- Music
- 17 Jul 14
Our expert guide to the acts to discover, dance to and simply not to miss at the Marlay Park festival this weekend.
The timetable for this weekend's musical fun at Longitude landed yesterday, so right now you're probably poring over it, trying to come up with a foolproof list of who to see over the three days. Fear not! Hot Press have a few expertly-curated lists of acts to help you on your way.
We'll kick things off with the selections from the man behind Longitude, Zach Desmond:
Parquet Courts
A must-see. I caught them at Glastonbury and they were amazing. Really good live, even in the torrential rain they had to contend with – I’ve never seen anything like it! The new record, Sunbathing Animal, is just great. They properly get into it on stage. Whether you’re a fan or not, you’re going to be very happy you checked ‘em out.
Bipolar Sunshine
Adio Marchant’s act. He’s a really talented guy from Manchester. I was chatting to him at Glastonbury and he’s very excited about doing the gig. I don’t think he’s ever done a show in Ireland before; I’ve been trying to get him over for a while. He reminds me slightly of King Krule, though he’s not overlysimilar. His sound is quite different to everything else out there.
Hozier
He’s huge already, but if you haven’t seen him live, you really should do. I’m expecting a massive, massive crowd for this one. An amazing performer and a great guy. It’s the same slot Kodaline had last year, and I’m sure there will be the same huge interest for this one. It’s going to be big!
BANKS
Super-excited about her performing. No one should miss this. I’ve never heard a bad song from her. I got to see her play Koko in London earlier this year and she was amazing. She’s going to be a future star. She not only has the songs but also the presence on stage to carry it all off.
Conor Oberst
It’s great to get such an established name like him on the bill. I haven’t been informed what kind of show he has in store for us, which is kinda why I want to see it so much. I don’t know what to expect and that’s a good thing. Sometimes when you catch a big name, seeing them once is enough. With Oberst, it’s never the same twice.
Now, Team HP's selections:
FIVE NOT TO MISS
Bastille (friday)
Led by tall-haired former film student Dan Smith, Bastille have leapfrogged to international fame with their Coldplay-go-techno single ‘Pompeii’, the most streamed tune of all time.
Haim (saturday)
Sisters Alana, Danielle and Este – Haim, pronounced ‘Hime’, is the family name – have had great success with their addictive, strummy blend of Fleetwood Mac power-pop and latter-day soul and R&B.
CHVRCHES (saturday)
The Glasgow electro-pop trio may be short a vowel or two, but their keening electro-pop is the real deal, while singer Lauren Mayberry makes for a compelling frontwoman.
Sam Smith (saturday)
The proud owner of a soul voice that will put goosepimples on your goosepimples, the 22-year-old Londoner came to prominence as the featured vocalist on Naughty Boy's 'La La La' and Disclosure's 'Latch', and has now established himself as a huge star in his own right with In The Lonely Hour, an all killer, no filler solo album that's helping to soundtrack summer 2014.
BANKS (sunday)
Winner of the influential BBC ‘Sound Of…’ gong, Los Angeles singer Jillian Banks has a fan club that includes Katy Perry and Tinie Tempah and has soundtracked a Victoria’s Secret lingerie ad – proper order given her music’s deliciously haunting tenor and dark beats.
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FIVE TO DANCE TO
Bonobo (friday)
Simon Green has moved between chilled-to-the-eyeballs pop, knives-out techno and chin-stroking intelligent dance music during his ten years of active service under the Bonobo moniker.
John Talabot (friday)
The Barcelona DJ and producer blends house euphoria, Mitteleuropa techno minimalism and irresistible basslines.
Adultrock (saturday)
A vehicle for Dublin production guru Gav Elsted, Adultrock releases juggle propulsive house and melody-splashed electro.
Rudimental (sunday)
Any fears that break-out single ‘Feel The Love’ would be a one-off were laid to rest with the Hackney quartet’s debut album, Home, a feel-good mix of grime, trip-hop and old school soul. See exclusive interview this issue.
Julio Bashmore (sunday)
Real name Matthew Walker, this UK producer is best known to date for ‘Peppermint’, his haunting hook-up with vocalist Jessie Ware. It’s an intriguing appetite whetter for his debut album, due later this year.
FIVE TO DISCOVER
Krystal Clear (friday)
Manchester-based Dubliner Declan Lennon is creating a stir with his mash-up of '80s r’nb, funk and techno. Get ready to groove...
San Fermin (saturday)
The superb, eclectic orchestral pop of Princeton graduate Ellis Ludwig-Leone is heartily recommended for admirers of Sufjan Stevens and Grizzly Bear.
Son Lux (saturday)
Off-beam composer Son Lux weaves shuffl ing beats, ambient washes of noise and tinkling melodies – with results that are often brain-bending – and always wonderfully compelling.
Cyril Hahn (saturday)
“My friends describe my music as sex music or make-out music,” said Swiss-born, Canada-based producer Hahn. “So if you wanna get down to business my songs are just what you need.” Sounds good to us...
Kyla La Grange (sunday)
She’s been compared to Bat For Lashes and Florence Welch – but this Watford singer’s carefully deployed melodrama, marrying Banshee quaver and thumping rock arrangements, is entirely original.