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)

Ian Whitty was on the Cyprus Avenue stage at the Indiependence Festival in Mitchelstown last weekend.  We had just arrived at the mudfest where the festival was located this year when we heard Ian playing so we ambled over to the tent housing the Cyprus Avenue stage.  The crowds had yet to appear at this stage of the afternoon but Ian and his band put on a great show for those present.  His second album from last year ‘Lucky Caller No 9′ is still one of my favourites and has a special place on my mp3 player.

I have a few more photos in the full set on Flickr.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• September 20, 2008 -- The Blizzards at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)
• August 7, 2008 -- Fred at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)
• September 3, 2009 -- Frank and Walters at Indiependence (0)

The Blizzards headlined the recent(ish) Indie-Pendence Festival in Mitchelstown on the last night of the festival.  This festival just gets better each year, well done to Shane Dunne and all involved with putting a free festival together with such great acts.  The Blizzards have truly come of age with a fine second album recently released although I’m not convinced by their choice of first single.  There are many other stronger choices for singles on Domino Effect.  Judging by the reaction the lads got from the crowd the album should be selling well.  I just bought it yesterday, along with Mick Flannery’s White Lies which has been playing non-stop so I’m afraid I only listened to Domino Effect straigh through once.  At the gig one of the photographers was certainly smitten by lead singer Niall Breslin, she just smiled her way around the front of the stage taking photographs and even proclaimed “I think I’m in love”.  I don’t get it, sweaty hairy fecker that he is .

Some more photos in the full set on Flickr.  The Blizzards are back in Cork on October 2 when they play the Savoy.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• August 7, 2008 -- Fred at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)
• August 10, 2008 -- Fight Like Apes at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (1)
• August 30, 2008 -- Ham Sandwich at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (1)

Ham Sandwich made a welcome return to the Indie-Pendence festival following a fine display last year.  Their debut album “Carry the Meek” has been out for a while now and is well worth picking up.  They’re playing at Electric Picnic today and seem to have a few gigs coming up in September around Ireland.  Check out their MySpace for mor info.

More photos in the full set on Flickr.  I’m almost done with photos from this festival although I have lingering from last year’s festival so I might dig them out.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• August 7, 2008 -- Fred at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)
• August 16, 2009 -- The Villagers at Indiependence (0)
• September 20, 2008 -- The Blizzards at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)

Cathy Davey headlined the Saturday night at the recent Mitchelstown Music Festival. I’ve been a big fan of Cathy Davey for quite some time but never made it in to see her during her residency in Cyprus Avenue last year. I had her two albums playing almost non-stop on my mp3 player by which time I had reached saturation point when you need to give an album a rest. I got the CDs out again and listened while driving down to Mitchelstown on Saturday. Sometimes the live act doesn’t live up to what you expect but Cathy Davey and her band put on a sublime performance. It was a little unfortunate that she was on straight after wonderful sets from Fight Like Apes and Fred as her music is much more understated and subtle. Have a listen on her MySpace if you haven’t heard her before and you’ll see what I mean.

It was a joy to photograph Cathy Davey so there are a bunch of other photos in the full set on Flickr.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• August 10, 2008 -- Fight Like Apes at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (1)
• September 20, 2008 -- The Blizzards at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)
• August 7, 2008 -- Fred at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)

Fight Like Apes justified their later billing at this year’s Indie-Pendence festival in Mitchelstown last weekend with a frenzied performance.  Last year they played during the day when they were not so widely known but this year they were on after Fred, which is no mean feat, and just before Cathy Davey headlined.  Their mad cap live performance just seems to have got more insane and they have a lot of new material which should make its way onto their debut album which, like their EPs, has a long-winded title “Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion”.

Just two more photos in the full set as the lighting was tough for their show.

Related Posts on www.donal.ie

• September 20, 2008 -- The Blizzards at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)
• August 13, 2008 -- Cathy Davey at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (1)
• August 7, 2008 -- Fred at Indie-Pendence in Mitchelstown (0)