Massive Attack pulled out all the stops for the third and final day of the Longitude festival in Marlay Park. It was a performance of epic proportions, a marriage of music and political statement dually delivered by the PA system and a wonderfully choreographed backdrop spewing forth a cavalcade of imagery - and even a shout out 'Harbo', to the jeers of the sold out audience.
Clearly well-versed with large crowds after a summer spent playing in various fields across the Europe, Massive Attack's set is festival ready. Punctuated by oldies 'Teardrop', 'Angel' and 'Unfinished Sympathy', their set was the most memorable of a day lacking of a huge amount of star power.
There was little denying that this year's iteration of Longitude was lacking some of the big hitters that ensured a sell-out last year but, as festival organisers MCD are acutely aware, it's best to spend the big bucks on a festival's debut line-up to tempt people to come back in remembrance of those good times than to spread that cash over the first few years.
It was money well spent too, by the looks of things. Hardly the best collection of acts we'll ever see but the festival's convenience and proximity to most of its attendees homes means that it has forged its own path in festival calendar.
Elsewhere James Vincent McMorrow, who was in the crowd last year, traded his guest pass for an artist pass and played second fiddle on the main stage - his first Irish festival appearance in many a moon. The last time he was on a stage like this on our island, McMorrow could be pigeonholed as a 'singer/songwriter' but his second album Post Tropical displayed the expanded musical spectrum he has at his fingertips - a sound gladly eaten up by the eager crowd.
Also worthy of note were Afghan Whigs, who your writer hasn't seen play for eighteen years and haven't lost an ounce of their sound in that time either.
As well as that Banks brought her L.A.mix of R&B and alternative pop witchery to the main stage in the middle of the day, holding her own with a somewhat thin crowd. Kiwi brother and sister act Broods elevated the mood and BPM with their indie electropop with a smashing set on the Whelans stage but could have just as easily held their own on a larger one. Having the same producer behind them as Lorde, the Nott siblings are set for greatness and are definitely ones to watch out for.
