The grand stretch in the evenings is saying one thing: the festival season is here. So dust off your festival gear and dance your way to a muck-sodden field somewhere in the Irish countryside. Whatever the weather, you know it will be an epic weekend; the only problem is deciding which festivals to go for.
First up is Ireland's newest addition to the festival line-up. Canalaphonic (May 8-9) is a free festival which will take place in various venues in Dublin's Portobello and Rathmines. On Friday evening and all day Saturday, bands will play on The Making Waves Stage on a barge at Portobello. Gigs and club nights will take place in the evenings in 22 venues throughout the area. On Saturday there will be a market at Portobello, along with barge trips. A second stage will be in place in Rathmines Plaza featuring trad musicians, while the old Rathmines fire station will host a 20-piece jazz swing band on Saturday night. Other acts include The Hot Sprockets, Gavin Glass and the New Shakers and Cave Ghosts. canalaphonic.com
There is plenty going on over the June Bank Holiday weekend, which sees the return of another urban festival. Forbidden Fruit (May 29-31) is set to shake the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and offer Dublin city dwellers the chance to go home to the comfort of our own beds rather than a damp tent. The line-up has many dance acts to get your groove on to: Fatboy Slim, Richie Hawtin, Booka Shade, Nicolas Jaar, Jamie XX and Mr Scruff. Hip-hop icons Wu-Tang Clan are also headlining. forbiddenfruit.ie
On the same weekend, Foo Fighters, Hozier and Kaiser Chiefs will be rockin' it out at Slane (May 30). It's a good opportunity to see Hozier, who is on the brink of international superstardom - tickets from ticketmaster.ie. Or get your rave on at Life Festival (May 29-31) at Belevedere House, Co Westmeath, where electronic artists such as Pantha Du Prince and Gold Panda will be banging out the tunes. life-festival.com
The independent festival B.A.R.E. in the Woods (June 13) just began last year within the woods of Garryhinch near Portarlington, Co Laois. This one-day festival with camping has a varied music line-up, including Roots Manuva, R.S.A.G. and Jon Gomm. The comedy tent has Joe Rooney, Patrick McDonnell and Fred Cooke doing their thing. The organisers offer modestly priced tickets at just €30 for a one-day ticket and €40 for a day ticket with camping. Looks like you can't go wrong with this one. bare.ie
The summer solstice is a fitting weekend for my favourite festival of them all, Body & Soul (June 19-21). This magical festival is set in the fields and woods of Ballinlough Castle, Co Westmeath. The promoters always have a left-of-centre line-up and this year acts include Leftfield, Savages, Austra, Lamb, MMOTHS and Matthew E. White. But what makes Body & Soul so special is the attention to detail across the festival - think four-poster picnics, poetry reading in giant birds' nests, masquerade ball disco yurts, woodland hot tubs and lantern-lit pathways. The woods and gardens have pop-up restaurants, spoken word events, performance art, theatrics and a 'soul kids' area for families. bodyandsoul.ie
If you want to mix some surfing with your festival, Sea Sessions (June 19-21) is the place to be. The Donegal festival is situated right on the beach in Ireland's surfer town, Bundoran. This year Black Grape, Seasick Steve, Maverick Sabre, Example and DJ Wire and Le Galaxie are headlining. There is also BMX, skating and beach sports to keep you busy over the weekend. seasessions.com
Keeping it costal, Valentia Isle Festival (July 10-12) is back after a two-year hiatus. This boutique festival is set on the stunning landscape of Valentia Island in Co Kerry. Acts include Norman Jay, Young Wonder, The Frank and Walters, King Kong Company and Jerry Dammers, formerly of The Specials, is doing a DJ set. Taste Kerry will be displaying its fine local products. Swing mania hits the island on the Saturday as Old Fish Jazzband will play some uptempo, old school, classic swing and jazz. Professional swing dancers will put on a show and will also be giving free dance lessons. valentiaislefestival.com
Longitude (July 17-19) returns to the sprawling greens of Dublin's Marlay Park for its third year. The line-up includes Hozier, Alt-J, Caribou, The Chemical Brothers and The Vaccines. And after the gigs are finished it's a short ride on the 16 bus into the City Centre for some kickin' afterparties. longitude.ie
The Wicklow mountains are home to Knockanstockan (July 24-25) which looks out over Blessington Lakes. It was originally set up by a group of musicians who wanted a platform to share and showcase their music. They pride themselves in having the best of Ireland's unsigned and indie bands. Headliners include O Emperor, Syd Arthur and Tucan. knockanstockan.ie
The wooded wonderland that is the 17th-century Charleville Castle is home to another boutique festival, Castlepalooza (July 31 - August 2). Headliners include Hercules & Love Affair, Aeroplane, Jape and Montreal. Eat My Shorts will showcase the best in Irish and International short films and The Courtyard area has been revamped to make for an even better dancing experience. castlepalooza.com
It's a tough call to choose from Castlepalooza or Indiependence, both of which take place on the same weekend. Indiependence is set in the foothills of the Galtee Mountains in Mitchelstown. It's celebrating its 10th anniversary and is holding its biggest festival to date. Kodaline, Basement Jaxx, The Dandy Warhols, Ash and Daithí are set to rock the festival. And you can 'glamp' in style at Podpads. indiependencefestival.com
The mother of them all closes the festival season. Electric Picnic (September 4-6) is set to be bigger than ever with over 40,000 expected. Blur, Interpol, Florence + The Machine, Underworld, Manic Street Preachers, Belle and Sebastian, Hot Chip and Róisín Murphy are set to play. The usual site features will be there, including Body & Soul, Trailer Park, Salty Dog, Comedy Stage, Trenchtown, Casa Bacardi and Mindfield. We're all well versed on what the weekend will entail, but dare we miss it? electricpicnic.ie
Deirdre Mullins
