Blue skies, big tents, bag and pocket searches, car parks in fields, thumping bass, comatosed teenagers, beer in plastic containers and spliffs on the grass. It could only mean one thing - music festival. Yes summer officially arrived for eight thousand festival goers last Sunday at the Garden Party situated in Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath. A well laid out venue with four music tents, an enchanted garden and excellent food options all around, the first major music fest of the summer did not disappoint.

First band on the menu were New Zealand's finest purveyors of the Dub/Electro scene - Fat Freddy's Drop. Scheduled at the ridiculously early slot of 4:30 to 5:30 a crowd of approx 1000 people were present at the Live tent to witness what was to be the standout show of the day. Given the withdrawl of other big name acts like the Toots and Nightmares on Wax it was a real shame that the organisers hadn't anticipated the crowd reaction and given the Wellington seven piece a longer slot. Cries of one more tune were to be heard at the unusually early time of 5:30 when they drew to a close.

With a 45 minute wait to the next act on the live stage Aim, it was time to visit the Greenhouse which was heaving to the beats of the Scratch Perverts. The chemical kids were shirtless and giving it socks up the front and didn't look the pace was going to ease up anytime soon. Checking out the much larger Pogo dance tent, Frech DJ's Alex Gopher and Etienne Crecy were on the decks and entertaining the yet very small crowd with banging tunes of the more IDM nature.

Yet due to the lack of big name acts and musical variety the multitudes remained outside on the grass happy guzzling beer and generally just enjoying the sun. Following the frantic realisation that we could hear Little Fluffy Clouds from outside the main tent, we legged inside to enjoy The Orb's visually entertaining 75 minute set. By 10pm excited crowds were really getting into the swing of things and it looked like it was going to be one hell of a rollercoaster ride to the finish. But alas no! The facists had decided to close the bar at 10pm. Suffice to say I was not alone in being shocked and midly perturbed.



A very disappointing Asian Dub Foundation on the main stage did little to lift the spirits. Two alcohol free hours and two coffees later, the remainder of the night was seen out with a visit to Carl Craig in the Greenhouse tent and the last hour of 2 Many DJ's in the Pogo tent. Carl Craig and Tony Richardson before him put on a great set, while 2 Many DJ's did exactly what they said on the tin. A fun party like performance but far from a life changing musical journey. But the lack of alcohol or otherwise could not keep feet of lead shifting their weight from one hoof to the other. A quick look back at the main stage saw Groove Armada's Andy Cato playing to a few hundred punters. Nobody seemed bothered and I can't say I blame them.

And with that the days festivities drew to a close and the crowds dutifully retired to pitch tents, skull a few tinnies and blast music out of car stereos into the wee hours. Everyone seemed content with the days work, refelcting more than it was great to be at an outdoor festival in such glorious weather rather than any mesmerising musical performances. The organisers have plenty to improve on for next year but there is the making of a solid annual festival there should such events transpire. Roll on the summer and festivals galore to come!

Dae

tags:[Garden Party]

Published by Colm.