The time of festival line-up announcements is upon us with Electric Picnic fast approaching, and in the build up towards summer we take a look at the acts that are set to play at various festivals across the country and speculate on who else may be announced.
Life (24-26 May)
Life is staying true to the electronic sound that its known for, with a line-up that includes Bicep, Camelphat, Denis Sulta, Fjaak and Nina Kraviz. Life ‘19 is set to return to Belvedere as strong as ever, with very little change from the sound we have heard in previous years.
Forbidden Fruit Festival (1-3 June)
Nestled in the grounds of Kilmainham, tucked away from the city landscape, this June bank holiday weekend festival consistently books fantastic acts and has earned its reputation as one of the best ways to kickstart a summer of festivals. This year’s line-up was recently announced, with headliners, Skepta, Danny Brown, Mura Masa, Elbow and First Aid Kit. Other acts which will perform throughout the festival include, Jon Hopkins, Paul Kalkbrenner, Mall Grab, and Ross From Friends. There is something for everyone on the bill, from the most honed in of music fans to the casual listener; lets just hope we get the scorcher we had last year.
Sea Sessions (21-23 June)
Another festival with a spectacular setting, Sea Sessions returns to Bundoran, Co. Donegal this year with headliners: Sigrid, Clean Bandit, and Two Door Cinema Club, as well as Wild Youth and Le Boom. Sea Sessions has sold out every year and is always praised as a standout event. With the line-up staying consistent through the past number of years, returning revellers know exactly what to expect. If the weather is right, though, it’s often the beach and surfing that make this festival stand out.
Longitude (5-7 July)
Longitude has evolved over the years, and its line-up seems to cater for the younger crowds it pulls in. This year’s festival will include performances from A$AP ROCKEY, Cardi B, Brockhampton, Vince Staples and Chance the Rapper among others. Much like last year, we can expect to see plenty of huns off on their post Leaving Cert rampage, praying that Cardi B doesn’t pull out again.
Indiependence (2-4 August)
Biffy Clyro, Bastille and Gavin James are set to headline this Cork Festival, with another yet to be announced. Booked on the same weekend as All Together Now, the festival’s longevity helped it secure its dominance last year, but with the hype around its Waterford counterpart growing, it remains to be seen if they can continue being the South’s biggest festival.
Another two major Irish summer festivals have yet to announce their line-ups for 2019: of course. Ireland’s largest festival, Electric Picnic will make headlines when they announce theirs next month and also there is the Picnic’s possible successor, All Together Now. While All Together Now received rapturous reviews last year and secured an impressive line-up, all eyes will be on the festival to see if they can keep the momentum going. They have already announced The National as one of their headliners but for now, the rest is unknown. Returning again to the picturesque surroundings of Curraghmore House in Waterford, the setting is stunning, and accompanied by the right weather we could see it further cement itself as an Irish summer staple.
Tame Impala, Childish Gambino, and The 1975 are among the names of acts that you are likely to see in the upcoming weeks. Tame Impala played at Electric Picnic 2015, but they may be due a return to Stradbally or perhaps a debut All Together Now performance in Curraghmore. Currently on a world tour, and headlining Coachella in April, it’s possible that we will see them reach our shores. Childish Gambino is still riding high from his triumphant return in 2018, and has recently concluded his ‘This is America’ tour. With his name also on the top of the bill at Coachella, it’s possible that Electric Picnic could look to repeat the draw of Kendrick Lamar last year and bag him as their headliner. The 1975, also playing Coachella, are a shoe-in, particularly as they are currently on tour with their A Brief Enquiry into Online Relationships album, and are releasing a second album Notes on a Conditional Form in May.
Other acts whose names have been thrown in the ring are the Arctic Monkeys, Idles, Vampire Weekend, Charli XCX, The Cure, Janelle Monae and Lana Del Rey. All are festival staples, with Monae announced as one of the first Glastonbury big names, alongside Stormzy and Kylie Minogue. Arctic Monkeys are no strangers to Irish soil, and following the release of their sixth album last year, could easily be found here again. With Vampire Weekend, The Cure and Lana Del Rey scheduled to play outdoor shows here during the summer, it’s possible they will stop by again to grace one or two more festivals.
No matter who is announced for whatever festival, there will always be the naysayers who complain about the line up. Still, it’s the experience we all go for, and summer 2019 should be no different.