The annual Longitude Festival takes place this weekend in the leafy environs of Marlay Park at the foothills of the Dublin mountains. We round up some of the must-see acts over three days on four stages of dance, electronica, and pop
Stormzy
After his Glastonbury triumph last weekend, Stormzy is back at home-away-from-home Longitude for a Saturday night headliner that feels like it will be the stuff of legend by Sunday morning. Ironically, the Rathfarnham regular was an 11th hour addition to the bill this year after Chance the Rapper had to pull out. Talk about a back-up plan... With new, Gospel-flavoured single Crown showcasing the growth of His Grimeness as man and artist, and a Dublin crowd out to prove they're louder and livelier than any over the water, the stage is all set for hearts to be going at - you've guessed it - 140bpm. Harry Guerin
BROCKHAMPTON
We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Born out of a young Kevin Abstract's inquiry on a Kanye West fan forum, BROCKHAMPTON - "the best boy band since One Direction" - now carries the banner of an alternative hip hop revolution. The diversity of the 10 + member ensemble electrifies their loud, proud and life-affirming tracks, each of which asserts its message in all CAPS. With a stylistic scope ranging from the fast and infectious, e.g. BOOGIE, to the slow and sensitive, e.g. SUMMER, BROCKHAMPTON’s dynamic studio work (released on four acclaimed LPs and a mixtape) breaths fire on stage. Audiences can’t help but leave their anxieties at the door when the boys of BROCKHMAPTON extend an invitation to all-inclusive ecstasy. Michael Donovan
Dave
Video contains strong language
Fresh from two sold out shows in Dublin's Olympia Theatre in April, Dave is back in Ireland and festival-ready. If you missed the chance to see him then, you won't want to miss this one. The 21-year-old UK rapper released his debut EP in 2016 and things are just going up for him. He hit headlines over the weekend after bringing a fan named Alex on stage with him during his Glastonbury set – and who's to say there won't be another moment of magic in Marlay Park . . . Sinead Brennan
Wild Youth
We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
It's the biggest of weekends for the Dublin quartet, who say they are living "the summer of our dreams" - and soundtracking a couple more. Along with their hometown slot at Longitude on Saturday, the pop-rock purveyors are supporting Westlife at Croke Park and in between all that Northside-Southside shuttling they're also releasing a new single, Long Time No See. Two years on from supporting Niall Horan on the opening night of his Flicker world tour at the Olympia, Wild Youth are a far more polished and roadworthy outfit, without losing any of their wide-eyed charm en route. They could be one of the standout singalongs at Longitude - with designs on one of those headliner slots next year. Harry Guerin
Trippe Redd
Video contains strong language
With a theatricality only matched by the sophistication of his music, Trippie Redd is perhaps the slickest customer on this year's southside (Dublin, that is) shakedown. The 20-year-old from Ohio weaves a ghostly, gothic spell on his disturbing, doom-leaden emo raps and draws from a much wider musical palette than your average bad boy hip hop wannabe. Let’s hope the sun is well over the yardarm for this one; Trippie Red is a singularly nocturnal experience. Alan Corr
Vince Staples
Compton rapper Vince Staples is one of the best in the game so is an absolute must-see at Longitude this weekend. He's been ticking Irish festivals off year by year, having already performed at Metropolis, Electric Picnic and Forbidden Fruit, in what have been energetic and memorable shows. He's set to bring the same passion to these shores yet again, and is sure to be one of the highlights to those who go to see him. For a taste of what to expect, check out his songs BagBak, Big Fish and Norf Norf. Miss him at your peril. Sinead Brennan
Ama Lou
Using her silken voice as a handle and razor-sharp lyrics as a blade, Ama Lou joins fellow Londoner Sampha in carving out a new outline for the indie star. Her 2018 EP DDD tips its hat to Ms. Lauryn Hill’s shimmering depictions of societal strife, all the while updating the songwriter’s vision for the contemporary listener. "And you had me climbing old trees," Lou sings on Tried Up, "cuz the rings were older than I ever knew before." But she refuses to let the solid oak struggles of the past stifle the future. "It could be better," she asserts. And it most certainly will be with Ama Lou on the scene. Michael Donovan
Cardi B
After Stormzy, here is the biggest name on a weekend of newcomers, niche artists, and "who the hells?" that might leave even the most learned of hip hop scholars scratching their heads. Rocketing to fame seemingly overnight, the naughty, scrap that, nasty by nature native New Yorker has become dirty rap's renaissance woman over the past few years. Now the biggest female rapper in the world, Cardi B’s confrontational, shoot-first attitude has zapped the zeitgeist. If the bragging gets ya down, her almost militaristic approach to choreography is sight to behold. Expect fireworks. You’ll get 'em. Alan Corr
You can find full details of Longitude 1019 here
More music news, reviews and interviews here
