Longitude is here!

LONGITUDE IS HERE!!!
Guest Blogger: Louise Duffy from Today FM.

All across Ireland, in small villages and big towns, more and more festivals are popping up every year. You’ll see Big Tops and little yurts, food stands and great bands. And each little fiesta has its own unique charm, and its own unique gathering of enthusiastic festival goers. But the one I’m most excited about this summer, is Longitude. Held in Marlay Park for three days, with four stages, and a crazy collection of the hottest bands at the moment, it’s like a shuffle through my ipod playlist. And I can’t wait! I have been counting down the days until it kicks off, my timetable highlighted and my weekend planned with precision. I don’t want to miss anyone – but you always do! No matter how meticulously you plan, once you get on site, the festival takes over – the sights and sounds and smells, the jovial atmosphere take over, and it really doesn’t matter if you miss a band here or there, because, you’re at Longitude.

The line up this year is exceptional. On Friday, on the main stage, the one and only Ben Howard headlines. He is preceded by George Ezra and Hudson Taylor. Bastille and Bombay Bicycle Club follow them, either of which could headline themselves. It’s worth checking out the smaller stages, Bipolar Sunshine appear on Whelans 25 stage at 7pm, listen out for one of my favourite songs of the summer; Deckchairs on the Moon. On Saturday, I will be perched in front of the main stage from 3pm to midnight, and I’m not moving! The line up on Saturday is outrageous, and that’s why it sold out weeks ago. Hozier, Sam Smith, The 1975, Chvrches and Haim warm up the stage for Disclosure. It’s the perfect combination of indie, soul and electro pop, something for everyone on the main stage on Saturday. But as with all the best festivals, difficult choices must be made, and on the Heineken stage on Saturday evening, Cyril Hahn appears at the same time as Haim on the Main Stage, and my favourites Le Galaxie will be doing their thing, while brother duo Disclosure mix it on the main stage. I need to figure out teleportation before the weekend! Either that or get them all to perform together – Cyril Haim and Discalaxie. On Sunday, always the most mellow day of a weekend festival, the line up is just as impressive; the main stage sees We Cut Corners open the show, followed later in the evening by Rudimental, the man with the most ethereal voice you’ve ever heard, James Vincent McMorrow, and closing the show is Massive Attack – it’s worth buying a weekend ticket just to hear them perform Teardrop.

You’ll be well fed at Longitude this year, Gourmet Burger King, Saba, Wok N Roll, Hans Frankenfurter and Mak Slim will all have stands in Marlay Park. Heineken and Bacardi will also have tents in case you get thirsty! One slight downfall about Marlay Park seems to be the difficulty getting in and out. You’re advised to plan your travel arrangements well in advance, whether you’re getting a bus, a luas and a walk, or you’re carpooling, it’s best to be prepared, don’t rely on hailing a taxi outside the site. But the upside of Marlay Park – no camping! Set in a residential area, everyone needs to vacate the site after the last performance, so there aren’t any lairy ravers still knocking about in time for the first act the following day. Saturday tickets are now sold out, but you can still get tickets for Friday and Sunday, and with a line up like that, Longitude is definitely one of the top festivals of the summer. See you there!
Thank you Louise for your great blog!
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