Memories of Indie from acts who have graced its stages
Ashley Keating - drummer with Cork musical royalty Frank and Walters Barry McAuliffe - singer with Rulers of the Planet Slow motion Heroes
“WE played the very first Indie in 2006, it was in the town square so we were playing to a mix of babies in buggies, music fans and auld fellas on the beer for the weekend,
I love that about Irish festivals, the fact that you can be playing to such a huge age range.
I think we’ve played it roughly every second year, so it must be almost eight or nine times at this stage.
It was great in the square but as it gained a following it had to move to a dedicated site.
It’s great that the town supports the festival so well and the lads who run it are great, we knew Shane before the festival and what he’s done with it is amazing, it’s one of the best festivals you’ll ever play.
I’ve been to it as a punter too on years we haven’t played, there’s always a great atmosphere and it’s retained that small festival feel even though it’s grown so big.
I guess the most memorable year we played was 2014 - a year we weren’t even scheduled to play.
I had been down there on the Saturday to see the Sultans of Ping play and had enjoyed myself a bit too much so left my car below and got a lift back to town in their van.
I’d left my car in the artists car park and when Shane Dunne rang Sunday morning about 9.30 I though ‘oh no Shane is gonna kill me for leaving the car when I wasn’t even playing’, I was half afraid to answer.
But it turned out the Fun Lovin’ Criminals had missed their flight from the UK and Shane wanted to know could we fill in.
We managed to assemble everyone from the four corners of Ireland and took the stage about 9pmthat night, it was a great show, very unexpected, but yeah that one really sticks in the memory.
Indie’s been great for Irish bands from the start and continues to give great exposure, it’s so important to the music industry here and hopefully they continue to grow.”
“I BELIEVE we first played Indie in 2006 or 2007 and have the opportunity to play eight or nine with both Rulers of Planet and Slow Motion Heroes. To be honest I feel like part of the furniture!
From playing in the Square to where it is now – just wow.
I’mnotsurprisedathowfarthefestivalhascome. From speaking to Shane Dunne back in the day you could see he had a vision for the festival and was a risk taker, who hired great people such and they are all still involved.
He treats the bands all so well from the headliners down to the stage openers, has created a brilliant community and deserves all the success they have had. My favourite moment, and there has been many, was in 2014 when Public Enemy took our soundcheck slot. Swomeone told them, so they invited us for drinks.
I can remember the drummer (T-Bone) must have must have drank a full bottle of Jameson that afternoon and still went on to rock the stage. To sit and chat with Chuck D was just surreal considering what Public Enemy have done.
I remember hoping you would be one of the bands picked to play Indie and the buzz when you were picked.
Indie has supported so many Irish acts and has been a platform for success for many bands. To have Indie on your rock and roll CV is certainly a good thing.
Just by people seeing you played indie led to more radio plays, offers from other festivals and, as indie is now internationally recognised, it has become a stepping stone to European festivals as well.
I have seen it grow incredibly over the last 14 years. Would hate it to loose it ‘pizzazz’, but I am pretty sure that won’t happen considering the team that runs it.
Music in general is music for the soul and festivals like Indie are the sound of the summer.
When you look back at previous Indie lineups, the class of the acts both international and national and for the price its unreal”.