As the clock neared midnight, with Stradbally descending into a sort of shadowy wilderness, Lankum headed towards the Electric Arena’s stage. Musicians played in support in the backdrop, but the primary group, Radie Peat and Cormac MacDiarmada, along with Ian and Daragh Lynch, claimed their places at the front of the stage.
Peat lifted her right arm over her head, possibly indicating to a sound technician, but the crowd misinterpreted this as a demand for silence. The noise decreased even more when she began her song.
In their opening act, Lankum chose The Wild Rover that was always enchanting. The crowd responded to the twelve-minute performance filled with intense feelings, with sudden screams and hollers echoing through the silence.
During their own single-day show at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in June, the band confessed their discomfort with performing at festivals, except for the ones they organised. Certain features of this session may provide some insight into their thought process. For starters, an hour is insufficient to fully engage with their rhythm. Their music collection is vast and their live renditions complex, which makes this appear as a mere sampling.
After The Wild Rover concluded, Peat popped a can of Beamish open while Ian Lynch introduced the upcoming song as a tale “explaining why it’s dangerous to sail with killers.”
Festival audiences are quite unpredictable. There were fans who had seen Lankum on several occasions and enthusiasts who had heard of the band without knowing much about their music. However, these enthusiasts enthusiastically joined in, swinging their arms and tapping their feet, trying to comprehend the excitement surrounding the group.
Ian Lynch, the member of The Pride of Petravore, has been known to inject some fun into their performances by crediting the melody of their well-beloved old Irish ballad, used in their marching band version, to Sting, an iconic 72-year-old British musician. This humorous attribution tends to confuse audience members, with one querying, “did Sting pen Eileen Óg?”
Their set list is often punctuated by the soul-stirring Rocks of Palestine and Bear Creek, a powerful number characterised by exuberant fiddling that perfectly fits the boisterous foot-stomping and enthusiastic arm movements. In one memorable instance, Lynch expressed his gratitude to a fan who had introduced him to Iron Maiden and Nirvana during his early years, jestingly blaming the fan for his current career.
At Lankum’s performances, the showpiece that always leaves a lasting impression is Go Dig My Grave, regardless of where it is placed in the setlist. This emotive ballad springs from a lineage of traditional songs, such as Died for Love, The Butcher Boy, and The Brisk Young Farmer. However, it’s revealed that the rendition they perform was inspired by Jean Ritchie’s 1963 recording.
Despite its roots deep in history, it’s hard to picture anyone else delivering this harrowing piece. As a mournful dirge invoking a feeling of suffocating grief radiating with a strange brilliance, it leaves an indelible mark on both veteran and new spectators, making it a tune they’re not likely to forget.