Despite more competition than ever this year Indiependence still managed to put on a excellent line-up and draw record crowds to Deerpark in Mitchelstown over the August bank holiday weekend.

Reports of a most entertaining Friday evening greet the GoldenPlec crew when landing on site early on Saturday afternoon, with Ham Sandwich, Wyvern Lingo, Walking on Cars and Mindriot all receiving plaudits for their performances.

On Saturday the Main Stage is kicked off by Brand New Friend and the young Antrim band deliver an energy packed set showcasing their wonderful debut album ‘Seatbelts for Aeroplanes’ – only bigger things lie ahead for them.

Fontaines D.C. probably did more than any other act to make it to Cork on time, given that they had played in Poland on Friday night. However the overnight travel didn’t diminish the intensity that the band’s live performances have become renowned for with the beast that is Hurricane Laughter in particular delivered as a searing salvo.

Speaking of intensity there probably isn’t an artist who is more intense than Jinx Lennon who played the Spoken Word stage. Unfortunately having that stage sandwiched between the Heineken Live Stage and Urban Village meant that Jinx had to battle against noise bleed that would have frustrated anyone. Given that you can’t but be moved by his on-the-point lyrics and genuine emotional delivery.

An act that caught the eye in the new Urban Village area was Erica Coady whose brassy r’n’b and her ensemble’s classy dance moves hooked all those in attendance – she is definitely one to keep any eye out for.

Then it’s time for a back-to-back sonic assault in the IMRO Big Top Stage with first Bitch Falcon then And So I Watch You From Afar. Bitch Falcon’s line-up may have evolved in last year or so but Lizzie Fitzpartick still leads a band that are ferocious live, with Breed and Clutch highlights. It’s a hard task to out rock Bitch Falcon but And So I Watch You From Afar are more than up to the challenge. It’s a grandiose monster of a performance which draws plenty of other bands to the tent with nodding approvals all round.

Back at the Urban Village the Tebi Rex lads bound around the stage with endless enthusiasm and have a real connection with their youthful audience which has grown considerably since their appearance at last year’s festival, their stagecraft and hooks have developed too making for a very slick performance.

The night is topped off with two heavyweights of the Irish music scene in the IMRO Big Top Stage. First up it’s Delorentos who draw the biggest crowd that tent has seen all weekend. As you’d expect their set is a crowd pleasing non-stop hit after hit affair with plenty of selections from their excellent recent album ‘True Surrender’.

Then the stage is set for one of the best live acts of the Irish music scene King Kong Company who never disappoint and are the perfect act to close out the Saturday night of Indiependence. Their sounds are massive, their visuals stunning and the dancing of Boxhead is infectious – the combination of those elements are intoxicating for King Kong Company stalwarts and the newly converted alike. Crowd participation is a must especially with the band’s anthem to commotion lotion Donkey Jaw and the ravetastic iPop. It’s a marvellous, effervescent finale for Indiependence Saturday.