- Music
- 01 Jul 24
Longitude day 2 featured a delectable mix of DJs on deck in the form of Sonny Fodera, Kenya Grace and Belfast beat maker Daire, as well as high octane rap performances from Doja Cat and 21 Savage, closing the curtain on an incredible weekend in Marlay Park.
With the second day of Marlay Park's Longitude considerably dryer than its previous, spirts were high and the crowd animated as the festival embarked on its final spectacular final day.
In a day full of vim and vigour the highlights were numerous, but Jazzy's surprise appearance at Sonny Fodera's set can't be ignored. Also making for core memories was beat maestro Daire who delivered a bouncy and groovy set, and Doja Cat who acted as the crown jewel of a weekend stacked with talent.
Kicking off day with her first ever gig in Ireland was Kenya Grace who delivered lush house progressions and sharpened percussive peaks in an early Main Stage set.
Animating the Day 2 crowd, the South African-born British producer got the party started with her pulsating track 'Paris' which featured a choice sample of Gwen Stefani's 'Hollaback Girl'.
The track, which deals with the romance ennui induced by social media and dating apps- something that pretty much everyone in the crowd could relate to.
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Kenya Grace's performance also featured a strong audio visual component, with a her avatar acting out behind her as she drudged amongst the slew of broken-heart emojis on a loop with her signature jet black hair.
The defining moment of the set came about however when she performed her smash hit 'Strangers', which induced a euphoric response from the crowd.
Elsewhere, half of D-Block Europe took over the Heineken stage with Dirtbike LB for a set which was described as "stirring".
Dirtbike barrelled through the set with a fervour and intensity that was unrivalled, with him pausing to take his first breath for D-Block Europe's 'Pakistan'.
Back to the main stage where Australian DJ and producer Sonny Fodera cooked up a storm with a scintillating remix of Florence and the Machine's 'You've Got the Love' which result in head bopping and shape throwing.
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However, the biggest treat of Fodera's set came about when he brought out Dublin's own Jazzy out for her third appearance at Marlay Park that weekend.
Jazzy's surprise appearance saw the Irish dance music superstar perform her infectious Sonny Fodera collaboration 'Life Lesson'.
However, the audience was in for a special Longitude exclusive when Jazzy and Sonny Fodera premiered their newest collaboration, whose punchy chorus delivered the line: 'Keep It Moving'.
Punters at the MainStage also could enjoy the recurring beat of Alice Deejay's 'Better Off Alone' which was masterfully interwoven throughout the Aussie's set.
Pivoting over to the Heineken stage, one of the stand out slots of the entire weekend was Daire, whose gig was characterised by magnetic drum patterns and infectious melodies masterfully woven through pummelling chord progressions.
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In his Hot Press interview in the lead up to Longitude, the rising Belfast producer said that "Down south, in comparison to up north, you’ve got to play a little bit slower", and that he would have to deliver "a groovier, bouncier set than I would play up north".
Indeed, Daire took no prisoners and deftly dealt a flurry of banger after banger. The culmination of the set came about on a remix of Rihanna's 'S&M,' interlaced with will.i.am's 'Scream & Shout (feat. Britney Spears)', which induced nothing short of an ecstatic frenzy.
The packed Heineken tent had the spirit of a headliner, where devout fans bounced with intense fervour, especially during propulsive samples of House of Pain's 'Jump Around' interlocking with 'I Feel The Earth Move'.
Of course, this had fans adequately hyped for one of the biggest set of the night; headliner 21 Savage's virile performance.
Standing as a lone figure on the Main Stage, savage delighted the enormous seas of festival goers with his magnetic intensity.
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During his hit single 'TOPIA TWINS', the artist had a striking enormity of presence, meriting his top billing.
It was the gothic 'redraw, which derives its inspiration from Stephen King's the Shining, that really stole the show- both in the artist's show, and indeed the entire weekend itself.
As dusk gently set in on Marlay Park, the dramatic vocals and haunting strings sample provided the perfect backdrop for Savage's meaty bars.
There was a certain gravity to the London-born, Atlanta-raised rapper's performance, set the MainStage scene perfectly for Doja Cat.
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Before, we get to the dazzling Doja Cat, let us flit back to the Heineken tent, where Obskür played to a sonic vault of loyal fans.
The Dublin duo expertly performed on decks on a stage they were all too familiar with; as it was their second time playing a Longitude slot after their 2022 debut.
The pair dealt one of the heavier DJ sets of the weekend, a pulsating performance which resounded with gig goers, getting their heart and heads pumping.
Back to the Main Stage where the luminary Doja Cat took to the stage, glistening in a condom like latex dress. There was a rhapsodic feeling in the air as the American rapper cruised onto the stage.
The set was surprisingly rock orientated, a genre which proved no challenge for Doja Cat as she delivered bangers such as 'Gun', 'Demon' and 'Loser' with almost glam rock aplomb.
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Pyrotechnics consumed the stage as Doja Cat paraded around haystacks made out of hair extensions and bandmates wearing matching shaggy apparel.
'Say So' received a huge reaction with its funky pop guitar like as did 'Get Into It (Yuh)'.
Rounding out the hard hitting performance was the at first gentler 'Streets' but this soon proved to be another theatrical show stopper.
Of course, speaking of showstoppers, it would be remiss not to mention the artist's final song 'Paint The Town Red' which did exactly as described.
The final few performances of Doja's set took place from a suspended bridge on stage, and when 'Paint The Town Red' came on the entire park was bathed in a crimson glow.
Concluding an absolutely stacked weekend, Doja certainly ended things on a high with her peculiar artistic sensibility and her undeniable charisma.