Skip to main content

2024-07-05 Sugababes - Iveagh Gardens, Dublin

I've been a Sugababes fan since I first heard Overload way back in 2000.  It was, and still is, a pop classic.  Over the years, I managed to catch them live a couple of times.   The first time I caught Sugababes live was way back at Creamfields 2002.  Unfortunately Siobhan had left the band by then and been replaced by Heidi, so I never got to see the original lineup.  Did it matter much at the time to me?  No, not at all, I was just their to party!  As a side note, post Sugababes, Siobhan went on to release two solo albums, Revolution in Me in 2003 and Ghosts in 2007. The next time I saw them was at Oxegen 2008, and by then Mutya had left the band and was replaced by Amelle, leaving Keisha as the only remaining original member.  It was a tad strange seeing the band with only one remaining member, but again, it was a festival and all we were looking for was a good time, which we definitely got! Another side note, just like Siobhan, Mutya went on to release her own solo work, a gr

2024-06-01 What's De Craic Festival - Maynooth

It's festival season again, and I nearly missed out on my first of the year!  I'd spent the previous 11 days in the south of Spain, missing out completely on Day 1 of Maynooths brand new music festival, What's De Craic.

I did, eventually, make it there on Saturday for Day 2 of What's De Craic, just in time for some good old country music with these fantastic performers, Cliona Hagan, Robert Mizzell and Nathan Carter.  

As I've said previously, my country music experience is limited to the likes of Cash, Kristofferson, Campbell, Nelson and a few others, so my knowledge of the good and great on the Irish country scene is very limited.

These artists are definitely part of the good and great though, and the crowd really got into the swing of things as they line-danced the night away, all whilst singing their hearts out!

I just like to say that I can neither confirm nor deny the rumour that I might, just might have, sang along to Wagon Wheel!!!






So, Saturday might have been all about country, Sunday was just one big, long, trad session!  The weather wasn't quite as hot as the previous day, but under the massive canvas covering, no one cared! The drink was flowing and the craic was great.

The day kicked off with the Róisín Dubh Duo, quickly followed by George Murphy and The Rising Sons.  George has, as you no doubt know, an astounding voice, perfect for trad!

Next up on the main stage, all the way from Glasgow, was Katelin Tierney.  It's safe to say, going by her song choices, she is not a fan of the British Royal Family, or Rangers FC, and the crowd loved every minute of her set!

Next up were The Highstool Prophets followed by Sean Magee,  who both had the crowd belting out trad classics, leaving me struggling to find my voice!

Closing out What's De Craic 2024, were festival circuit favourites, The Whistlin' Donkeys, and they put on one hell of a show  I'd not seen them before, but I instantlly became a fan.  A great way to close out proceedings.

There's nothing left to say apart from roll on What's De Craic 2025!

















Popular Posts

Interview with King Kong Company

Originally published 10/09/2013 on Chunk.ie So, there I was, wandering around the Electric Picnic wondering who I was going to watch next. One of the lads said he had heard good things about King Kong Company and that we should check them out, so off we headed to the Body and Soul Arena to do just that.  As I mentioned in my review of the Electric Picnic, the gig was epic.  I figured we just had to interview them here on CHUNK.ie, and here it is! First things first, congratulations on a storming gig at the Electric Picnic. It completely blew me away.  Was this your first Picnic experience? We’ve been to many Electric Picnics over the years but just as punters, and it’s always been a great festival, so it was a fantastic experience to play at its 10 year anniversary. King Kong Company is a rather interesting name for a band, where or how did you come up with it? The name is taken from the film Taxi Driver. If you look closely, Travis Bickle is wearing a badge which says King
Read more

2022-11-04 Mairead Carroll - Moat Theatre, Naas

Every now and then I have a choice of gigs to go to...  This night, I could have driven into Dublin to see Meryl Streek in the Workmans Club , or I could stay local and go see Mairead Carroll in the Moat Theatre in Naas. Well, it was a no brainer.  The weather was terrible and, well, I felt terrible too, so I figured I'd stay local. Mairead has played the Moat Theatre before, but always as support, never as the main attraction.  Tonight, would be her debut headline performance and she didn't let anyone down! I'm not quite sure how to describe here music.  It's not folk, it's not trad, it's not country or rock... It's. well, it's very light and soft and calming.  Mairead is a poet who, only relatively recently, has started putting her words to music. It's a very relaxing affair!  Her songs are very personal, and, at first listen, you might think them melancholy, but then you hear the joy and the love in them, and you start to see them for what they
Read more

2023-08-26 The Playing Fields Festival - Clane GAA

It's The Playing Fields Festival time again!  TPFF23, it's third outing, is back and it's the same, but a little different also. For the first time, it's not just an Irish affair.  The legendary Basement Jaxx headlined the Sunday night.  Also, for the first time, it's under canvas.  Not a big circus type tent, a more low rise, stretched canvas affair, as per TribFest a few weeks back.  Given the state of the Irish summer, it was a great decision.  The final difference was that I was only there for Day Two as I'd already arranged to bring my niece to see The Vamps , and that clashed with Day One. So, along with Basement Jaxx , who else was playing Day Two of TPFF? Well, we had:     The Flavours      Altered Lines      Diversion      Raging Sons      Spring Break      Roisin O      and      CamrinWatsin I think we can agree, that's a pretty good mix of rock n' roll, party time and dance music!  Even under canvas, the stage was pretty big and sounded good
Read more