Review: Vantastival

Vantastival returned for its third outing this May Bank holiday weekend, as campervan enthusiasts and music-lovers alike flocked to Bellurgan Park to mark the beginning of the Irish festival season.

Drizzly weather did little to dampen the spirits of the early birds, as many found themselves drawn to the ever -ibrant Done Deal Stage, tucked beneath a woody shade. The open-air log cabin witnessed some of the finest performances of the weekend, including a raucous display from hometown favourites Third Smoke. They were followed by exhilarating six-piece percussion group Torann, whose ritualistic drumming had the crowd bouncing along. Other acts such as The Eskies and Indica kept feet tapping and hips swaying, while catchy hooks and strait-laced harmonies were dished out by openers The Statics and The Dead Heavys.
Elsewhere, the line-up for the Musicmaker Stage meandered its way through multiple genres, ensuring that everyone had something to shout about. Synth-pop trio Decomposing In Paris lit up the grotto with a dreamy electronic showcase before Color//Sound brought the blues. Morgan McIntyre offered a gentle Saturday night serenade after My Tribe Your Tribe made an exquisite live debut.
Vantastival’s Main Stage became something of a focal point for campers. Solar Taxi, Oddsocks and The Cujo Family provided over three hours of non-stop quality on Friday night, while other big hitters such as Jerry Fish and indie-folk quartet Raglans kept the party alive. The spirited Tupelo had the Sunday night audience in fine voice before headliner Damien Dempsey gracefully applied the finishing touches to the third instalment of this flourishing festival.

Videos produced by [link]www.highwindfilms.ie[/link]
Photos by Daniel Kelly & Tony Swan