RTÉ 2FM's Dan Hegarty writes for Culture about the Eurosonic Festival, which turns 20 this year.
7,300, that’s how many days have slotted neatly into the past 20 years. Two decades ago phones (or mobile phones) were the size of bricks and had aerials, we had hi-fi rather than wi-fi, and iconic albums such as The Strokes’ Is This It? and Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea from PJ Harvey hadn’t reached us yet.
In January of 1999, the first Eurosonic festival took place in its host city of Groningen, in The Netherlands. It was the coming together of what you could call parallel universes; the Radio industry and the music industry. Both had been dependent on each other, yet at times their relationship bore more resemblance to squabbling siblings than global industries.
It was a simple idea: stage a festival with the very best new European acts, and showcase them to media, record labels, festival bookers and other music-related parties, and in the process broadcast many of these acts sets on radio stations all over Europe. Over the years, Eurosonic has hosted acts that have both gone on to become hugely popular, and others that would disappear soon after. Of the former, names such as Dua Lipa, Hozier, James Bay, Ellie Goulding, The XX, Royal Blood, and Sigrid. Of the Irish who have appeared over the 20 years, few have received a reception like that of Gavin James in 2015. His track The Book Of Love had gone to Number one in the Dutch chart just in time for his Eurosonic debut.
Watch: Gavin James live at Eurosonic 2015
There is a particularly strong contingent of Irish acts booked for the 2019 festival. Lead by 2fm’s choice Fontaines DC, it paints an accurate picture as to where Irish music is as we move towards the end of the second decade of 21st century.
The other Irish acts that will be making their way to Groningen for their Eurosonic debut will be AE Mak, Fangclub, Hilary Woods, Kojaque, Lilla Vargen, Moncrieff, The Murder Capital, Pillow Queens, Rews, Ruthanne, Vulpynes, Whenyoung, and Wild Youth.
The timing couldn’t be better for Fontaines DC. The Dublin band captured the number on spot in the Vinyl Single Chart (in the last week of December) with their latest single Too Real. It will also serve as the start of a tour that will keep the band on the road until June. Further proof of their growing popularity was underlined when their entire UK tour in April sold out. They play at the Vera venue, which has a long history with Irish acts, dating back to The Virgin Prunes in the early 1980s, and more recently, acts like God Is An Astronaut, Villagers, Fight Like Apes, and Wyvern Lingo.
Watch: Wyvern Lingo live at Eurosonic 2017
It wouldn't be right not to give credit where it is due. Longtime RTE Radio producer Ian Wilson (who retired earlier this month) was very instrumental in the formation of the Eurosonic festival, and has been an ardent supporter through the years. Reflected the talent in Ireland at the time, along with Ian's influence, Eurosonic selected Ireland as the festival's focus country in 2012. This saw 21 acts as diverse as Lisa Hannigan, Funeral Suits, Jape, and LaFaro landing in Groningen in January of that year.
Listen: The Irish at Eurosonic, Part 1
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If the Irish acts participation at Eurosonic over the years has proven anything, it would be the diversity that exists in the music that has been made on the island. This hasn't been an instant occurrence, more something that has developed over many years. Next week, 2fm will continue its annual Eurosonic coverage with the broadcast of two documentaries about the Irish acts that have featured at Eurosonic over the years (Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th from 10pm), and There will be a show from Groningen on Thursday from 10pm on Thursday with some of the Irish and international acts performing at this year's festival.
Listen: The Irish at Eurosonic, Part 2
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Eurosonic runs from Jan 16-19 - find out more here.
