Lovebox 2008!
August 23, 2008 by Aidan Hanratty
Filed under Anablog, Reviews
This rainy afternoon I made my way to Marlay Park for Lovebox Dublin. I went up early in the day, mainly to see Detboi, an Irish DJ/producer who has some tracks on Sinden and Hervé’s recent Machines Don’t Care CD. As demonstrated recently, this writer doesn’t have much faith in Irish music, so seeing such home-grown talent rocking some awesome tunes on such a platform is always going to bring a smile. The same can be said for Arveene’s set later in the day, although his decision to cut Justice’s MGMT remix short baffles the mind. An answer when you’re ready Arv…
Outside of the dance tent, the lineup was a little bit more confusing. London’s Lovebox festival spanned two days and featured such acts as Manu Chao, Flaming Lips, and festival founders Groove Armada. Dublin got such vanilla acts as Plain White T’s and Paolo Nutini on the main stage. The crowd seemed far younger than that of any other event I had been to lately, and the rule on the tickets – Under 17s only with 25yrs+ - did not seem to have been enforced by any means. Personally, the real draw was N*E*R*D, the band fronted by a certain Pharrell Williams. I won’t lie – their new album is far from their finest work, but In Search Of… and Fly Or Die documented times in my life in the same way that the Manic Street Preachers documented the lives of others. As said in my Twitter posts this evening, hearing these songs live made me feel like a teenager again. The friends I was with were as up for some fun as I was, so N*E*R*D’s performance almost made paying for the festival worthwhile.
After that, however, there wasn’t much for which to stay around. Maximo Park may be signed to Warp, but they’re not the type of band whose music I enjoy. So, with my home a twenty minute walk away, I decided to head in the direction of my bed. On the way out, I walked towards what looked like a set of toilets close to the ticket desk. As I realised it was something for the more fortunate VIP types (I had paid for my ticket) I moved back in the direction of the main festival toilets. I was then accosted by a security employee who said I needed to get my ticket scanned, as I had apparently crossed the boundary of entry. I then approached someone with a ticket scanner only to find myself pushed back by another member of security saying I could not re-enter the festival. At the same time, the first security staff member pushed me back towards the main festival arena, while another member of staff repeatedly shouted “hurt him”. For the good of my health I decided to walk away from this shoddy excuse for a “festival”. I was so close to thinking that the fifty euro it cost to get me into Marlay Park was well spent, but this experience, at the very end of my time there, certified my opinion that Lovebox 2008, hauled from the reins of Pod by MCD, was a waste of my time and money.
They ACTUALLY said “hurt him”!?! Christ, who are these people. The line up looked pitiful. You almost felt it was simply formed out of some sort of contractual obligation. It was a dogs dinner of a line up and a joke compared to the excellent Lovebox in London which I was fortunate to go to last year.
Aidan, this sounds like the typical disgraceful shit I’ve experienced at these things. I had a friend knocked on his behind and called ‘faggot’ by security at Oxegen. Apes.
The security guards were quite rough. There was a guy up on another guy’s shoulders beside me and the the security dude comes up and decks him from behind. Poor guy hit the deck hard. Everyone was stunned. We also left after N.E.R.D. But to be fair those guys were amazing and well worth the €50. TO say it was a waste of time and money does that performance and those guys an injustice. Pharrell gave it loads!
When a lot of my friends said they were getting in for free I justified my own expenditure by saying I’d probably pay almost as much to see N*E*R*D on their own, and Fi, they certainly didn’t disappoint. I was just shocked at the way I was treated afterwards, and I hate to think that even a fraction of what I had paid went into the pocket of those evil man-handlers.
Nothing here about the Gorillaz DVJ set? Any use?
There was an unholy queue to get in (I had nipped out to use the facilities - in more favourable circumstances of course), and then the tent was apparently closed on account of the heavy winds. So to be honest I’ve no idea what happened on that front - from an angry poster here it seems it didn’t happen.
Disaster… Not surprised really though. The line-up wasn’t a patch on the London lovebox in the first place.
Hi All,
Went to last years Lovebox organised by POD. Great time and bought my ticket based on that and Groove Armada’s statement ‘LOVEBOX is now heralded as ‘the’ genuine festival experience rich in musical and cultural diversity. An uncompromising music policy guarantees fresh and extraordinary sounds from big names in pop, dance, electronica, indie and rock. LOVEBOX DUBLIN will put the heart and soul back into festivals’,
even though my gut feeling was MCD weren’t to be trusted. Oh how I was right, the horse pi** and sh*t stinking used straw was the start of it. Like most it was a day out and NERD on the bill that I went for but what a shabby attempt at a ‘festival’, where was the three storey film set’NY Down Low’ with the full 360 degree screens for the Gorillaz Sound System?(you can see the down low building on the lovebox london photos) they had a tent that could only fit about 200/300 tops as half the tent was taken up by the stage?? The Gardai then closed the tent for 2 hours because of the wind? (I heard they were concerned about the numbers heading in to see they Gorillaz. The market stalls? six tables with some fruit and veg laid out! I could go on all day but I’m saving that for my ‘Dear Mr Groove Armada’ letter.
They had one of the best days out last year - an intimate, good vibe day out with a diverse line up. NERD saved the day this time round and should have headlined. Groove Armada sold their soul to the MCD devil on this one as MCD are dab hands at taking out any intimacy and laid backness from a gig and I’ll never go again. Disappointing pants.
Yours sincerely,
genuine music lover.
Was at Lovebox on Marlay Park, hadn’t been before. Enjoyed the day, brought my kids.
The setup of the whole area was quite dull, I know the weather wasn’t great, but they could have done something to liven up the place. Because of the small crowd, it was great not to have to queue for bar or toilets!!
The lineup was good enough. Not a fan of NERD but they put on a great show. Kid Creole was great entertainment. Paolo Nutini would have been my pick out of the lineup and we all got our picture taken with him as he was hangin around in the crowd before he went on stage, so that kind of made our day sunnier!!
They should definetely make a better effort next year if they are to call it a festival.