The bank holiday weekend saw the return of “All Together Now” (ATN) to the Curraghmore estate, attracting a crowd of 27,000 to the three-day celebration of music and culture in Waterford County. This year’s gathering had its share of triumphs and pitfalls.
TRIUMPHS
Inclusive Atmosphere
Curraghmore seemed to welcome all comers this year, with a diverse crowd creating a warm and friendly atmosphere. Unlike many festivals that target a specific audience, ATN felt universally appealing, attracting people of all ages and lifestyles.
A Diverse Musical Line-up
ATN offered a wide range of musical choices designed to cater to different tastes. The gamut ran from the throbbing retro beats of The Prodigy to the contemplative doom pop performed by Saturday’s headliners, The National. Fans could also enjoy an assortment of other genres including alternative rock (Slowdive), gothic folk (Øxn) and cerebral electronica (Kiasmos). ATN had it all covered.
Natasha Bedingfield’s Saturday Spectacle
Interestingly, Ireland was the first place where English singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield charted a number one hit. Her debut single, “Single,” released from her first album, “Unwritten” in 2004, was a hit in the country. The singer still holds a special sentiment for Ireland and her dynamic performance on the main stage at 5 PM on Saturday could not be outshone. She delighted the audience, singing vibrant covers of “Purple Rain” and “The Scientist,” along with her own chart-topping hits including “These Words,” “Pocketful of Sunshine” and “Unwritten,” under the glowing Sun; creating unforgettably joyous moments.
The Arcadia Area’s Unique Entertainment
The late-night Arcadia dance zone provided its own unique brand of entertainment, with pulsating electronic beats, a DJ set inside a cyberpunk trunk, and a robotic dragon spewing fire and striking formidable poses.
Barry Can’t Swim’s Praises
The Irish crowds lived up to their mythical reputation for Barry Can’t Swim, who commented: ‘Irish crowds are simply unsurpassed.’
“The prevalent producer Barry Can’t Swim, known formally as Joshua Mainnie, hails from Scotland so he’s likely acclimated to performing under the wet sky. His concert on the drizzly Sunday night ensured not a single dry face in the audience. His album, ‘Where Will We Land?’, a nominee for the Mercury award, received a dynamic response from the audience of ATN, who maintained their spirits despite the rain. “Irish crowds are incomparable,” he jubilantly remarked, being met with smiles from his raincoat-donned fans. “They never fail to turn up”. An amusing sign proudly held aloft by a fan, claiming “Daniel Wiffen CAN swim”, provoked much merriment.
Irish talent was omnipresent
It was hard to suppress a surge of national pride as you drifted between stages and smaller tents. Here, you would encounter Ireland’s most shining stars demonstrating their musical prowess. The Mary Wallopers with exhuberant traditional tunes, framed by Palestine flags and a defiant response to far-right movements in Dundalk. Even Kojaque’s crowded performance at the aptly-named “Something Kind of Wonderful” tent. By the time the weekend was over, anyone doubting Ireland’s capability to spawn remarkable music artists would have no grounds for scepticism. Other highlights included amazing acts by Gemma Dunleavy, NewDad, John Francis Flynn, Chalk, Morgana and The Scratch.
Daytime activities
The vibrant festival atmosphere during the family-friendly hours at the ATN festival has earned its place as one of the stand-out moments. Exhausted twenty-somethings participated in yoga to purge negative energies (among other things) from their systems while the more active festival-goers were seen engaging in glass-making and craft workshops. The open, engaging and carefully curated panel discussions and talks added to the experience. Seanchoíche’s narrating tent was a particularly touching feature.
LOWS
Uncertainty surrounding Saturday’s chief performer”
Although it is expected that music festivals may encounter last-minute cancellations from headline acts, there was some confusion regarding Róisín Murphy’s replacement when she unexpectedly dropped out of Saturday’s main performance. Within the camping grounds, attendees were curious to know if another act would fill her slot or if an existing performer from the line-up would be promoted to Murphy’s prized performance slot. While The National were scheduled to perform just before Murphy, festival organisers could have used this opportunity to highlight another Irish talent. However, the logistics of arranging for musicians and their equipment to get to Waterford in time would no doubt have been complicated. The smart bet would have been on Kojaque – an upcoming artist exhibiting great potential.
The main stage witnessed festival-goers holding elaborately decorated sticks, a trend seemingly trickling into Irish festival habits that is beginning to irk other attendees. These sticks aim to help friends locate one another in the crowd but pose a visual barrier for others. A plea is made for this practice to cease before becoming a trend.
The Curraghmore estate is noted as a stunning location but raises challenges in terms of traversable ground. Tripping accidents over the weekend were commonplace due to stones littering the path and large rocks causing trolley-toppling incidents at the ticket-scanning point. Although accessibility had supposedly received thorough consideration in response to previous complaints, there’s a clear call for further improvements similar to Ireland’s other music festivals.
The weather was unforgiving. For the second year in a row, ATN wasn’t spared by the climate, enduring an early downpour on Friday. Conditions improved to near perfection on Saturday, giving a false sense of hope as Sunday saw the return of a typical Irish summer: gloomy, cloud-filled and moist.