Camden Crawl is based on its London antecedent – a line-up of Irish and international acts performing in various Dublin venues over two nights. Kicking things off in the Grand Social on Friday, it’s hard to believe that it’s only the second ever live show from starry-eyed electronic outfit Young Wonder. The handsomely glossy ‘Orange’ is a highlight, as is the jittering, Avalanches-sampling ‘Flesh’. To the Twisted Pepper next, where UK rapper Dels performs his first of two impressive sets (he’s also in The Village’s stage on Saturday). Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard produced several tracks on the Ispwich native’s debut LP GOB, a collection of hard-hitting rap verses over slick electro beats. Meanwhile, Galweigan Elaine Mai returns to Upstairs at Whelan’s for another looptastic set, while Dublin dance act Le Galaxie get the crowd going next door in The Village. Later, Portadown lad SertOne is in the Mercantile and, whether thundering through his razor-sharp set solo, or vibing with Young Wonder’s Rachel, who joins him on stage to add a couple of verses to his remix of ‘Flesh’, he seems thoroughly at home.
Though there are eight main venues playing host to Camden Crawl performers, there are also smaller ‘Fringe Events’ happening in a handful of pubs around the city. Saturday sees teenager Tara Masterson Hally take to the stage in intimate Aungier St. jazz bar JJ Smyth’s. On only her second ever gig, the folk singer’s ethereal sound and looped vocals prove she’s definitely one to watch in future. Back in Whelan’s, Londoner Evi Vine stands in for a sadly absent Alpines. We’re glad she made the trip though – Vine’s dark and atmospheric dream rock is truly captivating. Downstairs, Waterford man Deaf Joe performs a stellar understated set despite a recent painful-sounding back injury. Next up is the always excellent UK MC Ghostpoet. Meanwhile, 21-year-old mystery man Lemonada is charming punters and bar staff alike over in the Grand Social with his heavy, pulsing, dub and hip hop-tinged tracks, rendered all the more impressive by a Timbaland-esque knack for using non-musical samples.
The theatrical team behind Mork & Mindy-themed, self-described alien pop outfit Nanu Nanu are inducing shudders in the best possible way. Specialising in a particularly flashy brand of avant garde electronica, they employ echoey vocal effects and a whole lot of otherworldly hoots and clicks to create beautifully freakish sounds. Northern Irish rockers LaFaro evoke Queens Of A Stone Age with a twist of McCluskey Upstairs in Whelan’s, while Cork DJ Toby Kaar sees out the festival with his impressive electo/hip hop mash-up and acid house dance moves.