All Together Now festival: 5 things we learned from day one

Confidence Man provided one of the highlights of the first day of All Together Now, and there were plenty more treats on the first day of the Co Waterford festival 
All Together Now festival: 5 things we learned from day one

The main stage at All Together Now 2024. 

All Together Now lives up to its name 

The fifth edition of the festival, it feels busier than ever on Friday night. 8pm and it's thronged for the Khrungbin-aping Glass Beams from Melbourne, Australia. Over at the second stage, Something Kind of Wonderful, Limerick trio Kingfishr, swelled to a five-piece live, have packed the place out. Come 1.30am, Arcadia is full to the max for Ross from Friends and they're not letting anybody anywhere near the entrance. It's a sea of disappointed people who turn back looking for a plan B.

Kingfishr eye the crown 

Kingfishr - still a relatively recent prospect having formed, so the story goes, while Eddie (vocals, guitar), McGoo (banjo), and Fitz (bass) were studying engineering at university in Limerick - already feel instantly established in the music scene. Theirs is a Coronas-esque indie-folk sound; the USP is the banjo and any Mumford and Sons fans will be watching with wide-eyed joy as they go through their set on Friday evening. 

"This is our first time at this festival," they declare to shriek of joy before launching into the title track of their Shadow EP from earlier this year. Cue a mass singalong. 

Kingfishr have played Glastonbury and supported Snow Patrol already this year, and they'll round it out with headline dates around the country, including at Cork City Hall.

Confidence Man steal the show 

How to explain the Brisbane four-piece Confidence Man to people? Led by Janet Planet and Sugar Bones, their songs are not exactly filled with substance - "C-O-O-L cool, she's a cool party girl in a cool party world" - so you might not turn to their records for the home listening experience. But live, it's exhilarating, a blend of Venga Boys and other 90s dance beats that are simple but prove effective as a backdrop to the frontpersons' high-kicking, handstand, twirling, joyful performance. 

Janet Planet of the band Confidence Man. File Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images
Janet Planet of the band Confidence Man. File Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images

While the likes of Kingfishr sound so earnest, Confidence Man are just here to have some fun. They put on the party of the year that culminates in the irresistible 'Holiday', a track created during covid lockdown and just eager to simply get away for anywhere better. In the summer of Brat, Confidence Man exudes that energy.

Dance dance 

After Confidence Man, Jorja Smith is nearly finishing up in front of a sprawling main stage audience for her first live show of the year. But at most of the other big stages, dance acts and DJs are the order of the day. Kiasmos, comprised of Janus Rasmussen and Olafur Arnolds and who released their second album in 10 years earlier this summer, are playing Something Kind of Wonderful. 

Unlike Confidence Man, they try to make cool dance music, but well, it lacks joy. It feels algorithm-driven and more like a study aid of background noise than a festival-friendly set. Maribou State, the aforementioned Ross from Friends, and George Fitzgerald can all be found soundtracking the end of people's nights.

Visual delights 

Arcadia, with its fíre-breathing spectacles, has been at ATN since the start in 2018 and is still a visual treat. But the new 360-degree-sound experience that is the Immerse by AVA stage, is stunning. 

The Immersive Stage. Picture: Eoghan O' Sullivan
The Immersive Stage. Picture: Eoghan O' Sullivan

While it's disappointing that techno heavyweight Ben UFO is on at 8pm, the sound instantly blows us away, while LED screens all around draw our attention. It seems like there are new attractions at ATN every year and Immerse is a treat for all the senses.

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