Logic dictates that if we’re not to judge a book by its cover, we probably shouldn’t judge a festival by its punters, but at Castlepalooza, Tullamore’s colourful, customisable music weekender, it seems neglectful not to mention the prevalence of grinning faces and impromptu limbo-ing.
Maybe it’s the big-ass castle (18th Century, gothic revival), maybe it’s the kittens (three, all ginger, all romping about the festival like they organised the blasted thing), maybe it’s the fact that the weather kind of, sort of, behaves itself, but something has put these 2,500-odd guests in a terribly good mood.
Then there’s the music.
Castlepalooza’s bill is a great big, genre-hopping, expectation-dodging jambalaya (the jambalaya, I’m told, is also to die for) that schedules the foot-tappingly commercial (Walking On Cars) back to back with the neck-craningly intimate (Soak), followed by sweeping, guitar-led alt. rock (Cat Dowling) for dessert.
Returning favourites like Kid Karate (not-so-fresh from a US tour, but simmeringly powerful with a light show to match), Fight Like Apes (bearing instantly charming new tracks) and Le Galaxie (a live show so storied, it has little need for a ‘tween bracket summary) have little to worry about in terms of pulling a crowd, while a bunch of on-form newbies (hook-bearing electronic innovators CLU and the Sam Cooke-channeling soul men of the Niall McCabe band) earn dozens of new fans.
For the first time, there’s even shows in the castle, where an ethereal set from Sleep Thieves in one of the jaw-droppingly refined state rooms is another highlight.
Choon for choon, cat for cat, there’s little to gripe about at an event like Castlepalooza and the festival’s eighth round proved that this clever clash of old and new can easily compete with some of Europe’s best boutique affairs.