Cois Fharraige 2009 review

YOU simply can’t win if you are a music promoter dealing with the Irish weather, in this reporter’s humble opinion; less than a week after Electric Picnic sank under metres of mud, Kilkee’s Cois Fharraige was blessed with incredible weather - but that development unfortunately meant the crowds were disappointing for the MCD run festival.
With the picturesque Kilkee bathed in sunshine from early Wednesday until Monday evening, punters arrived in droves but seemed largely unwilling to leave the beach and go and hear the music on offer on St. Senan’s GAA pitch.
Local sources told the Limerick Leader that “around 3,000 tickets” were eventually sold for the third Cois Fharraige festival - far short of the estimated 6,500-7,000 sold last year and the year before. Both previous concerts were billed as sell-out events.
The three day festival was only announced a few short weeks before it took place, and an MCD source agreed that had the event been put on sale at the start of the summer, it would have likely sold out as before, due to the strength of the line-up.
As it was we were greeted by the rather disconcerting sight of heavyweight bands such as Doves and the Zutons playing to a half-empty tent.
Friday afternoon opened to an impressive performance by Joe Echo, the Northern Ireland musician responsible for having written Madonna’s latest single, while a stirring set followed from Laura Izibor.
Perennial favourites the Blizzards followed and received a huge reaction to their uninspiring brand of bubblegum pop, but the gig of the weekend followed from Manchester band Doves, who opened with the excellent ‘Jetstream’ from their latest album Kingdom of Rust and never let the momentum drop throughout their near 20 song set.
“It’s great to be on the West Coast, what a beautiful day eh?” said lead singer Jez Williams, who was earlier seen wandering down main street in Kilkee. Final song There Goes The Fear, from excellent second album The Last Broadcast, was simply stunning and drew a huge reaction from the crowd that stayed to hear it.
Jerry Fish opened proceedings on Saturday with a set that leaned heavily on his latest album The Beautiful Untrue, followed by American ‘rawk’ outfit The Hold Steady and a surprisingly introspective set from the quirky Noah and the Whale.
Englishman Newton Faulkner drew huge cheers from a Saturday crowd who seemed to know every word the dreadlocked musician sang. Faulkner spent the day wandering around Kilkee and surveying the atmosphere of the town, which he remarked was “beautiful” on more than one occasion.
Sunday evening kicked off with Liverpool band Hello... I Love You and local Limerick jazz ensemble Jazz Lite, who included a Beatles medley in their exuberant set, before Ian Broudie of the Lightning Seeds and the Stereo MCs provided an interesting throwback to the 90s before the Zutons closed out the festival, the latter appearing for the second year in a row.
While crowds at the gig itself were disappointing, huge numbers descended on Kilkee, with O’Curry Street transformed into one large venue of its own for the weekend. There were some problems with rubbish from on-street drinking and Gardai were extremely visible at all times, but there seemed to be little trouble and Mayor of Kilkee Lily Marrinan Sullivan told the Leader that although there were a few “teething problems” it was a successful weekend for the town.
“It was very busy and overall a successful weekend, but there are issues that need to be addressed and I hope they will be,” she added.
Unfortunately for MCD, one issue that can’t be helped is the weather and one must wonder if Cois Fharraige will return for a fourth time next year given the disappointing take up on tickets for the actual festival.

Laura Izibor, The Blizzards added to Cois Fharraige line-up

Soulful Dublin born singer Laura Izibor and perennial Irish festival favourites The Blizzards have been added to the Cois Fharraige line-up, On the Beat can exclusively reveal.

The Irish acts join an already impressive line-up consisting of Doves, The Zutons, Newton Faulkner, Noah & The Whale, The Hold Steady, Stereo MC's, Lightning Seeds, Jerry Fish and The Saw Doctors.

Izibor is hot property at the moment, having finally released her hugely anticipated debut ‘Let the Truth be Told’, which went straight in at number two in the Irish album charts.

Boasting a voice that R’n’B and soul legends would kill for, Izibor has been billed as one to watch for a long time, winning the 2FM Song Contest at the age of 15. A 'Hope for 2006 Award' at the Meteors followed, as did festival appearances.

Recent appearances with Aretha Franklin, India Arie, John Legend and counts Stevie Wonder as a fan.

The Blizzards are well known in these parts, having played here repeatedly over the last few years, garnering a huge following for their brand of pop-rock, as demonstrated on the ‘A Public Display of Affection’ and 'The Domino Effect' albums. Sure to bring in a big crowd also, which will help with ticket sales.

Tickets are on sale now for the three day festival, which takes place in Kilkee, September 11-13. Tickets are still available at the early bird price of 89 yo-yos, increasing a tenner after Sept 1.

See here for tickets.

The Saw Doctors added to Cois Fharraige line-up

Venerable Irish rock and rollers The Saw Doctors have been added to the line-up for this year's Cois Fharraige festival, to be held in Kilkee on September 11-13.
The Saw Doctors, who won a Lifetime Meteor Award last year, will celebrate their 21st year on the road as a touring band this Summer and are the latest additions to an impressive line-up that already features Doves, The Zutons, Newton Faulkner, Noah & The Whale, The Hold Steady, Stereo MC’s, Lightning Seeds, and Jerry Fish.
Tickets for the three-day festival went on sale this Tuesday at the early-bird price of €89.
On the Beat is expecting more acts to be announced in the coming days, so keep it here for updates.

Cois Fharraige to go ahead - Doves to headline

This hot off the press, with barely a month to go before it is due to take place, Cois Fharraige is to go ahead and Doves are to headline the three day festival, taking place September 11,12,13.

Also included in the line-up are The Zutons (returning again), Newton Faulkner, Noah & The Whale, The Hold Steady, Stereo MC’s, Lightning Seeds and Jerry Fish - with more acts to be announced in the coming days.

As exclusively revealed on these pages and in the Limerick Leader, the festival has been in the pipeline for the last weeks and months, but sponsorship and licencing issues and recession problems have meant it was touch and go to go ahead.

With the support of local businesses and all relevant parties on board, MCD have today announced that the hugely popular festival - which has drawn in excess of 15,000 people into the seaside village in the last two years - will go ahead, with a rather impressive line-up.

More from the blurb:

Early bird weekend tickets are priced 89 euro inclusive of booking fee up until September 1 and 99 euro incl. booking fee after. Tickets go on sale this Tuesday August 11 at 9 am.

Please note: There is no on site camping available. For further information please contact Western Tourism on www.discoverireland.ie/west

Keep it here for more updates, interviews, giveaways to come.

Update on Cois Fharraige - from today's Limerick Chronicle

Alan Owens
LIMERICK music fans who have flocked to Kilkee in recent years for the Cois Fharraige festival might still be in luck this year, despite fears the MCD run festival would not go ahead.
Cois Fharraige drew 10-15,000 revellers to the small town last year, a significant portion of which were from Limerick. However, the sponsors of the previous festivals have not renewed their interest this year, leaving the three day festival in limbo.
A meeting was held in the seaside resort on Monday evening between local business people and an MCD official with the intention of ensuring the festival goes ahead again this year.
“An MCD official met with Kilkee business people this Monday - for a last chance meeting,” said a source who attended the meeting.
“The festival will be relying heavily on local business people and Clare Co. Council to come up with some form of sponsorship.
We have grouped together and there is a lot of local support for this to still go ahead - there is huge potential with this festival to draw large crowds to Kilkee.”
An official announcement is expected in the next couple of days.

Cois Fharraige update

Just had a quick chat with a spokesperson for MCD who "couldn't confirm or deny anything" about Cois Fharraige going ahead, except that they have applied for a licence.
Informed sources tell us that while they have applied for a licence for Cois Fharraige, as of yet MCD don't have a sponsor for the event (Sony Ericsson did the needful for the last two years) and haven't approached any acts yet.
This would lead us to be a bit sceptical (maybe realistic is a better word) about the event taking place or not, considering the state of the economy and the fact that no-one has any money at the moment.
Anyone know any sponsors interested in helping out?!
Hoping for more news towards the end of the week.

MCD apply for Kilkee Cois Fharraige licence

On the Beat has learned that MCD have applied for a licence to hold Cois Fharraige in Kilkee again this year, with September 11-13 the dates being sought.

This news would bring a massive boost to the seaside town - and the Mid West region - as upwards of 15,000 people have flocked to the idyllic resort over the last two years for the three day festival.

More news when we get it, but see below for a report on last year's festival.

DESPITE predictions it might be a complete washout, somehow the return of Cois Fharraige - held in association with Sony Ericsson - to Kilkee, proved another remarkable success for the small coastal village.

A deluge of rain reaching epic proportions threatened to turn many - this reporter included - off making the short trip from Limerick last Friday.

Like many Limerick natives, Kilkee is something of a second home for me, and this festival was a keenly awaited one.

There must have been shudders in Kilkee when the rains set in on Friday, but despite this thousands of eager music fans flocked to the town, and facilities were much improved this year, with a number of camp sites available to those souls set to brave the elements.

The major feature of last year’s festival were the huge numbers of people who arrived down for the weekend with no intention of taking in the music on offer in St Senan’s GAA pitch at the top of O’Curry Street. Instead, they intended to soak up the atmosphere on offer around the town, and again, this proved the case. Pubs provided music of their own, with some going all out to capture punters.

Meanwhile, up to 6,500 ticket holders took the time to check out the likes of the Coronas, the Futureheads and the Zutons in the kayham tent on the Friday night. Conditions were soggy at best, but the Zutons in particular provided a sparkling performance, with the camera chiefly interested in attractive saxophone player Abi Harding.

Amazingly, the weather on Saturday morning was perfect - blue skies and sunshine were gently tempered by a wind that became merely a breeze as the day wore on. Entertainment was provided around the town and the main street was mobbed from an early hour. Personalities like Munster’s Paul O’Connell were more than happy to sign autographs and pose for photographs in the sunshine.

It was left to bands 28 Costumes and the Broken Family Band to contend with the lure of the Irish soccer international on Saturday evening, before Kila continued their impressive run of spirited performances as they returned for a second year.

However, one of the highlights of the weekend was the dungaree-wearing, Jack Daniels swigging, three-string guitar playing Seasick Steve Wold, who blasted out his hobo-style songs I Started Out With Nothing and I Still Got Most of It Left and Doghouse Blues.

Unfortunately laddish rock band Supergrass were not as impressive, impassively taking to the stage and blasting out six or seven new tracks with little compunction or connection with the crowd, before playing hits Moving and Richard III.

"This is a nice place you’ve got here, we’ve been here now for a few days," singer Gaz Coombes tells the crowd, before the band rush through a version of monster hit Alright - apparently a song they haven’t played in a long time.

As we file out of the tent after Pumping on your Stereo, the party continues downtown as the main street is wedged with people dancing in the street.Incredibly, Gardai later confirm that despite the huge numbers in town for the weekend, the majority are well-behaved with few public order offences.

Sunday brings the undoubted highlight of what has become a very successful weekend, for punters and businesses alike. Scottish legends Travis draw such a roar from the crowd that Fran Healy is forced to stick his fingers in his ears, and the band put on a show that liberally sprinkles classic hits with newer, edgier material such as J Smith and new single Something Anything.

Writing to Reach You, Side, Turn and Flowers in the Window are played with such joy and aplomb that people remember why they loved Travis in the first place.

And the band can hardly be heard over the roar of finale Why Does it Always Rain on Me, happily sung with gleeful irony rather than resignation.

With any luck this festival will return next year, but, if not, we always have two brilliant weekends to look back on.