This was always going to be a special day with Iggy Pop headlining and with such a cracking line up, the only thing that could have spoiled it was the weather but thank the gods the rain held off and all was good.
Special guest and opening the day was John Cooper Clarke and even with him being the first act on there was already a substantial crowd in the West Stage tent, one of three stages at this festival and by the time his set had finish the crowd was out to the tent entrance.
Next up it was Billy Nomates on the same stage and appearing alone delivering her blend of sprechgesang to the crowd who seems to be loving it.
After this is was a short walk to the next stage, that been the apply name Middle Stage as yes you guessed it the tent is position between the other tow stages anyway it was time for things to kick off there with something a bit more up tempo coming from post-crunk three piece Really Good Time and things in the arena were really picking up no crowd wise as again it was another full tent (something that all acts throughout the day and evening managed to pull, well be hard not to with such a line up.
It was time to make me way to the East Stage (main stage) for the opening act of the day on there and that being Muireann Bradley who was seated center stage with her guitar and was breaking the crowd in gently as the next three acts on the bill where going to always pick up the pace as the evening progressed and built up to the headliner.
After my stop of at the main stage it was back to the West Stage for some garage rock and rock they did, It was Warmduscher tearing a hole in time and space they had the tent hopping.
It was time to do a little running around at it was a dash back to the main stage for Dublin hero’s Sprints to do there thing and had draw a large crowd to the main stage and Karla preforming a few mic swinging tricks as well as belting out some awesome tunes and they even had a small surprise for the crowd as Flora Kimberly (Lambrin Girls) done a guest appearance.
Dashing back to the East Stage to catch a band I have not seen in a very! long time and these guys as still as good as every, it was Gilla Band, i took in a few songs and then dashed over the the Middle Stage to catch the every so charismatic performer that is Meryl Streek who as always pranced the stage like a man possessed and that was when he was on the stage as he likes to get into the crowd and mix things up a bit.
One thing about this festival is you dont get a break between acts for two reasons one the line up being so good and two the bands are timed so you can catch nearly everyone playing, on the day I think it was only two clashes which isn’t bad for a full one dayer.
Back down to the main stage and it was time for the place to get crazy as The Scratch were up next and their blend of Metal/Celtic Spirit fusion just drives everyone into a frenzy, they are one of those bands that even if you dont dance, well your feet have other ideas and so did the crowd suffers as throughout the set a number started coming over the barrier.
Ok it was the last dash back to the Middle stage as I decided to catch Lambrini Girls as apposed to Slowdive (one of those clashes I mentioned) Having seen the Girls before I know what to expect and both myself and the crowd were not disappointed and they ploughed through a high energy set and they are another act that like to use both the stage and in the crowd with Flora leaving the stage a number of times.
So the time had come for the main act of the day, the legend and power house that is Iggy Pop, I remember seen Iggy back in 1989 in Dublin and to this day its still the best show I have every been to and though the man might be 78 he still gives it his all and this performance was right up there as age has not slowed this man down, he hit the stage it a waistcoat which didn’t stay on very long and he lashed into TV Eye as the opening song. After that it was a mix of Iggy and the Stooges / The Stooges & Iggy hits. You can see the setlist below which will tell you how the night went, it went in an Iggy frenzy.
John Cooper Clarke photos:
Billy Nomates photos:
Really Good Time photos:
Muireann Bradley photos:
Warmduscher photos:
Sprints photos:
Gilla Band photos:
Meryl Streek photos:
The Scratch photos:
Lambrini Girls photos:
Iggy Pop photos & Set-list:
Set-list:
T.V. Eye
Raw Power
I Got a Right
Gimme Danger
The Passenger
Lust for Life
Death Trip
I Wanna Be Your Dog
Search and Destroy
Down on the Street
1970
I’m Sick of You
Some Weird Sin
Frenzy
Nightclubbing
Modern Day Rip Off
I’m Bored
Real Wild Child (The Dee Jays cover)
Funtime
Photos & words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic