the case, of course, but what was once overtly studious art-rock has morphed into a sonic template that has very few serious competitors.
Other acts: 2 Many DJ’s, Republic of Loose, Dreadzone, God is an Astronaut, Dirty Epics.
RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY
David Holmes
Now in his 40s, Belfast B-boy David Holmes has transcended all expectations to become not just one of the most sought-after soundtrack artists around, but, as evidenced by last year’s Choice Music Prize nominated album, The Holy Pictures, a songwriter and musician of no small merit. Just as important, though, is the way he carries a goatee beard. Classy geezer!
Other acts: Ladyhawke, M83.
OXEGEN DANCE ARENA
Deadmau5
We are ordinarily suspicious of any act that juxtaposes letters with numbers (5ive, anyone?), but we have it on good authority (that is, according to those who can tell the difference between electro-trance and progressive house), that Ontario’s Joel Zimmerman is the go-to guy for production/remixing jobs.
Other acts: Swedish House Mafia, Crookers, Frankmusik, Tom Middleton, Aeroplane, Japanese Popstars, Burns.
HOT PRESS NEW BANDS STAGE
Spinnerette
Brody Dalle is not to be messed with; once of The Distillers, Dalle is now bringing her new punk rock band here to slap us around the face, rough us up a little, swear at us, and generally make sure that we appreciate her current (and splendid) blend of pop, grunge and new wave.
Other acts: The Hours, Howling Bells, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Mumford Sons, Priscilla Ahn, O Emporer, Truffle Shuffles.
IMRO Stage
The Flaws
This Monaghan/Louth pop/punk band have been quiet of late, but now is the time to check them out again as they preview material from their forthcoming album. If the new stuff is even half as good as the old stuff, we’ll be whistling a very annoying high-pitched tone all the way home.
Other acts: David Kitt, Joy Formidable, Heathers, Yes Cadets, The Mighty Stef, Ruth Anne Cunningham, The Brilliant Things, Home Star Runner, Stone Motion.
TOMORROW
MAIN STAGE
Kings of Leon
Are this lot Ireland's favourite international rock band? Reckon so, as they've played to Oxegen audiences a few times before, as well as officially opening the O2 late last year. It's retro rock for sure, but with such swagger and sex appeal it's difficult not to be impressed.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Garage punk from New York City (via Ohio) has rarely sounded so alive to the possibilities of actually being more than your average 1960s garage rock retread. And isn't Karen O just one of the best female rock singers around?
Other acts: Elbow, Squeeze, Bloc Party, James Morrison, The Blizzards, The Saw Doctors.
OXEGEN STAGE 2
Nick Cave the Bad Seeds Brooding, uncompromising, introspective, prolific, morbid, fruity, mournful, spiritual, melancholy, dramatic, vulgar, romantic – rock music's Poet Laureate, that's Nick Cave for you. Even when he sings a 43-verse, 15-minute song (e.g. Babe, I'm On Fire) he's compelling.
Other acts: The Mars Volta, Doves, Maximo Park, Eagles of Death Metal, The Game, The Gaslight Anthem.
HEINEKEN GREEN SPHERES
Pet Shop Boys
This is the curious thing about Pet Shop Boys – they create electro-pop music that on the surface sounds clinical, cynical and dry, yet when you bother to investigate further (which amounts to little more than scanning Neil Tennant's arch lyrics) you come to realise that they're not only a terrific pop band with one of the best lyricists around, but they're also the only pop act to mix'n'match Village People with Battleship Potemkin.
Other acts: TV on the Radio, Peter Doherty, Regina Spektor, The Saturdays, Daniel Merriweather, Jerry Fish the Mudbug Club, Gary Go.
RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY
Crystal Castles
Another weird but in-a-good-way act from Canada, Crystal Castles – comprising the likely, if Twin-Peaksy pairing of Alice Glass and Ethan Kath – blend hi-voltage pop music energy (Danger! Danger!) with fractured pieces of digital sound. Futurist noise/electro from Toronto has never sounded so good.
Other acts: Tinchy Stryder, Telepathe.
OXEGEN DANCE ARENA
Digitalism
It's good to know that Germany isn't all about heavy metal and David Hasselhoff – this crowd stick a fork in the neck of conservatism by describing themselves as "electro-mash monsters". We're not sure what this means, but if it's anywhere close to techno throbs from the bowels of the universe, then we'll be very happy.
Other acts: Tiga, Boys Noize, Annie Mac, Yuksek, Dr Lektroluv, Popof, Don Rimini.
HOT PRESS NEW BANDS STAGE
Little Boots
At the start of the year, much was made of Victoria Hesketh's flagrant flirting with the modern pop cliché. Thankfully, her debut album, Hands, proved that the Blackpool singer's motives were formed by long-lasting friendships in cool bars rather than one night stands behind the local chipper. Oxegen sees the chirpy performer make her Irish debut – give her so good a welcome that she'll return before the end of the year, why don't you?
Other acts: Airborne Toxic Event, Patrick Wolf, Passion Pit, Hockey, Sneaky Sound System, Go:Audio, The Magistrates, In Case Of Fire, Will and the People.
IMRO STAGE
And So I Watch You From Afar
Northern Ireland is experiencing a nice little renaissance these days, and close to the front of the pack is this instrumental rock act, whose recently released self-titled debut album shows that they know how to harness the power and the fury but also how to channel that energy into taut and hummable melody lines. Suppose it's too late to change the band name, though?
Other acts:
Director, General Fiasco, St Vincent, Codes, Cap Pas Cap, Joe Echo, Nightbox, Angel Pier, Carousel, Jenna Toro.
SUNDAY
MAIN STAGE
The Killers
Another American band that has been nurtured by Irish audiences, The Killers have maintained their popularity despite some album missteps and some wonky lyrics ("Are we human or are we dancer" – er, what?). Perhaps they feel they need to walk away from songwriting for the moment – their next album, out in early 2010, is a covers project that could see Brandon Flowers and co tackle material by Fleet Foxes, Iggy Pop and, er, Neil Diamond.
The Specials
Skinny multi-racial mods/punks from Coventry weren't exactly what the music industry was looking for in 1977, but were what it got. Although this time around (they previously reformed in 1995) they are without founding member Jerry Dammers, the appetite of fans doesn't seem to have abated. Personally, we're looking forward to hearing thousands of people screeching like spooks during Ghost Town.
Other acts: Lady Gaga, Razorlight, Paolo Nutini, Calvin Harris, Ocean Colour Scene.
OXEGEN STAGE 2
Nine Inch Nails
You wouldn't necessarily think that Trent Reznor – the creative force behind NIN – would attract the casual festival-goer as the band requires patience and concentration on behalf of the listener. Beware, however, this is the last time you'll see Reznor in this neck of the woods for some years.
Other acts: The Ting Tings, Jane's Addiction, Katy Perry, White Lies, Starsailor, You Me At Six, The Horrors.
HEINEKEN GREEN SPHERES
Manic Street Preachers
The Welsh band were in Ireland just over a month ago, but seeing them on a big, outdoor stage as they belt out a sequence of credible arena-friendly rock could be just as good. And you know what? Hearing Autumn Song in mid-July could be the festival's best moment.
Noisettes
London indie rockers with spit, a bit of spite and an awful lot of talent, Noisettes come to the party laden down with connections to Guillemots, TV on the Radio and Tony Soprano (their song, Scratch Your Name, was featured in the final episode of The Sopranos).
Other acts: That Petrol Emotion, Glasvegas, Jason Mraz, Foals, Friendly Fires, Iglu Hartly.
RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY
Florence and the Machine
Last year, Florence Welch made her Irish open-air debut way down in the line-up at Electric Picnic. This year, it's all change for the 22-year-old art school drop-out. Catch her. We're thinking there's a hint of Kate Bush in there.
Other acts: Of Montreal, Casio Kids.
OXEGEN DANCE ARENA
Kissy Sell Out
Colchester's BBC Radio 1 dance DJ Tommy Bisdee is the guy that has remixed the likes of Sugababes, All Saints, Groove Armada, Mark Ronson and The Human League.
Other acts: Felix Da Housecat, Fever Ray, Mstrkrft, Bloody Beetroots, Hudson Mohawke, Miss Kittin the Hacker.
HOT PRESS NEW BANDS STAGE
Wild Beasts
"Erotic downbeat music" is how Wild Beasts bass player Tom Fleming describes the output of the best band to have ever come out of the UK's bucolic Lake District. There's one problem, however – how erotic and downbeat can their music sound like in a big field full of Nine Inch Nails fans? We predict a win for the band from Kendal!
Other acts: The Twang, The Maccabees, Wallis Bird, Camera Obscura, The Virgins, Bombay Bicycle Club, Phenomenal Handclap Band, The Chapters.
IMRO STAGE
Broken Records
Aah, this is just what we need for a Big Day Out – a raggle-taggle ensemble of cello, accordion, mandolin, violin, drums, bass and guitar. Stop me if you've heard this one before, but Edinburgh's Broken Records sound suspiciously as if they've been forged in the crackling depths of Arcade Fire. That said, we have a feeling that frantic grunge-polka is this year's thing.
Other acts:
Wintersleep, Villagers, Concerto for Constantine, Dark Room Notes, Blood or Whiskey, The Chakras,
The Jades, Bone, Andrew Hozier-Byrne
