Super Furry Animals finished up what was a great Indiependence festival this year in Mitchelstown.  After waiting for what seemed like an age, in the rain, the Furries came out on stage.  In spite of the “WOAH!” sign, these was little enthusiasm shown by the lads as they came slowly bounding onto stage.  I really enjoyed their set when they finally got going although I have to admit flaking off early after a day in the rain.  Wimp, I know!

Here’s looking forward to a dry festival next year!  I hope the same venue is used again as it really made the festival.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• August 16, 2009 -- The Villagers at Indiependence (0)
• August 10, 2009 -- Wallis Bird at Indiependence (5)
• September 3, 2009 -- Frank and Walters at Indiependence (0)

The Franks played down at the Indiependence festival in Mitchelstown again this year.  They’re ever-present at this festival and while you might say that you’re seeing the same bands this year but now have to pay for it, the multi-stage festival has a lot more bands packed into the schedule which makes it well worth it.  I wonder what the plans are for next year.

But getting back to the Franks, this wasn’t one of their best performances I thought.  Perhaps the vibe in the tent was one of relief to be out of the rain but most weren’t the fanatical Franks fans you’d expect to see at their gigs.  To say it wasn’t their best performance is a little unfair; the gig atmosphere wasn’t ideal but that wasn’t down to them.  You’ll always get a mix of fans at performances in a festival scenario which I’m sure people will experience this weekend at Electric Picnic.  I hope to get to the Franks gig when they hopefully play their annual Christmas gig in Cork.

See a few more photos in the full set.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• August 16, 2009 -- The Villagers at Indiependence (0)
• August 10, 2009 -- Wallis Bird at Indiependence (5)
• August 7, 2008 -- Fred at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)

Delorentos played out a great set at the Indiependence festival in Mitchelstown.  This was one of my favourite acts of the day, possibly because the lads seemed to enjoy themselves which always makes for a good gig.  Perhaps their planned split earlier this year which subsequently didn’t go ahead has given them a new lease of life.  Long may it last!  I’m now looking forward to the release of their second album.

A few more photos in the full set on Flickr.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• August 16, 2009 -- The Villagers at Indiependence (0)
• September 3, 2009 -- Frank and Walters at Indiependence (0)
• August 14, 2009 -- Fred at Indiependence (0)

The Villagers are one of the bands I was really looking forward to at the recent Indiependence.  I had heard quite a bit of their music and of course I was a fan of The Immediate who I saw in Cyprus Avenue.  I was well impressed with the performance and I must try pick up their EP ‘Hollow Kind’.  For those of you heading to Electric Picnic, this is one act to catch.

There are a few more photos in the full set.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• September 3, 2009 -- Frank and Walters at Indiependence (0)
• August 21, 2009 -- Delorentos at Indiependence (2)
• August 14, 2009 -- Fred at Indiependence (0)

Cork band Fred were the next band we saw at Indiependence after Dark Room Notes.  As always they put on a good show and I heard good stuff about their performance at Cork X Soutwest the day before.

As always, a few more photos in the full set on Flickr.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• August 16, 2009 -- The Villagers at Indiependence (0)
• August 21, 2009 -- Delorentos at Indiependence (2)
• September 3, 2009 -- Frank and Walters at Indiependence (0)

Dark Room Notes were the next band up at Indiependence after Wallis Bird.  I saw DRN play a while back in Cyprus Avenue and have since heard them on the radio where they’re getting some coverage.

A few more photos after the jump…

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• August 16, 2009 -- The Villagers at Indiependence (0)
• September 3, 2009 -- Frank and Walters at Indiependence (0)
• August 21, 2009 -- Delorentos at Indiependence (2)

Wallis Bird was the second act we caught at Indiependence last Sunday.  It’s been a while since I saw her in Cyprus Avenue where she plays regularly enough but I was very impressed with her engaging and energetic live act on a bigger stage.  I’ll definitely get along to her next gig in Cork which is in Cyprus Avenue on October 18th.

I have a couple of more photos from the gig in the full set on Flickr.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• September 3, 2009 -- Frank and Walters at Indiependence (0)
• August 16, 2009 -- The Villagers at Indiependence (0)
• September 16, 2009 -- Super Furry Animals at Indiependence (0)

Uber-piper Paddy Keenan played in de Barra’s in Clonakilty Thursday week ago accompanied on stage by guitarist Tommy O’Sullivan.  The pair have an album, The Long Grazing Acre, from which they took quite of a bit of material for the live show.  I had seen the two of them play in de Barra’s a few years ago so the drive down from Cork was always going to be well worth it.  The effortless multiple triplets which Paddy Keenan achieves and his fantastic tight fingering wows any crowd and this night was no different.  He is regarded as one of the better pipers in the world which is very evident on all his many albums.  If you don’t know much about the uilleann pipes, his albums would be a very good place to start.

As you may have noticed, the lighting was very difficult as usual down ther with a massive red lamp shining straight into Paddy’s face so that made things a bit tougher.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• February 7, 2009 -- Grand Pocket Orchestra at The Pavilion (0)
• February 9, 2009 -- Mick Flannery at Cork Opera House 2008 (0)
• September 16, 2009 -- Super Furry Animals at Indiependence (0)

Grand Pocket Orchestra played a couple of weeks ago in The Pavilion in Cork as part of the weekly Bootleg series.  I was looking forward to seeing this band and I must say I was surprised at how young this band is. Don’t get me wrong, their music is not aged or old-man-ish but some of the tunes are so well structured and catchy that I would have expected a band that had been around the block a few times.  Odd Socks is the first track I heard from them well over a year ago which was the main reason for seeing them.  They have another few stand-out tracks such as Get Go and Using the Body.  However on the night they played a number of tracks which are not so well thought out or crisp.  I reckon they need to decide is it the pure happy pop route they want to go down or something a bit heavier.

This is one of the first times I’ve tidied up photos with a bit of cloning; the top two photos had plenty of mic stands and wires all over the place.  While it does take a bit of time I think it’s worth it.  Check out a couple of more photos in the full set on Flickr.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• March 2, 2009 -- Paddy Keenan at De Barra’s (0)
• February 9, 2009 -- Mick Flannery at Cork Opera House 2008 (0)
• August 16, 2009 -- The Villagers at Indiependence (0)

Sean Kelleher played support to Aaron Dillon in The Roundy recently.  I don’t know much about him and I can’t find a website for him but he’s another one to keep an eye out for.  Sometimes a support act isn’t up to much but he kept the crowd interested with his well-crafted songs.

I’m off to see David Kitt in the Savoy now.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• November 20, 2007 -- Aaron Dillon at The Roundy (4)
• August 10, 2009 -- Wallis Bird at Indiependence (5)
• September 16, 2009 -- Super Furry Animals at Indiependence (0)