Oxegen revellers bask in the music and mud

IT’S that time of year again. Clean out the tent, grab your shades, pack some essentials and jump into the wellies (just in case).

Punchestown in Kildare is being invaded by eager hordes of bag-carrying, music-loving fans.

Organisers of Oxegen, now in its eighth year, are expecting at least 70,000 festival-goers a day to attend the three-day event, which officially kicks off at midday today.

Today will see two of New York’s finest, the Fun Lovin’ Criminals and The Strokes, take to the stage. Dublin band The Script, fresh from their performance at the Aviva stadium last weekend, will play just before headliners The Black Eyed Peas.

Other popular acts over the coming days include Foo Fighters, Beyonce and Primal Scream.

Met Éireann has forecast mixed weather for the weekend.

However, tomorrow and Sunday should see some periods of sunshine.

A number of initiatives this year will help campers to settle in.

A Penneys shop will be onsite, where fans will be able to buy anything from face wipes to all-weather clothes and other festival must-haves.

Campers will also be able to buy alcohol close to their tents, meaning they can leave those heavy crates of beer at home.

For those travelling by car, the car parks opened yesterday and close at lunchtime on Monday and are open 24-hours a day.

Tickets are still available for Oxegen. A three-day camping ticket costs €224.50 and day tickets cost €99.50. Three-day, no camping tickets cost €199.50.

- oxegen.ie

Picture: Annie Hunt,Roisin Murphy,Emma Bryan and Grainne Flanagan from Clare at Punchestown for Oxegen 2011. Picture: Kyran O'Brien