Indie just keeps on getting bigger and better each year
MORE ACTS UNVEILED FOR FOR 2017 FESTIVAL
JUST like a fine wine, the Indiependence Music and Arts Festival in Mitchelstown just gets better and better with each passing year.
Now gearing up for its 12th outing, ‘Indie’ has grown from humble beginnings as a free music event in the town square to become one of the most popular music and arts festival in the country.
This is due in no small measure to the calibre of top Irish and international acts that have played the festival over the years, with the list of names reading like a ‘who’s who’ of the music industry.
When Indie co-founder and organiser Shane Dunne unveiled Manic Street Preachers, The Coronas and Sigma as headline acts for ‘Indie 2017’ last September he promised there would be “plenty more where that came from.”
True to his word Shane and the team have once again come up with the goods, announcing a raft of further acts at the Indie 2017 official launch party at Cork’s Cyprus Avenue on Wednesday night.
Headline acts joining the bill for the three-day event at Deer Park over the August bank-holiday weekend include Brit award winning singer Tom Odell, folk singer/songwriter Frank Turner, Irish alt-rock duo All Tvvins and Irish blues/ rock four-piece The Riptide Movement.
Over the years ‘Indie’ had gained a reputation for championing home-gown talent and 2017 will be no different with a plethora of Irish bands set to grace the stages of the festival this year.
These will include established acts Hermitage Green, Brian Deady, We Cut Corners, The Minutes and the Raglans, many of whom have already cut their festival teeth on the stages at Deer Park.
As ever, Indie is not just about established acts, with organisers once again keeping to their aim of giving exposure to upcoming Irish acts.
With this in mind music fans will be able to enjoy new music by a plethora of aspiring acts including Overhead The Albatross, Stephanie Rainey, MindRiot, August Walk, Subject To Change and Eamon Walsh.
Shane said the promotion of Irish talent, and in particular local acts, has always played an important role in booking artists for the festival.
“The event has acted as a proving ground for upcoming Irish acts and provided a stage for people to enjoy more established acts in a proper festival environment. The promotion to Irish talent has always been a major part of our ethos and always will be,” he said.
“Every year, Indie just keeps getting bigger and better and we’re really looking forward to another great festival at the Farm,” said Shane.
Festivals favourites such as the silent disco, the Beer Hall Stage and the comedy/spoken word stage will return this year, as will the recently added Indie VIP Garden and the Mitchelstown Music Trail.
While all of the ‘early-bird’ and subsequent tier are sold out, weekend camping tickets are still available for €119 – the same price as last year.
“We built Indie through the recession with an ethos of giving people value for money. While things may be getting better, but we do not see that as a reason to increase tickets prices,” said Shane.
“When you compare Indie to other similar Irish festival, you will see that tickets prices are a lot cheaper. We intend to keep it that way for as long as we can,” he pledged.
For future updates and ticket information visit www.indiependencefestival. com.