Glasvegas put in an absolute belter on a day of American starlets

Oxegen 2009 review

By Andrew McLaughlin | Published: Thu 16th Jul 2009

Oxegen 2009 - Glasvegas
Photo credit: Andrew McLaughlin

Oxegen 2009

Friday 10th to Sunday 12th July 2009
Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Co Kildare, Eire, Ireland
€224.50 for 3 day including camping, or €120 deposit

Calvin Harris got the party started on Sunday drawing in an early capacity crowd to main stage, the Irish clearly out to make the most of their last day. The place was pumpin' to the tune of 'The Girls' and 'Acceptable in the 80's'. For me though, it was all about the 'I'm Not Alone' face off with Pendulum. The winner? ...verdicts still out I'm afraid, both were awesome!

Noisettes
Next I hit Noisettes up at Green Spheres. The newcomers impressed with 'Never Forget You' and got everyone dancing to 'Don't Upset The Rhythm'. Lead singer Shingai Shoniwa worked the crowd dancing back n' fourth across stage giving it her all, stopping every so often to play bass.

Lady GaGa
Sunday evening was all about American starlets Lady GaGa, and Katy Perry. Up first on the Main Stage, electro pop, elaborate dance routines and costume changes were the name of the game with Gaga. She played the hits, told festival stories and got everyone on her side saying, "If someone would'a told me last year I'd be here playing to 100,000 people I would'a told them to f**k off!"

A lot of passion was put into the show with Gaga cutting her knee in the heat of the moment from which point she began to sing about her bloody fishnets. A provocative show to say the very, very least but entertaining all the same.

Perry walked out to a vibrant O2 Stage complete with uniform band, flamingos and giant inflatable chap-stick, a dong and strawberries which she shared with the crowd. The charismatic singer had the audience fall in love with her as she graced every bit of the stage. A good end to her tour in Perry's words, "this is my last show before going home, and it's made me very happy."

Glasvegas
One of my highlights of the weekend, Glasvegas put in an absolute belter worthy of headlining. A blinding Glasvegas backdrop and amps cranked up to 11 made the like of 'Geraldine' and 'Daddy's Gone' sound just that extra bit special.

The Killers provided good walking music as I meandered my way through streams of people around Main Stage on my way to the eagerly awaited Nine Inch Nails. Not as many people there as they deserved attracting mostly the hardcore fans. But what can I say, if you weren't there you missed out, the last act of Oxegen was nothing short of BAD-ASS!

So there you have it another year and Oxegen raises the bar again. The weather and aspects of the headliners were a bit of a letdown but overall, hats off to the organizers, the bands, the Oxygen Party Bar, and the dirty and dedicated who bought the tickets.

If I had my way it would be Glasvegas and Pendulum to headline next year!

around the festival site (1)
review by: Andrew McLaughlin

photos by: Andrew McLaughlin


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