Kings’ seal of approval for Slane’s 30-year reign

SATURDAY saw the natural amphitheatre adjoining Slane castle host the first of the summer’s many music festivals.

Under an overcast sky, supporting acts played from 2pm, entertaining the crowd as it swelled finally to 80,000. The draw of the headline act, The Kings of Leon ensured Slane sold out in less than 40 minutes.

As I arrived, thumping happy house music bounced around the food stalls. Many early arrivals took up relaxed positions on the hill where they could hardly see the stage but had easy access to the beer vendors and the soothing base lines from the Red Bull DJ.

I was stuck in a traffic jam when The Whigs and Mona played, arriving for the third supporting act White Lies. Each act had their hardcore following and, as the day progressed, the reach of the support acts moved deeper into the mass of people gathering in the castle grounds.

Thin Lizzy was the first act of real mass appeal. The screens at the side of the stage broadcast the joy of their performance far up the hill. It was infectious. Heavily tattooed and charismatic Ricky Warwick is the new lead singer. After seeing them on Saturday I can’t imagine anyone but Warwick filling that gaping space left by Phil Lynott.

The guitar solos are as powerful as they were 30 years ago when the band headlined the inaugural Slane Festival. Original drummer Brian Downey showed many, possibly for the first time live, what a rock and roll drum solo can achieve with four angry Lizzy guitars waiting in the wings.

Elbow were on next and amicable frontman Guy Garvey leaned into the audience as if he couldn’t get close enough. Elbow pushed the crowd with their sonic harmonies and anthemic ballads.

“Look what your national drink has done to my Olympian figure!” Garvey shouted to the audience. He engaged fully, talking to the crowd between songs, telling us to love each other more. We all agreed to comply. A few drops of rain began to fall and the Elbow frontman instructed the rain to stop falling. The rain, too, complied. With this impressive trick, the stage was set for the headline act.

Kings of Leon were welcomed on stage by the loudest cheer of the evening. Lead singer Caleb Followill bent the sound of the words in his inimitable style as he and his brothers and cousin — rugged, hairy and handsome to a man — played riotous guitar rock in perfect agreement. The giant screens and stage lights against the darkening sky magnified the sense of occasion.

Crowd interaction is not a trick the Followills have added to their repertoire, despite their transformation from southern-fried garage rock to stadium anthemists. In a venue the size of Slane, and following Elbow’s easy, conversational manner, that separation of act and audience lessens the experience, but with a beer in one hand, a girl in the other and 80,000 festival friends around me, Slane went down as a great day out. Here’s to another 30 years.