‘We will be back next year, beer in hand and grass under our feet’
INDIEPENDENCE CO-FOUNDER SHANE DUNNE INSISTS CANCELLING THE 2020 FESTIVAL WAS ‘THE RIGHT THING TO DO’
“We will be back next year, beer in hand and grass under our feet.”
That was the promise from Music and Arts Festival co-founder and organiser Shane Dunne following the disappointing news that the restrictions imposed on mass gatherings meant there would be no ‘Indie’ this year for the first time since 2005.
“Of course it was a big disappointment to have to cancel the Indie this year. It is a big blow for the festival and for Mitchelstown, but given the current situation with COVID-19 it is something we have been aware was likely to happen,” said Shane.
“The plan is to get back in action next year and we are already working hard towards that,” he added.
In the meantime ticket holders for Indie 2020 who purchased their tickets online have been contacted and given the option of a full refund or holding onto their tickets which will remain valid for next years festival.
“We would like people to hang onto their tickets and as an incentive we will be giving those who do so a €30 voucher that can be spent on site next year. That said, we understand that the current situation is putting a financial strain on some people and people do need money. So we will also be offering people the option of a full refund on the price of their ticket,” said Shane.
“The same options will apply to those who brought their tickets in local outlets of or pop-up shop. For logistical reasons this may take a little longer to sort out, but we will get there,” promised Shane.
While clearly disappointed at the turn of events Shane said that given the circumstances the Government was right to impose the ban on mass gatherings.
“It was always going to have an impact on events such as Indie but we have no argument with the decision, it was clearly the right thing to do.”
Starting from humble beginnings in Mitchelstown Square back in the late 1990s, Indiependence has grown into one of Ireland’s most popular music festivals, attracting thousands of people each year to savour its unique atmosphere and hear big name Irish and international acts.
An indication of how it has developed is readily apparent in the fact that back in 2009 it had a crowd capacity of 1,800 fans – a number that last year had risen to 15,000.
Something on this scale does not happen overnight and it is down to the vision, drive and determination of Shane and the entire Indie team that the event has become a staple of the Irish summer festival calendar for music fans of all ages.
“If anything it gets harder to organise with each passing year as it becomes more like a business with different legislation governing events, organising the logistics and making sure everything is in place as it should be. That said it is a great buzz for us and there is immense satisfaction to be had in being able to bring so much enjoyment to so many people,” said Shane.
Perhaps one of Indie’s greatest selling points is that it is able to attract so many big acts in one place over a single weekend at an affordable price, something Shane said was a key ethos of the festival from the very beginning.
“It is worth remembering that Indie started in the midst of the last recession. So, in order to make it work we had to ensure people got value for their money, something that has been a key driving force behind the whole thing,” said Shane.
“The people who support the festival, from the music fans to the people in the local community who have backed us all the way, has also been a major factor in its success. People have seen the benefits it has brought to the area and they also like to boast that an event on this scale is taking place in their town, on their own doorstep,” he said.
Shane said that although roughly 70% of people who come to Indie hail from Cork County, it has taken on a more international dimension in recent years with people travelling for Europe for the festival.
This is in no small measure due to the calibre of acts it has attracted over the years, with international acts including Ocean Colour Scene, Editors, Bastille, De La Soul, Public Enemy, Basement Jaxx, Public Enemy and Manic Street Preachers having graced its stages.
“In the first few years it was more difficult to attract the big international acts. But, as you build up trust with booking agents and they give feedback to their counterparts it has become easier,” Shane.
Indie has also gained a reputation for showcasing up and coming Irish acts, giving them a welcome platform to bring their music to thousands of fans.
This is something that Shane is particularly proud of, although he readily concedes it has not just been a one-way street.
“We have always been focussed on helping new Irish acts reach a bigger audience. Many of them such as The Coronas, Kodaline and Walking On Cars have gone on to bigger things and I would like to think that in some way we have played even a small role in that. In return they have been hugely supportive of us, with many of the acts coming back to play Indie on multiple occasions,” he said.
“We always say to people come early and catch these brilliant Irish acts before they make it big.”
Shane said that on a personal level it is difficult to pick his favourite acts that have played indie over the years.
“These have been so many highlights it is difficult to narrow it down to just a few. There have been so many amazing bands played here and I have so many fantastic memories of past festivals. That said, Kodaline in 2013 after playing the Beer Hall the previous year, Hozier in 2015 and Biffy Clyro last year definitely stand out for me”.
While it would be easy for Shane to be downbeat about Indie 2020 being cancelled, he said the festival would return next year albeit with a few minor changes. One of these may include reducing capacity back to 10,000 to create more space for festival-goers at the Deer Park site.
“This is something we are giving consideration to. We will also be looking at trying to bring some of the acts that were supposed to play Indie this year back again next year, but that will depend on their schedule for 2021” said Shane.
“In many ways 2021 will present us with a clean slate and we will use this opportunity to take an overview of the event and see if there are ways to improve it moving forward. One thing is for sure - we will be back next year, beer in hand and grass under our feet.”