Breath of fresh air for music fans as Oxegen tickets on sale

IRELAND’S largest music festival yesterday added a raft of eclectic acts to its growing line-up.

The Pet Shop Boys, Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction are on the bill for Oxegen ’09.

Tickets for the three-day music festival — at Punchestown Racecourse in Naas, Co Kildare, from July 10 — go on sale today.

Promoter MCD has already announced an impressive line-up including Kings of Leon, Blur, Snow Patrol, Keane, Lily Allen and Bloc Party.

The Killers headline on Sunday, taking to the stage after Razorlight, the Specials, Lady Gaga and the Ting Tings.

Oxegen veteran Pete Doherty returns as a solo performer.

Irish band The Script are one of the main acts, performing to tens of thousands of revellers on the opening day.

Frontman Danny O’Donoghue said: “I’m very, very nervous, I’m apprehensive, but I have to say it’s going to be a fantastic night,” he said.

“If last year is anything to go by, we’re going to have one hell of a night.

“We’re third from the top so it’s a nice, nice slot. It’s going to be dark, we’re going to have a light show. It’s going to be a special night.”

The group played on the new band stage last year and admit they did not expect anybody to show up.

“The Kooks were on playing on the other stage and we were kind of thinking we’re an Irish act, are they going to show up, will they even care, and we walked out to a sea of people. They had tricolours flowing in the air and that really made us literally step our game up.

“To be playing on the main stage this year... I’m just imagining last year multiplied by 100. It’s going to be crazy.”

O’Donoghue, who was back in Dublin after a 17-date tour across Europe, plans to make the most of the weekend and catch some of his favourite acts.

MCD’s Justin Green said: “Nobody thought that we would be able to match last year’s line-up, but I think that without a shadow of doubt, and from the phenomenal reaction of fans, that we have.”