I do like an all day music festival. I like the opportunity to see new bands. And judge them!😀
I also like the Dublin Castle as a venue. But one drawback, upon which I have previously commented, is that they don't seem able to co-ordinate start times between the website and the tickets. I gambled on later as I knew that Radiator had pulled out (because I saw them last Sunday and they said so!) But my gamble failed. When I arrived the first act (although not the first listed!) Five Lines, was already playing. Indeed the duo were playing their last song. So, ok. I won't judge!
Next on were short notice call ups. They really didn't sound prepared for this. And chatting to them afterwards they really hadn't been able top prepare given that they were called at 1 pm and were on stage at 3:30. They were half of a band called the Mitchells (as only two were available). And articular reason I wanted to chat with them was one of coincidence. The lad in the blue polo shirt was called Luka. And only five minutes before I was messaging with my young friend Luka. And as I discovered, they were both indeed of Serbian descent. Troy, the main singer of the duo, is a worldy wise 19. Luka only 16. They start young these days! Again, as scratch duo, I won't judge.
So first bona fide band on the bill that I actually saw a full set for were Tres Kings from Margate. Spokesman was their beardy drummer (obscured in these photos) although main vocalist was the bloke in the hoody who was strongest part of the band. Fair enough
Next up were Fools Arcade from Leeds. For an indie rock band they looked all wrong, but sounded alright. The chubby lead singer had a really good voice. As id the gut next to him who looks like a young Trevor Horn. I can't see them making it big, or even small, but they were good. (As you can see by now I had changed vantage point, to a pew on a stand which gave a decent head on view although at the back of the venue. But at this stage the crowd was in low tens and so hardly anyone between me and the acts. Much to teh chagrin of the acts who kept appealing for people to move forward)
Fools Arcade also did the thing where, having enticed a couple of dozen folk to the front, they got them to crouch and then leap up at a particular point in the song. It works rather better with a bigger crowd. Personally I hate this as I am now of an age where if I crouch really low I need manual assistance to get up again!
Rivia from Liverpool may be the best act I won't see again. I mean I hope they do. Arguably the best act of the night. Lead singer had everything. Great voice a sunny personalty, good banter, good looks. Girl; on guitar also had nice backing vocals and they harmonised well. And they did what I like to gear in a new band - a cover version in amongst their own material. This was a very good version of Wheatus' standard, Teenage Dirtbag . Honestly they were too good top be playing in front of a paltry crowd of about 40 at this stage
One might expect there to be an even progression during the day, with later acts getting better. But not in my book. Next up was Lady From Mars, a London band (and possibly the timings were to allow acts from further afield to get home). My problem here almost immediately was the yelping vocal style of the glamorous lead singer. Looked all right, sounded all wrong.
Art were up next, and during their energetic set the crowd actually grew to make the place pretty much full. Maybe no surprise that by now we were in the evening, basically when you might expect to want to go to a gig!
Art went down very well. Their lead singer, who I have seen before, is a proper showman. But where I would mark him down compared to Sweet Unrest that followed, is that his style of banter is rather affected, a practised over the top, whereas Jack comes over as much more spontaneous.
But fair play to Art. They put everything into it, were clearly sweating buckets and they had the by now pretty much full venue rocking. You can't ask for much more.
Sweet Unrest were the main support for the night, and the band I had come to see. Indeed the only band of the night that I had seen before. Obviously I like them so there is not much I can add to the numerous reviews I have given in the past. Most noteworthy thing tonight was that they did a cover of "Bonkers". Well, it was different.
Jack as always got very hot and so soon bared his very sweaty chest. All these acts really put a lot into the show and many of them commented how hot it was on stage, although only Jack went the whole hog and stripped off. Possibly confident that he had the best torso to show off!
And the lads showed they were lads by throwing themselves into a heap at the end
For the last act - Maze - I headed back from my vantage point at the front top the back again. Not due to exhaustion nor any desire to be further away from the last act. The desire was to be further away from the speakers. I am not sure my hearing would have lasted another set!
They are clearly a band that have been around for a while. A lot of the audience evidently knew them and had come to see them. The place was completely full now. I had never heard of them before, but objectively they were probably the best act of the night. Their songs just seemed better. That doesn't mean they were the act I most enjoyed. In the first place although I sensed their songs were better, I hadn't heard any before, so inevitably I was more drawn to Sweet Unrest. And Rivia just had the nicest stage presence. But there was another factor. They were last on a bill and I had been listening to acts for seven hours. No I wasn't tired, but I think I was jaded. The fresh eager anticipation for something new mid afternoon had now been subsumed into feeling hungry! Base instincts.
Overall, I had a very nice day. One especially nice thing is all the acts felt like they had enough time - they were not just doing very short sets. I felt able to enjoy the acts that I felt were good. It wasn't just one big headliner and a lot of supports. Only disappointing thing when I thought about it was that the majority of the young people there were the acts themselves. Do young people not go out anymore?
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