Renowned dance-punk influencers LCD Soundsystem, spearheaded by James Murphy, alongside the fervent post-punk crew Idles from Britain and Ireland, will electrify the audience at Dublin’s Malahide Castle on the 26th of June. They share the roster with the unique Scottish hip-hop-pop-punk group Young Fathers and Sh!t Robot, otherwise known as Marcus Lambkin, an established Irish DJ and electronic music maestro.
Each band has their group of ardent followers, but the main highpoint without question is LCD Soundsystem. Known for their fusion of punk vigour, disco glitz and electronic sophistication injected in Murphy’s sharp-witted lyrics, they never fail to captivate. Their discography, ranging from their 2005 breakout album ‘Daft Punk Is Playing at My House’ to 2017’s American lifestyle themed ‘American Dream’, is abundant with dance epics like ‘All My Friends’ and the Grammy-acclaimed ‘Dance Yrself Clean’. LCD Soundsystem truly breaks musical barriers, stimulating your body and mind in equal parts.
Before making your way to the Malahide Castle, here are a few essentials about timings, travel and other aspects.
When is the concert?
The event is scheduled at Malahide Castle on Wednesday, June 26th.
When should I reach?
The gates will swing open at 5 pm, with the show commencing at around 6 pm. LCD Soundsystem is expected to take the stage at roughly 7.45 pm.
Who is opening the show?
Sh!t Robot will kick start the show, followed by Young Fathers and Idles in line.
What is the best route there and back?
The entry point (via Hogan’s Gate) is around a 15-minute walk from the Malahide Dart station. The organisers recommend opting for public transport due to possible traffic congestion and difficulties finding parking space. It’s essential to plan your return journey beforehand: there will be a series of services running from the Dart station. Post-concert, a direct bus service to Custom House Quay (Dublin 1) will be set up from the Dublin Road. Detailed information and advance bookings can be done at marathoncoaches.ie.
Following every event, Concert Express provides a one-way bus service to Dublin city centre in addition to a return service for Ratoath, covering Ashbourne and Swords as well. Advanced booking and additional details are available on ConcertExpress.ie.
For those driving to Malahide Castle Concerts, concert car-parking spaces are accessible. To ensure the availability of parking, attendees are urged to book their spots as soon as possible through the Evntz app. Simply scan the QR code below or visit Evntz.ie to download the app and reserve your parking spot.
Please be aware that unauthorised parking around Malahide Castle and within nearby estates may result in clamping or towing.
Directions for drivers:
– South-based drivers: Use the M50, and exit at junction three marked M1 Belfast/Airport. Progress onto the R139. At the roundabout, take the second exit and continue for 2.6km on the R139. Make a left onto Malahide Road/R107 and continue for 4.2km before turning right onto Back Road. Follow signs towards your left for car parking.
– North-based drivers: Take the M1 and exit at junction four marked R132 Swords/Malahide/Donabate. Stay in the right lane and merge onto the R132. At both the forthcoming roundabouts, take the second exit to remain on R132. Veer slightly left onto Swords Road/R106, proceed for 2.9km, then take a right onto Dublin Road/R107. After 700m, turn left onto Back Road. Look for signs to car parks on your left.
As for what LCD Soundsystem will perform, it’s currently a mystery as the Malahide gig inaugurates their Kinda Tour 2024 in Europe. However, at their most recent performance in Chicago’s Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, the band performed songs such as ‘You Wanted a Hit’, ‘Tribulations’, ‘I Can Change’, ‘On Repeat’, ‘American Dream’, ‘Time to Get Away’, ‘One Touch’, ‘Daft Punk Is Playing at My House’, ‘Get Innocuous!’, ‘Movement’, and ‘Tonite’.
Jumping Into the Fire will be the theme of the concert with two encore performances too. They will include songs like ‘Rise’, ‘Someone Great’, ‘Losing My Edge’, ‘Home’, ‘Dance Yrself Clean’, ‘New York, I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down’, and ‘All My Friends’. Are there any tickets left? Some seats are still open at Ticketmaster.ie at the time of this writing. Please purchase only from trusted sources.
Are there any specifications for entry? If you’re under 16, anyone older than 25 must accompany you and come with a passport, Garda age card, or driving license for proof of age. It is advised to arrive ahead of time for mandatory security checks. Neither bags larger than A4 size nor equipment such as umbrellas, drink, garden furniture, selfie sticks, flares, glasses, cans, among other things will be allowed. Please note that there’s no cloakroom or storage facilities.
How about alcohol use during transit? A stringent no-alcohol policy is in place for all short and long journey commutes. Refusing entry to those under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a right held by the promoters, and An Garda Síochána.
Is there any special effect in place? Yes, there could be strobe lights, lasers, and pyrotechnics.
Am I allowed to take photos? Yes, but this only applies to smartphones or small cameras. You can’t bring professional cameras with detachable lenses or any other recording gear.
And what about the weather? It’s set to be a dry, sunny evening on Wednesday with temperatures around 16 degrees. Since this is an outdoor gig, dress sensibly and be ready for unpredictable weather.