Countdown: The Top Ten Independent Music Festivals in Ireland - Number 1

At last - all this week I have been counting down the top ten independent music festivals in Ireland this summer. The links to the previous entries will be reproduced below, while below them will be the number 1. Thanks for reading if you have, and I would be very interested to hear any opinions on my entries, any that I have left out, etc.

And just remember, all this was done with the hope if increasing knowledge on the country's many smaller festivals, rather than just focusing on the big 2.

http://bit.ly/9gQT9x [Numbers 10 & 9]
http://bit.ly/aYTU5M [Number 8, 7 & 6]
http://bullblacknova.blogspot.com/2010/06/countdown-top-ten-independent-music.html [Number 5 & 4]
http://bullblacknova.blogspot.com/2010/06/countdown-top-ten-independent-music_02.html [Number 3]
http://bullblacknova.blogspot.com/2010/06/countdown-top-ten-independent-music_03.html [Number 2]

1. Indiependence

The Mitchelstown festival has increased in size and gradually spilled over into a separate music festival. Now bigger and better than ever, Indiependence is looking to tackle the big two festivals and become a must-see event of the summer.

Where? Deer Farm, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork. Indiependence has moved to a new site this year. It is bigger and better, allowing for more stages, people and for the first time ever - on-site camping. This will, of course, reduce the huge numbers of festival goers who imposed themselves on Mitchelstown in previous years - and may attract bigger numbers who don't want the hassle of trying to travel up and down for the two days, or finding alternative accommodation in the area.

When? July 31st and August 1st. The August bank holiday weekend has become a very popular time for festivals - Castle Palooza, Cork X SW, etc. also take place over this weekend. Ideal for many - the extra day to recover afterwards certainly helps!

Why? Set over two days, Indiependence will this year see over 90 bands and djs perform on five stages. It is known for it's ambient atmosphere [Not quite as relaxed as the surfer festivals that are seen around the country, but certainly a lot calmer than Oxegen!] and this year boasts a new site on Deer Farm [see above] and on-site camping for the first time.

The Line-Up: Headline acts White Lies, Alabama 3 and Reverend & The Makers are supported by the very best in Irish acts today: The Coronas, Duke Special, Delorentos, Jape [their only festival appearance of the summer as of yet!], FRED [these guys always raise their game in their home county], The Chapters, Codes, And So I Watch You From Afar [Confirmed as the support act for Them Crooked Vultures on their European tour], God Is An Astronaut, O'Emperor, Yes Cadets, The Flaws, Super Extra Bonus Party [Choice Prize Winners from two years ago] and many more. A lot to be seen here - Alabama 3 are a riot in a live setting and White Lies are fantastic - never has doom and gloom sounded so good live.

More Information is available via http://www.indiependencefestival.com/, while tickets are for sale through http://www.ticketgroup.ie/

And there we have it! Cork's Indiependence sits atop the countdown. As I said, views are appreciated and let's all do our best to help the smaller festivals in this country fight and survive! Smaller and more intimate venues are great ways to see some of the best working acts both in this country and internationally and, luckily, there are opportunities all over the country this summer.

Thanks for reading,
Kevin.