We're just a few short days away from Longitude opening its doors at Marlay Park for the second time for what will be one of the biggest events on the summer festival calendar. Festival organisers have arranged a stellar line-up with dozens of fantastic acts assembled for your listening pleasure. You can only be in one place at a time though, so which bands should you absolutely make sure that you don't miss? Read on and we'll tell you all you need to know.
Words: John Balfe
Massive Attack
Sunday's headliners Massive Attack are bona fide music legends around these parts. Boasting a genre-defining back catalogue of hits like 'Unfinished Sympathy', 'Safe From Harm' and, of course, 'Tear Drop' the Bristol band haven't been without their ups and downs over their 25+ year career but will take their rightful place atop the Longitude bill on Sunday night. We even heard rumours that Tricky is performing with them again, but don't quote us on that...
Le Galaxie
Regular visitors to entertainment.ie will be fully aware of exactly how much we love this band. Le Galaxie won the award for Best Live Band in Ireland at The Erics this past January and then proceeded to blow the roof off The Button Factory straight afterwards, as if to prove a point and you can expect a similar level of enthusiasm from them at their Longitude appearance on Saturday. This one can't be missed.
James Vincent McMorrow
James Vincent McMorrow's 'Post Tropical' is one of the Irish releases of the year. The Dubliners second LP expanded on the sound he debuted with his debut record 'Early In the Morning', showcasing a fuller, more textured sound - and boy, has it ever gone down well. 'Post Tropical' has received almost unanimous praise from both home and abroad, leading to McMorrow spending the guts of the last 7 months touring the record to ever corner of the globe. But, even after clocking up all those air miles, there ain't nothing like a hometown show.
Hozier
Watching Hozier's ascension from gigging on the Dublin scene to playing to television audiences in their millions in the United States, first on Letterman then on Ellen, has been nothing short of remarkable. And it couldn't happen to a more deserving bloke either. The Wicklow native has the outstanding music video to his hit song 'Take Me To Church' to thank for his newfound popularity, a tune which has perked the ears of pretty much anyone who has heard it. We advise you to get to Hozier performance in plenty of time for the start as we reckon this is going to be one of the highest attended performances of the whole weekend.
First Aid Kit
Swedish sister act First Aid Kit are a folksy duo whose entire sound revolves around their pristine and delicate vocal harmonies, which produces a sound which seems to take hints from the likes of Fleet Foxes and Joanna Newsom, to name but two. The Soderberg sisters have been known to collaborate with a certain Mr. Conor Oberst (also on the bill), so it's not against the realms of possibility that we that realised this weekend in front of our eyes and ears. One can only hope.
