My Response to the Events at Phoenix Park Festival (5th - 8th July 2012)

 OK so I woke up this morning and read this story posted on the Irish Times website about the events that occurred during the Phoenix Park festival in Dublin last weekend. I found the story was OK, but it struck me in such a way that I had to write a response. If you don't already know about what happened... Swedish House Mafia played to some 40,000 people at Phoenix Park last weekend, during this time there was nine stabbings and one man died from a drug overdose at the festival. The media has reacted shockingly and now there's a big thing going on in Ireland about it. I was not at this festival, but this is what I have to say from my own experience...
I have been to many festivals in the UK & Ireland as a performer and a spectator. Festivals were my greatest love from the age of 16 until about 22-23. What happened at Phoenix Park was very tragic indeed. I'd like to give you a few points of my own if you don't mind...
When I go to festivals in Ireland, compared to the UK, there is ALWAYS a much larger police force at the festival and it is ALWAYS much more strict when gaining entry. At Irish festivals the police search you intensely at the entrance. It has been so strict a few times in the past to the point that I don't want to attend Irish festivals anymore as they can be more like a concentration camp. It must be said also that the only thing I ever see this impeccably large police force do at a festival is take drugs off people and poor out their drinks. They're more interested in making as much small arrests as possible rather then taking responsibility to concentrate on searching for something greater, like weapons at the festival. The crowd attending the festival aren't dumb, they can see the police concentrate on drugs more then anything at the entrances. This agitates the crowd. In fact I believe the larger the police force the more agitated the crowd will get, thus there will be a higher risk of stabbings etc... May I remind you of Woodstock '69 - probably the greatest ever music festival, certainly the one that popularized music festivals, 3 people died at that out of 500,000 that attended over the weekend. There was no security at this event. Isle of Wight 1970, more security then Woodstock, but nowhere near to the level you find nowadays. There were no reported deaths at the festival, 600,000 attended over the duration. When attending dance festivals in the UK the police presence is nowhere near as large or intimidating as the ones in Ireland, and since I've lived here (7 years) I've never heard of them having to deal with this sort of situation like Phoenix Park.
I believe if we are to fix the problem we need to go the opposite way and take less force rather then enforcing more rules, safety regulations, and police.
Also it is both uneducated and lazy to blame the drinkers and drug takers of the festival. If you had ever done or even educated yourself on drugs you would know that when high it's nothing but peace that you want. Stabbing someone would not normally be on the agenda. This is the problem you see because this is the mentality the police then have at the festival. They think the drug takers cause the problems so they concentrate on catching them out - Wrong! The drug takers at the festival are guaranteed to be the most peaceful at the festival - Fact! I agree the drink doesn't help, but the Irish have been heavy drinkers for years, they didn't just start last weekend. Also It is unforgivably disgraceful to blame a musical genre like dance for this situation. Some of the nerdiest people in my school and college loved dance music and they had never taken a drug or carried a weapon in their life. In fact most of the people I knew who were taking drugs listened to 60's and 70's rock music, including myself. These stereotypes around dance music (which only arise in Ireland) must stop as they're completely false!
I'm going to go now so I don't rant anymore, but I do ask all of you to think about this and watch what you say and post because it could really have an effect on the future of music festivals in Ireland. I think it's quite simple... There was a few scumbags at the festival last weekend who did scumbag things and people were unfortunate. If you had 1000's more police there it wouldn't have made a difference. Don't believe the media hype because they'll build this up into a massive thing and they will demolish the future of Irish music festivals. There was a few bad apples, don't let them ruin the whole bunch!

Interview - Dublin City FM

Hey people,

Today I recorded an interview for radio - Dublin City FM. You can listen to this interview from 1pm, this Monday 26th September. The name of the show is "Girls Talk Back". We had a great chat, and we talked about my past, influences, and the next EP & Single.
If you are interested in having a listen then tune-in your radio to 103.2 FM (if based in Dublin, Ireland) or those of you living outside of Dublin can listen online at www.dublincityfm.ie


Nice one!
I'll be in touch again soon...

Summer is over...

Hello everyone,

It's been a while since our last chat... The summer was great, and I hope it was for you! Lots of recording, festivals, and cider for me. This summer also gave us the new Bulmers No.17 which recently has been my drink of choice. I played some great festivals this summer, and had some great times. For most of the summer I was in the studio, and I still am recording what will become my next EP. I am hoping it will be ready for release sometime in February 2012, but knowing me it will be slightly delayed...

I have a few shows left and I won't be playing anymore until 2012. This is to give myself enough time in the studio to finish everything, and to give me the best possible chance of finishing on time.

My last remaining shows are:

Monday 26th September - The Social, London.

Tuesday 27th September - Tamesis Dock, London.

Friday 14th October - Kensington Roof Gardens, London.

Tuesday 8th November - Cafe 1001, London.

I hope to see you there!

If you get a chance then keep an eye on my websites as there will be more news on the next EP (and it's Single). Also expect a couple of videos coming soon too.

Take care

Field Day Festival 2011

Hi everyone,

It has just been announced that I will be playing a set at this years Field Day Festival. I am really excited about this one as it's such an honour to be sharing the bill with some great acts, including Willy Mason, Villagers, and James Blake.
The festival is a one day event which takes place in Victoria Park, London on Saturday 6th August 2011.

My stage and time are yet to be announced, but keep an eye on my websites, t'will be up there soon...

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

Communion: The Flowerpot Sessions

Hey Peeps,

I'm a little delayed in getting this message out there, but it has been brought to my attention that Communion: The Flowerpot Sessions has finally been released. I was lucky enough to get a track of mine on it, but there are plenty of amazing singers and songs on the compilation. It is surely worth more then a listen!
When Communion Records took over the Flowerpot for one week last summer I was eager to get over to the venue and check out the amazing artists they had performing. I bumped into Marcus Foster when I was there on one of the first days and I was invited to come back on Thursday for a little jam after the gig. I went back on Thursday, and as usual Flowerpot lived up to their musical excellence... After the gig we all went upstairs and jammed until the early hours of the morning. A few months later they contacted me and said they wanted to use one of the tracks for the compilation. Happy days! I am delighted to be on a CD that represents all that is great in underground music in the UK & Ireland. These Communion boys surely know what they're doing, and they're surely doing it right.

Check out the CD it's truly wonderful! I wish I could say the same about my drunken version of "Johnny and Addicted"...

Purchase on...

iTunes

HMV

Get a sneak preview here

"Institutionalised" - Top 5 Of The Week

Hey all,

It's a scorcher and I'm blogging... Oh dear! Good news though...

Americans seem to be enjoying my latest release Institutionalised. Certain songs from it have now been aired on four radio stations over there and I just got word today that the song Institutionalised has now made it to number 2 in the top five tracks of the week in Boston.


Lovin' it!

Enjoy the sun everyone!

Festivals Dates Announced!

Hey all,

I have three festivals to add to my gig listings this summer. I will be playing at High Voltage Festival, I also will finally be sharing a stage with the amazing Karima Francis at Bakewell Acoustic Music Festival, and I am delighted to say that I will be returning to Isle Of Wight Festival also. Good Times! Summer '11, going to be a good one!

Friday 10th June 2011 on The Garden Stage @ Isle Of Wight Festival, Newport, UK

Saturday 23rd July 2011 @ High Voltage Festival, London, UK

Saturday 13th August 2011 @ Bakewell Acoustic Music Festival, Derbyshire, UK

I will have some smaller London shows in-between these and I'm waiting to hear back from quite a few more festivals so hopefully more to come!