This is a summary of the year 2007 in the Irish music industry. 2007 was described as "an annus horribilis for Irish music" by the Irish Independent's rock critic, Eamon Sweeney.[1]
Summary
January
Changes to the Irish chart rules, which allow for downloads to be taken into account in formulating the music charts came into force at the beginning of January. This sparked an unpredictable trend in old songs returning to the charts (for example "Bohemian Rhapsody" which returned to the charts for a week in February). Radio DJs (including Today FM's Ray Foley[2]) were able to use their influence by requesting that the public download specific songs allowing them to return to the charts.
On Tuesday 2 January, while being interviewed by Jo Whiley on BBC Radio One, Bono spoke of his desire to reinvent U2's sound for their next album due to be released at the end of the year.[3]
Hot Press announced their "Out A Tout campaign", following revelations that a number of touts selling on tickets for an Arcade Fire gig in Dublin's Olympia Theatre at inflated prices. Tickets for the gig sold out inside ten minutes but 24 hours later turned up on eBay for €250 (increasing to €350 48 hours later). Concert promoter MCD urged the Government to act on closing down online touts and pointed an accusing finger at "media outlets who carry advertisements on behalf of ticket touts." Peter Aiken of Aiken Promotions proffered: "…these professional American-style 'brokers' could be shut down overnight. The same goes for the guys you see selling tickets outside venues, ours included."[4]
Meanwhile, head of 2fm, John Clarke, announced the latest in a spate of reschedules for the station, which would see Gogan move from weekday afternoons to a new shoe on Saturdays and Sundays, Rick O'Shea move to Gogan's earlier afternoon slot and Colm and JimJim and their Strawberry Alarm Clock being poached from FM104. The changes would come into play on 5 March.
Tickets for Oxegen 2007 went on general sale on 3 March at 8 a.m. and sold out within an hour and a half.
March also saw the announcement of another Marlay Park gig for the summer. Foo Fighters played Marlay Park on Wednesday 22 August as part of the Bud Rising concert series.[12]
On 22 March, The Rolling Stones confirmed they would be headlining Slane 2007 on 18 August. Tickets went on sale on Friday 30 March.[13]
On Thursday 29 March, Bono was presented with an honorary knighthood by the British ambassador to Ireland in recognition of his services to the music industry and for his humanitarian work.[15]
On the same day, The Police confirmed they would be playing a concert in Croke Park on Saturday 6 October 2007 as part of their first European Tour since their reformation.[18][19] Tickets went on sale on Friday 20 April and sold out within 90 minutes.[20]
On Wednesday 24 April, Bono appeared in a prerecorded segment of American Idol's two-hour special Idol Gives Back, where he talked about the work of ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History.[21]
On Sunday 13 May and just two days after being officially announced for Oxegen, The Immediate announced on their MySpace page that they were "splitting up due to existential differences".[25] They later released one last tune, "The Mist Above The Mind" (recorded in demo form), on their MySpace page which could be downloaded for free.[26]
Garden Party took place at Ballinlough Castle in Athboy, County Meath on Saturday 9 June from 2 p.m. until 2 a.m.[28][29] It was headlined by Pet Shop Boys, Burning Spear, Carl Cox and Hot Chip.[30] The festival was a resounding success and the organisers immediately announced its return in 2008. Organiser John Reynolds said: "This is the second year and like everything it takes two or three years for a festival to find its feet but if all goes well, it'll be an annual event from now on."[31]
Arctic Monkeys played Malahide Castle on Saturday 16 June. Tickets sold out immediately and a second date at the same venue was announced for Sunday 17 June. Support came from Supergrass, The Coral and Delorentos.[34] It was to be the first of many occasions that the castle would be used as a concert venue.
Bell X1 played Malahide Castle on Saturday 30 June. They were supported by Duke Special, Jape and Herman Düne.[39] Gates opened at 4 p.m. Herman Dune began proceedings at 5:45 p.m., Jape were on at 6:45 p.m. and Duke Special at 7:45 p.m., before Bell X1 took to the stage at 9 p.m.[40] Bell X1 were also Live at the Marquee in Cork on Sunday 1 July where they were supported by Duke Special.
July
Damien Rice and Snow Patrol were amongst the acts that played the Live Earth series of concerts that took place around the world on Saturday 7 July. This occurred on the same weekend as this year's Oxegen festival, of which Gary Lightbody also confirmed that Snow Patrol would be playing on the same day as Live Earth.[5]
On Friday 13 July, The Aftermath were involved in a near-fatal bus crash just outside Kilbeggan in County Westmeath. Four members of the band and two members of their crew were treated for injuries after the accident. The band were in the middle of an extensive Irish tour.[41]
On Friday 10 August, tickets went on sale for the "Big Top" Arcade Fire gig in Phoenix Park on 24 October. The gig sold out within ten minutes despite it being the band's third appearance in Ireland in 2007 (following the similarly quick selling Olympia date in February and their Oxegen date in July).
The Sunday Business Post was the first to break the news that MCD will host a series of eight gigs in the Phoenix Park between 16 October and 5 November.[63] There will be a capacity of 10,000 people per gig. The gigs will all take place indoors, meaning a marquee similar to Cork's Live at the Marquee series being erected in the Phoenix Park. In the end only six such musical events took place.
Arcade Fire was the first such concert to be announced, taking place on Wednesday 24 October. Support came from Clinic and Wild Light.[64] Arcade Fire later announced a second date, Tuesday the 23rd, also with support from Clinic.[65]
Ian Brown became the second act to be named to play the "Big Top" gigs. He played the Phoenix Park on Sunday 28 October. He was supported by Reverend and the Makers.[66] Other bands rumoured to be playing were the reformed Verve and Interpol.
November
On Friday 2 November it was officially announced that Oxegen would return in the summer of 2008.
On 15 November, My Bloody Valentine announced they were to reform and perform three dates in the UK in 2008.[72]
On Friday 23 November, details of Oxegen 2008 were officially announced. The festival will take place from Friday 11 July until Sunday 13 July at Punchestown Racecourse in Naas, County Kildare. It will be a three-day affair for the first time ever.[73]
On Tuesday 27 November, Kings of Leon became the first band to be announced to play Oxegen 2008. The band topped an online poll which asked festival-goers for their dream line-up and so the band were immediately confirmed.[74]
On Friday 30 November, presale tickets for Oxegen 2008 went on sale.[75]
December
On 10 December Glen Hansard received two Grammy nominations. He and Marketa Irglova, his co-star in Once were nominated for "Best Compilation Soundtrack Album" and "Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media" for the track "Falling Slowly" from Once.[76]
Heineken Green Energy Festival took place for the 12th year in May 2007. Kasabian headlined the Heineken Green Energy festival on the Saturday of the May bank holiday weekend (5 May). They were supported by The Blizzards and Future Kings of Spain.[116]Sinéad O'Connor headlined the Heineken Green Energy festival on the Sunday of the May bank holiday weekend (6 May). She was supported by Kíla and Delorentos.[23]
