The GoldenPlec team will be hitting Bellurgan Park en masse this year. We’re very excited to be showcasing some of the most impressive talent within the Irish music community this weekend. GoldenPlec will have our own GoldenPlec Unplugged Stage at Vantastibar where we will be hosting a bit of an acoustic hootenanny with the guys from The Spirit Store (see full lineup here).
Not only that, but we will also be hosting GoldenPlec AfterDark at the beautiful Vanhalla Stage – this involves GoldenPlec bringing you well into the night so bring your dancing shoes, a couple of tins and a bag of glow-sticks (see full lineup here).
So obviously, we’ve handpicked the talent on our unplugged stage and AfterDark along with the Vantastival crew. So here we bring you a selection of the other ‘must see’ acts at this weekend’s festival.
BOOKA BRASS BAND
Sunday – Vanhalla Stage – 21.30
What to expect:
Booka Brass Band is an energetic seven-piece jazz group with classical tendencies. If you missed their sold out gig in the Button Factory featuring a sneaky performance from Lisa Hannigan, fear not because BBB are heading to Vantastival this weekend. You can bop Sunday night away to some funky covers of Destiny’s Child and Blackstreets No Diggity. 100% not to be missed.
Set highlight:
Crazy in Love
What It Will Sound Like:
MONGOOSE
Saturday – Main Stage – 13.30
Saturday – GoldenPlec Unplugged Stage at Vantastibar – 15.40
What to expect:
Mongoose charmed the socks off the crowd at #GoldenBeck last week with their funny on-stage banter, folky tunes, warm harmonies and quirky sea-shanties. These girls are on the rise, make sure you catch them opening the Main Stage on Saturday afternoon – the perfect way to kick start the your Saturday.
Set highlight:
A sultry cover of Kylie’s Spinning Around.
What It Will Sound Like:
I’D FIGHT GHANDI
Saturday – Vanhalla Stage – 22.10
What to Expect:
A heavier than hell yet supremely groovy rap-rock fusion; I’d Fight Ghandi combine soaring vocals and aggressive rapping and have built up a bit of a reputation for their solid live performances. The Dundalk band should have plenty of local support too, so don’t be surprised if a few wild mosh pits appear.
Set Highlight:
When the band shifts from being really flippin loud to even louder still. Pack earplugs.
What It Will Sound Like:
NEW SECRET WEAPON
Sunday – Vanhalla Stage – 18.10
What to Expect:
New Secret Weapon formed at a festival, so they are on familiar territory here. they formed after an impromptu jam in the campsite of Knockanstockan in the middle of the night, and their blend of punk, alternative, prog and weird tinges of pop retains this element of carefree cross-genre experimentation, albeit with a highly skilled polish.
Set Highlight:
Look at the State of It (a track we premiered a few weeks back)
What It Will Sound Like:
DRUMS N DECKS
Sunday – GolednPlec AfterDark at the Vanhalla Stage – 01.00
What to expect:
R.S.A.G and The Kilo 1977 have teamed up to present Drums n Decks. The pair have had a busy few months, Jeremy (R.S.A.G) has just returned home from a collaborative project with Justice and D.V.N.O. while The Kilo 1977 has spent much of April gigging. This collaboration is guaranteed to having you dancing into the wee hours. Don’t miss it.
Set Highlight:
Just wait and see, you’ll exactly when it happens.
What It Will Sound Like:
JINX LENNON
Friday – Main Stage – 00.00
Sunday – GoldenPlec Unplugged Stage – 15.00
What to Expect:
Oddball singer-songwriter Jinx Lennon is the sound of 3am drunken ramblings that come to resemble poetic truths. His songs flow from outbursts of anger at the injustice of modern life to energetic celebrations of individuality, all rendered in Lennon’s unmistakable thick Dundalk accent. His message is at times profound, at others a little nuts, but you’d be mad to miss him, so ya would.
Set Highlight:
The tongue in cheek positivity of Forgive the C*nts
What It Will Sound Like:
THE ALTERED HOURS
Sunday – Vanhalla Stage – 20.30
What to expect:
This Cork quintet are fast building a reputation as one of the premier live bands around with their volatile, hypnotic psych soundscapes. They’ve just come off a European tour and recently released the Dig Early single, while last year’s ‘Sweet Jelly Roll’ EP came out on Anton Newcombe’s A Recordings label, a darkly ethereal mind-melt. Psychedelic terrorism has never sounded so good.
Set highlight:
Your ascension to a higher state.
What It Will Sound Like:
SAL VITRO
Saturday – Vanhalla Stage – 18.50
What to expect:
These guys won over scores of hardened Status Quo aficionados when they supported the legendary rockers in Dublin’s O2 this year. At that gig, they successfully managed the feat of shrinking that cavernous stage to suit themselves and doled out a domineering set of hard-rockin’ funk, soul and blues. A houseful of Quo fans can’t be wrong…can they?
Set highlight:
When classic rock behemoths resurrect themselves from the sod and kick your arse around Vanhalla.
What It Will Sound Like:
FRANKO FRANKO
Friday – Musicmaker Stage – 20.20
What to expect:
“A throwback to the future” as they themselves would have it, Franko Franko mix lush harmonies with musical styles that flit from funk, to rock, to disco patterns in the electronic arena. They’ve been gigging off the back of last year’s ‘Animal House’ EP, so expect a tight set that promises to be chameleon-like in its various twists and turns.
Set highlight:
Whistling along to Slow
What It Will Sound Like:
Sleep Thieves
Sunday – Musicmaker – 00.30
What To Expect:
Super cool dark synth and beats coupled with the hypnotic vocals of Sorcha Brennan are the forte of the superb Sleep Thieves. A band going from strength to strength especially after signing to US label Minty Fresh Records they have a highly anticipated new album You Want The Night on the way. This bands stock is rising faster than Phil Hogan’s stress levels.
Set Highlight:
City Of Hearts
What It Will Sound Like:
Contributing writers: Bernard O’Rourke, Justin McDaid, Anna Job, Frank Hughes and Ros Madigan.
Check out our Top Plec Part 2 – Coming soon…