That pretty much sums up my Mantua experience this year, although there’s plenty to fill in the gaps with. Arriving down in Ballaghadereen on Friday night at 10pm but due to the rain and mud there was absolutely nowhere to park, not even temporarily (3,000 people and no contingency car park? WTF?). There were three cars full of musical equipment that the SEBP lads needed to get into the site as they were due to play in a few hours. Eventually, we parked the cars at the side of the road outside the venue and lugged the gear in while the drivers kept watch. The gardaí were understandable and were suitably baffled at the lack of parking facilities. There were no Streisand style walkouts however. After an hour of waiting around and with the gear locked up, it was up to us the three drivers to go back into the town, park on the main street and then get a shuttle bus out (and pay a fiver for the privilege). With the hassle we had trying to get gear on site, it was no wonder 65 Days of Static cancelled (Though I hear that they turned up in Knock Airport with no one to meet them and no knowledge of where to go so they flew home. )
We finally got into the festival at half past midnight and so it was time to catch some music. I first caught a bit of Digital Mystikz in the Alphabet Set tent and they were flooring the crowd with bass. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay long as I had visuals to do so I headed back to the main stage and in the middle of making shaky faces and waiting around to play, we watched 65 Days of Static’s adequate replacement, Ten Past Seven. It was a rockin’ set somewhere close to the Rednecks sound with a bit of a punkier influence. I also managed to get this great photo of Rory in mid-flight.
After that, it was time to do some visuals for the Bonus Party which went really well. The lads are getting tighter and tighter and it was great to see such a turnout for them. It was also the largest crowd (800-1000) that my visuals were shown to. Here’s a short clip of Skyline and a photo from the stage:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP-0lVatS0M[/youtube]
After that, I caught some of Ambulance’s set which was great and I’d recommend their album The Curse of Vale do Lobo if your into Irish electronica (it’s up on eMusic).
Saturday started with a nice trio of The Skatalites (who brought the sunshine), Los Langeros and The Sultans of Ping who were funny more than anything else. After this came, the mighty Jinx Lennon. Aoife Mc from the Indie Hour had Jinx on the show and told me how good his live show was previously, but the Dundalk troubadour slayed the audience with his unique and spot-on commentary on modern Irish life. Taking in FÁS courses, unwelcome uncles, rascism, template for singer-songwriters, electricians, hospitals, chip van owners and of course, forgiving the cunts, Jinx is the only singer songwriter in Ireland keeping it real and direct. It was such a breath of fresh air, despite (or because) of the alcohol consumed, it moved me. Definitely the unexpected highlight of the weekend.
Jinx Lennon – Forgive the Cunts
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOtvCPBV1nI[/youtube]
The rest of the night was spent in the Alphabet Set tent where I caught Blue Food, Frogpocket (Intense violin breakcore madness, see below) and more. I missed DJ C though and a few acts such as Sixfoot Apprentice, Ikeaboy and Richie !Kaboogie had their sets cut short by some clever clog who hotwired a tractor and drove it over some peoples tents and into the comedy tent where people were gathered. Two people were brought to hospital and the culprit was not found. This inadvertently led to the generators being turned off for the Alphabet Set tent and some disappointed artists and punters left with nothing but a relentless Drum and Bass tent to dance in.
Frogpocket
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14fKQwJtYOg[/youtube]
This was a pointer to the lack of organisation at the festival. Security was practically non-existent after Friday night except for at the main stage, where even then people kept getting backstage and causing hassle. Little things like lack of artist wristbands meant a 40 minute convincing session with security to let us in while lugging gear, no front cover on the main stage means people can crawl under it, no safe place to leave equipment, the non-existent portaloos (the organisers built holes in the ground instead) to the larger things like the dangerous ditches where many a drunk ended up, the pond in which a girl slept in overnight and had to be taken to hospital with possible hypothermia, the horrible relentless drum and bass tent (I like drum and bass just not 24 hours of it!), lack of parking and the extortionate prices of shuttle buses for a 3km journey. I hope the organisers can sort out these issues for next year as it definitely had a lot of good points and was a great small 3,000+ people festival.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
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Have to say I had a pure wicked time at Mantua despite obvious organisational problems throughout… didn’t catch owt on the mainstage on Friday practically LIVED in the Alphabet Set… Digital Mystikz on Friday were just unreal! Saturday I was sorely disappointed that the Alphabet Set tent was cut short – missed Dj C to get a brief kip before Maga Bo, Sixfoot Apprentice n Púka … gutted when Maga Bo had to finish early – he was AWESOME!!!
All in all ran pretty smoothly for me but I think I was on a flukey luck buzz.. happy daze 🙂
Have to say I had a pure wicked time at Mantua despite obvious organisational problems throughout… didn’t catch owt on the mainstage on Friday practically LIVED in the Alphabet Set… Digital Mystikz on Friday were just unreal! Saturday I was sorely disappointed that the Alphabet Set tent was cut short – missed Dj C to get a brief kip before Maga Bo, Sixfoot Apprentice n Púka … gutted when Maga Bo had to finish early – he was AWESOME!!!
All in all ran pretty smoothly for me but I think I was on a flukey luck buzz.. happy daze 🙂
Have to say I had a pure wicked time at Mantua despite obvious organisational problems throughout… didn’t catch owt on the mainstage on Friday practically LIVED in the Alphabet Set… Digital Mystikz on Friday were just unreal! Saturday I was sorely disappointed that the Alphabet Set tent was cut short – missed Dj C to get a brief kip before Maga Bo, Sixfoot Apprentice n Púka … gutted when Maga Bo had to finish early – he was AWESOME!!!
All in all ran pretty smoothly for me but I think I was on a flukey luck buzz.. happy daze 🙂
There were problems- no doubt, but the general happy, nice, friendly vibe of the crowd really made it an event to remember.
I’ll up the pics of your mate in the ditch when I get my camera back, in the mean time, be amused by another casualty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=707kG9KCwnY
There were problems- no doubt, but the general happy, nice, friendly vibe of the crowd really made it an event to remember.
I’ll up the pics of your mate in the ditch when I get my camera back, in the mean time, be amused by another casualty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=707kG9KCwnY
There were problems- no doubt, but the general happy, nice, friendly vibe of the crowd really made it an event to remember.
I’ll up the pics of your mate in the ditch when I get my camera back, in the mean time, be amused by another casualty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=707kG9KCwnY
Future shorts my arse!
“I’ll give ya entertainment that you won’t even see”
noice.. does eric remember the weekend?
Future shorts my arse!
“I’ll give ya entertainment that you won’t even see”
noice.. does eric remember the weekend?
Future shorts my arse!
“I’ll give ya entertainment that you won’t even see”
noice.. does eric remember the weekend?
I think he was pretty much fine until I offloaded the remainder of my ‘quare fella’s’ on him at about 3am.
heheh.
He kept calling me Colm too.
funny shit.
I think he was pretty much fine until I offloaded the remainder of my ‘quare fella’s’ on him at about 3am.
heheh.
He kept calling me Colm too.
funny shit.
I think he was pretty much fine until I offloaded the remainder of my ‘quare fella’s’ on him at about 3am.
heheh.
He kept calling me Colm too.
funny shit.
Not even a mention of the reggae.
And as for taking it out on the drum n bass tent whooh, lets just say the only problem there was that it just wasn’t big enough to hold all the people who wanted in on the deal
Why would somebody drive a tractor into the arts tent? Were the shorts that bad
Not even a mention of the reggae.
And as for taking it out on the drum n bass tent whooh, lets just say the only problem there was that it just wasn’t big enough to hold all the people who wanted in on the deal
Why would somebody drive a tractor into the arts tent? Were the shorts that bad
Not even a mention of the reggae.
And as for taking it out on the drum n bass tent whooh, lets just say the only problem there was that it just wasn’t big enough to hold all the people who wanted in on the deal
Why would somebody drive a tractor into the arts tent? Were the shorts that bad
Oh and by the way I had a great time despite missing almost all of the skatalites
Only bum note was – besides the pretty hopeless but nevertheless forgiveable poor organisation – somebody loosening the nuts of one of my car wheels. Grrr! (parked close to the entrance but not causing any obstruction. I don’t like to think it but maybe it was one of the organisers). Savage. Didn’t get me though!
Still nobody shat on my tent like at other festivals. Though a couple of friends did manage to fall on top of it it just bounced right back up!
Oh and by the way I had a great time despite missing almost all of the skatalites
Only bum note was – besides the pretty hopeless but nevertheless forgiveable poor organisation – somebody loosening the nuts of one of my car wheels. Grrr! (parked close to the entrance but not causing any obstruction. I don’t like to think it but maybe it was one of the organisers). Savage. Didn’t get me though!
Still nobody shat on my tent like at other festivals. Though a couple of friends did manage to fall on top of it it just bounced right back up!
I am truly gutted I missed out on Mantua… However I was otherwise engaged, buried deeply in a blizzard of free Stella and Galway Film Fleadh debauchery.
At one stage I was knocking back pints with the guy who the Coen broters based The Dude on. Jeff Dowd, their erstwhile producer. He IS The Dude. Cool guy, obviously.
I have started posting again by the by. It was just all too much.
I am truly gutted I missed out on Mantua… However I was otherwise engaged, buried deeply in a blizzard of free Stella and Galway Film Fleadh debauchery.
At one stage I was knocking back pints with the guy who the Coen broters based The Dude on. Jeff Dowd, their erstwhile producer. He IS The Dude. Cool guy, obviously.
I have started posting again by the by. It was just all too much.
[quote post=”529″]
Not even a mention of the reggae.
And as for taking it out on the drum n bass tent whooh, lets just say the only problem there was that it just wasn’t big enough to hold all the people who wanted in on the deal[/quote]
Maybe the quality reggae goes without saying. I know it did last year. And take it easy man, if you read the post you’ll realise no one is actually taking it out on the drum and bass tent. I “wanted in on the deal”, cos I spent quite a bit there. I fuckin love it and in general consistently will spend more time at drum and bass tents than other tents when possible. It’s just maybe not a fuckin great idea to have right beside the crew campsite and blaring 24 hours a day thats all.
[quote post=”529″]
Not even a mention of the reggae.
And as for taking it out on the drum n bass tent whooh, lets just say the only problem there was that it just wasn’t big enough to hold all the people who wanted in on the deal[/quote]
Maybe the quality reggae goes without saying. I know it did last year. And take it easy man, if you read the post you’ll realise no one is actually taking it out on the drum and bass tent. I “wanted in on the deal”, cos I spent quite a bit there. I fuckin love it and in general consistently will spend more time at drum and bass tents than other tents when possible. It’s just maybe not a fuckin great idea to have right beside the crew campsite and blaring 24 hours a day thats all.
[quote post=”529″]Not even a mention of the reggae.[/quote]
For the record, I was in the reggae tent 3 times for 10 / 15 minutes at a time. I saw a singer there on Saturday afternoon (maybe it was Sister Lexy, with whiskey in one hand) with the sweetest voice I’d ever heard. I just neglected to mention it, and the chest-rattling soundsystem.
Sleeping to drum and bass is not a nice feeling.
[quote post=”529″]Not even a mention of the reggae.[/quote]
For the record, I was in the reggae tent 3 times for 10 / 15 minutes at a time. I saw a singer there on Saturday afternoon (maybe it was Sister Lexy, with whiskey in one hand) with the sweetest voice I’d ever heard. I just neglected to mention it, and the chest-rattling soundsystem.
Sleeping to drum and bass is not a nice feeling.
Unbelievable soundsystem. Stand in the middle and feel yourself shake. What a jink. That fiddle shit was off the scale. What a festival..
Unbelievable soundsystem. Stand in the middle and feel yourself shake. What a jink. That fiddle shit was off the scale. What a festival..
Had a great time.. and I think Paddy’s toilets are far superior to a portaloo any day. Paddy’s a legend and I’ve been using his outdoor toilets for years 😉
Where else can you charge your phone and listen to classical music while relieving yourself.
Ahhh.
Had a great time.. and I think Paddy’s toilets are far superior to a portaloo any day. Paddy’s a legend and I’ve been using his outdoor toilets for years 😉
Where else can you charge your phone and listen to classical music while relieving yourself.
Ahhh.
wet, ruff, and wild.
got caught in Digital Mystikz aural treacle on Friday night, fell in a few ditches had to remove my pants in the impact tent, due to some distinctly average d&b (or was it the jager and red bull).
taught the life festival struck the balance between organisational efficiently and freedom.
Music was better at mantua do, despite cancellations.
role on Sliabh an Iarainn.
wet, ruff, and wild.
got caught in Digital Mystikz aural treacle on Friday night, fell in a few ditches had to remove my pants in the impact tent, due to some distinctly average d&b (or was it the jager and red bull).
taught the life festival struck the balance between organisational efficiently and freedom.
Music was better at mantua do, despite cancellations.
role on Sliabh an Iarainn.
Oh and by the way I had a great time despite missing almost all of the skatalites
Only bum note was – besides the pretty hopeless but nevertheless forgiveable poor organisation – somebody loosening the nuts of one of my car wheels. Grrr! (parked close to the entrance but not causing any obstruction. I don’t like to think it but maybe it was one of the organisers). Savage. Didn’t get me though!
Still nobody shat on my tent like at other festivals. Though a couple of friends did manage to fall on top of it it just bounced right back up!
Oh and by the way I had a great time despite missing almost all of the skatalites
Only bum note was – besides the pretty hopeless but nevertheless forgiveable poor organisation – somebody loosening the nuts of one of my car wheels. Grrr! (parked close to the entrance but not causing any obstruction. I don’t like to think it but maybe it was one of the organisers). Savage. Didn’t get me though!
Still nobody shat on my tent like at other festivals. Though a couple of friends did manage to fall on top of it it just bounced right back up!