GLOUNTHOWN's one-day Upstart festival has become an even bigger landmark for the Cork music scene.
The event is accessible by public transport or bike, is open to visitors aged 16 and over and will feature food and souvenir stalls. It will start in the afternoon and run until late evening – with everything set up and cleared away before the last train back to the city.
Originally conceived in 2021 as local music fans' response to the COVID crisis, it quickly found its place in Leaside's summer concert calendar, with contemporary headliners such as Pretty Happy, God Alone, The Cliffords and The Love Buzz performing alongside returning veterans such as Flywheel and A Cow in the Water, as well as nationally renowned acts such as Junk Drawer and FONDA.
Headlining the fourth festival will be Kinsale post-punks the Cardinals, who recently signed a record deal and are touring the UK, and Cork's 'non-punk' I Dreamed I Dream, who will be performing newly recorded material following a recent tour of Portugal and who have received critical acclaim for their debut EP Why Say a Lot?.
This year's 'blast from the past' is The Men from Manhole – three fifths of the 1990s Leeside indie band who have reunited to work on a new soundtrack for an animated film to be screened at the event.
They'll be joined by Northside shoegazers Mossy, who have spent much of the post-Covid period touring the country; Cork/Kerry duo Single Men in their Twenties; and Galway indie musicians Telebox, who joined the line-up after winning this year's UCC Battle of the Bands competition.
Overall, it’s a good day out for everyone, young and old, from excited young rockers to old indie fans. Entry is open to ages 16 and up (15 and up must be accompanied by an adult). Food and merchandise will be available on site. There’s a sensory garden nearby in the village for some quiet downtime. And for those old enough to enjoy a few beers by the river, the festival entrance is right next to the Rising Tide pub and its outdoor seating area.
- The Upstart Festival will take place at Craig's Field in Glastonbury on Saturday, September 14.
- Doors open at 4pm, with performances by Cardinals, I Dreamed I Dream, Mossy, The Men from Manhole, Telebox and Single Men in Their Twenties ending at 10pm.
- Tickets for 25 euros can be purchased on the website https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/upstart-festival-cork-2024-tickets-922460563377.
- Entry is open to persons aged 16 and over, teenagers aged 15 and over must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- The music is curated by Glounthaune Vinyl Club, with support from Cork County Council, PureCork and local festival fund Fáilte Ireland.