Now in its seventh year, Castlepalooza Music and Arts Festival will be in full swing at the 17th century estate of Charleville Castle in Tullamore this weekend. The castle is hidden away in Ireland’s oldest primordial oak woods in the heart of Ireland, County Offaly. The gates open at 4pm today and a couple of thousand people will make the long walk down the tree-lined avenue that leads to the castle.
Over half of Castlepalooza acts are Irish (a contributing factor in the “I’m upstairs in Whelans, what’s that castle doing there?” feeling), and the festival boasts it’s own eco-friendly green initiative to draw all you environmentally-conscious party-goers. Along with onsite camping, the Festival will also provide solar powered hot showers, bathrooms, bars, off license stores and a variety of food options at its dining centers (castlepaloozamap).
Some top tips for the weekend:
The Charlatans
It’s not the 90s any more but you can still pretend that parkas, sunglasses and Britpop are cool. Hell, not even the Britpop revival is cool any more but you know, timeless tunes and all that. Get baggy.
Ghostpoet
One of the most interesting voices in the decidedly London crosssover between pop, hip-hop and UK club culture. Ghostpoet goes deep and emotional, crafting delicately mournful collages, led by the quiet authority of his voice. On stage he is supported by a full band, making this one definitely not to be missed.
Le Galaxie
One of the highlights of last year’s festival, Le Galaxie are returning to the castle with bags packed full of glowsticks and A4 sheets of paper that say “Tune!!!” on them. And their instruments of course. You might be having so much fun you forget that the music is actually top notch as well. It is, and festivals are its natural home. Dancing shoes at the ready.
Check out the Night Drive playlist the lads made for us a few weeks back.
Jape
If there’s a festival in Ireland this year that Jape aren’t playing, we haven’t seen it. And we wouldn’t want to go to it either. Classic feel good festival band and the songs from Ocean Of Frequency sound even better live than they do on record.
The line-up will be rounded out by the likes of The Ambience Affair, Automatic Tasty; Baz Hickey, Big Dish Go, Bouts, Cloud Castle Lake, Diamond Dagger, Hush War Cry; John Blek and the Rats, Katie Kim, Melodica Deathship, North Strand Kontra Band, REID, Toby Kaar and loads more.
There’s also some workshops, a day spa and a short film festival should you need any further mental or physical stimulation.
Castlepalooza returns to Charleville Castle Tullamore, County Offaly from the 3rd through 5th of August 2012. Tickets are still available @ http://www.castlepalooza.com/
Tickets:
3 day camping – €85
3 day moat camping – €50
3 day no camping – €65
Standalone Sunday only – €35
