Final preparations under way for music spectacular

FINAL preparations are under way for Ireland’s largest music festival with confirmation of the top bands set to hit the stage for the giant rock weekend.

And the good news is that generally dry conditions should prevail with hopes that Oxegen won’t be a washout.

The three-day music spectacle kicks off next Friday with thousands of tickets for the seven-stage festival still not sold out.

Promoters MCD said yesterday that the event, in its sixth year, was on its way to being sold out.

Spokesman Justin Green said: “They [sales] are going great and are on course to sell out.”

While Ticketmaster refused to officially comment on sales, its hotline told the Irish Examiner that “thousands of tickets” were still available for weekend camping passes as well as day tickets for Friday and Sunday. Single day tickets for Saturday, when Kings of Leon play, are sold out.

Some criticism has been levelled about ticket prices with full weekend camping passes costing €244.50.

Glastonbury tickets were priced at £175 (€204) for four days while Roskilde in Denmark comes in at €240 for four days.

MCD argue, however, that this year’s festival is bigger and has more than just music. Some of the much anticipated headline acts include Kings of Leon, Snow Patrol, Blur and the Killers.

Elsewhere, Paintball, a headphone disco, and an expanded X-box live stage will all be on site.

Fans can look forward to a exciting set by Blur on Friday night. The British group played their first major set since they reformed in Glastonbury last month.

The performance was packed with their best songs including Parklife, Girls and Boys and Country House.

And if the weather turns bad — don’t worry. Festival goers this year can avail of a free pair of wellies, by donating their mud covered shoes to charity at the festival site after which they are shipped to the third world.

Those travelling to the Punchestown festival are being encouraged to ditch their cars and avail of park and ride services, which last year successfully saw punters whisked to and from the site in minutes.

Special train and bus services will also be put on next weekend for the expected 80,000 revellers travelling to Kildare.

Around 4,000 people have been involved in setting up this year’s event.

Singers and performers are expected to drink 136 bottles of Merlot Reserve, 59 bottles of champagne, 3,000 cups of coffee as well as 60 litres of freshly squeezed orange juice.

Met Éireann forecasters were slow to predict conditions but said next weekend would be mild but cloudy. There were also some indications of small showers.

Meanwhile, a new batch of tickets go on sale for U2’s Irish leg of their world tour this Monday. Tickets for the Croke Park concerts on July 24, 25 and 27 go on sale at 9am.

* www.oxegen.ie.