Rock the Environment by BeCreative

k c t n RoEnvironme the

009 June, 2

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Editor’s Welcome

Welcome to our Rock the Environment ezine for OXEGEN festival 09! We all know events have an impact on our natural environment and MCD as promoters of OXEGEN are taking positive steps through green initiatives to leave no trace and to rock the enviroment in all the right ways. It has been my job as MCD’s environmental consultant to ensure that they are making big steps towards a more sustainable business model while still providing the best gigs in Ireland! By applying natural systems guidelines to all areas of OXEGEN, we are providing cleaner and greener construction practices, energy usage, waste recycling and options for transport to our events. Carbon emmissions created at our festivals are being offset with conservation and renewable energy projects and we aim to reduce these offsets to lower levels each year. In this ezine we have words on our green initiatives at OXEGEN including the new ECOGEN area which will be launched this year! ECOGEN will be the place to relax while soaking up some vital information, watch some climate change comedy and groove to some beats. We are also launching a new Green TV competition with free VIP tickets for those who make the final cut, so get your creative hat on and send in your best clips. We will have words with ‘The Corona’s’ about their OXEGEN experiences and how they do their bit for the environment. We also talk to ‘Duke Special’ about how he feels playing at OXEGEN for the first time. To finish, we give you the inside scoop with this years spectacular line up and all the ins and outs of what you need to know. Watch out for our second ezine coming the week before OXEGEN for all the latest info and more words from your favourite bands with a few surprises thrown in. So heres to a green sunny summer, hope you all ‘Rock your Environment’ Dylan Townsend

Dylan Townsend of Greenroom Consulting is the Environmental Consultant for OXEGEN

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Collette Devlin catches up with Coronas front man Danny O’Reilly as he gets ready to rock the OXEGEN main stage

his year, Irish indie band The Coronas have the honour of being the first band to kick off the action on the Friday main stage at OXEGEN, opening the show for Snow Patrol and Blur. The Coronas, who have had huge success at home and abroad, topping the charts with ‘San Diego Song’ and ‘Grace Don’t Wait’, are looking forward to playing for 80,000 fans. Danny O’Reilly, Conor Egan, Graham Knox and Dave McPhillips will be performing some of the hit singles from their debut album Heroes or Ghosts and previewing songs from their new album produced by John Cornfield, who has worked with artists such as Muse, The Stone Roses, Supergrass, Razorlight and Oasis. Keep an eye out for the album, which is due for release in Autumn 2009 and will be followed by a tour of the country.

Q A

How does it feel to be the first band to play the main stage?

We have played the festival on smaller stages for the past two years and both times it’s definitely been the highlight of our year. But this year, to open up the festival on the main stage is amazing, it’s a dream for us, we are so grateful to have this opportunity! We’ve been away recording for a while now, so we are really energised and excited about playing a gig and putting on a show for such a huge audience.

Q A

When you played OXEGEN last year, what were the highlights?

I suppose just playing ‘San Diego Song’ and just getting such an amazing reaction from the crowd. We had never played for that many people before, especially not for people who were just there for us! The reaction to that song in particular totally blew us away. People still come up to me and say “I saw you at OXEGEN, that was the best gig”, and it felt that way for us as well.

Q A

You have just finished recording The Coronas’ new album – can we expect to hear any new songs at OXEGEN? We were in Cornwall for six weeks recording at Sawmills Studios with a great producer called John Cornfield. We had an absolute ball over there and the album is almost ready to go, just a few loose ends to tie up. We really enjoyed being involved in the whole process, from choosing songs to designing the cover and the sleeve. We’d love to play all the songs off the new record at OXEGEN but we are aware that our fans want to hear all the songs they can sing along with. But you can definitely expect to hear one or two or maybe three new songs!

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Q A

What makes OXEGEN so special for you guys?

Playing to so many people! It also means so much to us because we have been going to OXEGEN ever since it started, back when it was called Witnness. I remember when we were 16 years old, talking amongst ourselves saying that we have to come back here and play someday. It took us about seven years but we made it! I think we are the only band who still camp! It’s great playing an early set this year with no other commitments because we can just enjoy ourselves for the rest of the weekend and live up the atmosphere.

Q A

Any OXEGEN memories that stand out for you back then?

We have been to OXEGEN in all weather conditions and had so much fun every year but one in particular stands out. I remember we blagged our way into the VIP section into the backstage bar. That’s where we were talking about wanting to come back to play as a band – it was good for us as a band to have OXEGEN to aim towards, it really spurred us on. Sometimes you can get wrapped up in the band but memories like this remind me it actually is an achievement just to be at OXEGEN.

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So what musicians will the camping Coronas be going to watch? The line-up this year really is impressive, there are just so many great acts that we have a lot of admiration for – The Script and Lily Allen, who is a great lyricist. Growing up we were all big fans of Blur, there was always the Blur versus Oasis thing going – we will definitely go see them. We’re also massive fans of Kings of Leon and really looking forward to seeing them again. We saw them in The O2 in December and it was a fantastic gig.

Q A

As expert festival-goers, can you recommend any essential items to bring? Definitely bring Rubex or Berocca vitamin capsules, they’re lifesavers, and don’t forget lots of water. Fragranced face-wipes are always brilliant – it’s just like a shower in a single wipe! Bring sunglasses, sunscreen and wellies – you never know with our weather! Our bassist always wears his wellies on stage for every festival!

Q A

This year is set to be the greenest OXEGEN to date. How do you think spectators can make a difference? First of all take the bus and leave the cars at home – it’s always more fun on the bus! Clean up after yourself as you go, taking your rubbish home with you and if there’s anything you can recycle try your best to do that. It is so important to look after such a beautiful green space. I think it always helps when the weather is good because people are a lot less inclined to abandon their tents and stuff. Our manager Jim is very progreen and is always keeping an eye on us and making sure we’re doing our bit. Green issues are sometimes forgotten about at big festivals – people are having a good time, enjoying themselves with a few drinks, whereas if they were at home they wouldn’t think twice about discarding rubbish. People also have this idea that there are other people at OXEGEN to do it for them – that’s the wrong attitude to have! Small efforts go such a long way towards making a big difference!

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Do you think musicians have a role to play in reducing Ireland’s carbon emissions? Yes, we all have a responsibility! The studio where we recorded the album is in a remote place, built on a creek. While we were there they were in the process of making it totally green and selfsufficient by using the power from the water in the creek. Apart from it being great for the environment, it’d be a great marketing ploy for them because so many artists really care about the environment. I think that the next step forward is for studios and bands to really promote the green issue at gigs – bands have such an influence on fans, it could really make a difference.

Q A

What do you do at home to reduce your carbon footprint?

I always recycle but recently my girlfriend has gotten on to me about other things I could be doing such as reducing the water when I’m brushing my teeth and plugging out my charger when I’m not using it. I think it is good to have people around like that to remind you to do things. In the past I wouldn’t have thought about it too much but now I realise how important it is. I think the recent media awareness has been very effective. It certainly has had an effect on everyone in my house. Additional reporting by Aisling Keenan.

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This year, OXEGEN is calling on its fans to once again help promote a green agenda for festival-goers, writes Collette Devlin

ast year with the support of fans, OXEGEN staged the greenest festival to date, becoming Ireland’s largest 100 per cent carbon neutral event. The 2009 OXEGEN, however, is set to be even greener!

biodegradable packaging and all the beer for the festival is produced in Ireland. Last year the Eco-Cups system saved 300,000 plastic cups from landfill. Compared to alternative cups, the Eco-Cup is between 4 and 20 times more environmentally friendly. Customers purchasing a drink at any of the bars can pay a €3 deposit for the Eco-Cup with their first drink and at the end of the night people have a choice of either a full refund or taking a branded OXEGEN Eco-Cup cup home with them as a memento.

Ecogen The Ecogen area will be this years place to rock the environment! The area will be launched by Eamonn Ryan, minister for energy and will be the space announcing the winners of the rock the environment viral video competition! Ecogen will be the destination for all things green and also a place to sit back, enjoy some organic tea and cake and watch some vital viewing. live music performances will be on each day including surprise gigs from the bands at OXEGEN! So be inspired with cutting-edge short films, discussions, interactive art, climate change comedy and hear what the politicians, journalists and eco-experts have to say, and learn what you can do to help!

Travel As the single largest cause of CO2 emissions associated with OXEGEN is travel to and from the festival, fans are strongly urged to consider using one of the excellent public transport options to get to Punchestown. Bus Eireann will be running express services from destinations around the country and Dublin Bus will operate a shuttle service from Parnell Square.

Carbon Neutral This year, OXEGEN is working again with the CarbonNeutral Company to measure the CO2 produced from the festival, to look at ways of reducing emissions and to offset all unavoidable emissions that remain to make OXEGEN carbon neutral.

Car drivers can use the Free Park and Ride site, and take the free shuttle bus to OXEGEN. Those wishing to drive are encouraged to car share and as an incentive a free parking ticket is provided when presenting four camping tickets at any Ticketmaster outlet.

OXEGEN is also working closely with Julie’s Bicycle, a non-profit company helping the music industry cut greenhouse gas emissions.

For those fans not already travelling in groups of four or more, Tripmi.ie provides an independent car pooling service. Simply join their dedicated OXEGEN group and find other fans who are travelling to OXEGEN from your area and who are interested in car pooling. For more info, visit www.tripmi.ie

Steps to a greener OXEGEN Initiatives to reduce OXEGEN’s carbon footprint include extensive waste separation and recycling points throughout the site, recycled toilet paper used in Portaloos. Other steps towards a greener festival are: encouraging vendors to use

Camping For those camping, OXEGEN provides a number of eco-friendly options. In the Green Campsite, fans can choose from the quirky Podpads with their sunflower solar panels or the comfortable MyHabs, made from recycled plastic and waterproof cardboard. Tangerine Fields also return this year offering fans the chance to book a readypitched and equipped tent. At the end of the weekend, Tangerine Fields will donate all used sleeping bags to homeless charities as well as recycling all tents. Last year your green achievements were recognised by the European Festival Association, YOUROPE, who awarded OXEGEN with the prestigious Green’n’Clean Award. Let’s aim to do it again this year with the greenest OXEGEN ever! Check out www.OXEGEN.ie for ticket information, the latest line-up announcements and festival updates as well as all the information you’ll need to make the most of the festival.

win SPREAD THE MESSAGE! Create a green video and win VIP tickets at www.oxegen.ie/greentv OXEGEN is calling all fans to help spread the word that we need to be green. To launch OXEGEN this year, we’re running a special competition, ‘Rock The Environment’, to find an ‘Eco-evangelist’ for 2009. We want you to create a short video that promotes OXEGEN’s green ethos, and tells fans about how they can go green. It doesn’t matter what it is. Perhaps you have a yearning to perform a song, or your Ireland’s funniest eco-comedian. Or it could just be a simple piece to camera. However you choose to express yourself, your message should tell viewers how we can reduce our own carbon footprints, both at OXEGEN and when we get home. The winning videos will be shown in the new ECOGEN area at OXEGEN, presented by Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Oh, and they’ll also be broadcast to everyone on the giant screens at the Main Stage! For your chance to give your message to the masses, create and upload your short video to the OXEGEN MUZU TV channel. You have from Monday 1st June to Monday 22nd June to do this. Each video should be a maximum of 3 minutes’ long. For more information and further details on how to enter, visit www.OXEGEN.ie/greentv

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his year at OXEGEN will be a first for Duke Special, who has been added to the already stellar line-up for 2009. Joining Keane and the Fun Lovin’ Criminals, among others, on OXEGEN Stage 2 on Friday 10th July, Duke Special will perform hits such as ‘Our Love Goes Deeper Than This’ and ‘Love Is A Series Of Scars’. No stranger to big crowds, he has sold out venues across the UK, Ireland and Europe. He has sold out five back-to-back nights in Belfast’s Empire Music Hall, toured with Crowded House and has performed as a guest act at the Cannes Film Festival.

The Belfast native, whose real name is Peter Wilson, released his newest album, Never Thought This Day Would Come, in October of last year. His previous album, Songs from the Deep Forest went multiplatinum and was nominated for a Meteor Irish Music Award for Best Irish Album in 2007 and won Best Irish Male at the 2008 Meteor Awards. The album, containing hits like ‘Freewheel’ and ‘Last Night I Nearly Died’, was also shortlisted for a Choice Music Award in 2006, joining Director and Snow Patrol on the list of nominees.

Duke Special thought his day would never come, writes Collette Devlin

Q A

It’s your first time playing OXEGEN, any nerves?

No, I’m really looking forward to it. OXEGEN is one of the biggest festivals in Ireland and the line-up is always pretty amazing, so it’s great to be playing at it! I like the backstage area, where you can bump into all kinds of people.

Q A

What can we expect to see from Duke Special?

At the moment I am still organising my show. Every tour I do has its own unique theme and cast of people. I am hoping to use a line-up that were with me recently at a UK tour, which features Paul Pilot on electric guitar, Johnny Casino on upright base and Detective Phil Wilkinson on drums. I am also hoping to bring an acoustic piano and hoping to do some ad-hoc performing on site and be prepared for some costume changes!

Q A

In one sentence describe why people should come and watch you on stage? You need to see Duke Special perform at OXEGEN this year because he will be performing with three other gravediggers. He will be scratching words into the sky while their music crackles and lurches across the stage like a drunk debt collector. Their pockets will be full of soil.

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For anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure, describe the Duke Special sound? Duke’s music is the sound of Christmas being fed through an old radio while Van Dyke Parks plays poker with Elliott Smith and the Magnetic Fields noisily in the room next door. Nick Cave is serving muffins.

Q A

As a festivalgoer, what top items do you bring with you?

Something waterproof; dried food to gnaw on; toilet roll to use as currency to trade with when people run out and a map in case you get lost and need to find a stage quickly, before the next act.

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If you were in the crowd which band or artist would you be going to watch? Blur are going to be amazing! It’s great to see Graham Coxon back on board. I can see why he is excited to be playing a big gig like OXEGEN. Do you have any festival memories? Stereotypically, putting up my tent in a muddy field, at 4am in the morning! Do you have any tips for staying green at OXEGEN? Recycle and bring home all your rubbish!

Do you think musicians have a role to play in reducing the negative effect on the environment? Every big organisation has the responsibility to think environmentally. I am actually in the process of creating my own festival near Belfast called the Duke Box Festival and the environment is really at the forefront of my organising. A whole new world has been opened up to me and I’m sure there will be lots of dilemmas. I will be reducing the amount of paper I use, recycling as much as possible. I will also look into electricity supply. It’s very full-on but I think all artists should take a leaf out of The Levellers’ book; years ago at the end of a tour they planted the number of trees needed to offset their carbon footprint.

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What action do you take at home to reduce your own carbon footprint? I am well known at my local recycling centre. It used to be a regular dump before it was transformed for recycling. Now the people working there seem much happier and less grumpy! Small initiatives like this really mean something to a community, it gives a sense of doing something.

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How do you think climate change will affect Ireland and your lifestyle as an artist? The impact of climate change has become less theory and more reality. It’s going to increasingly affect social policy and manifestos of governments. I would hope that Ireland and musicians here are at the forefront of speaking out and making a difference. Additional reporting by Aisling Keenan.

06 Line-Up Oxegen Rock the Environment

l a v i t s e f Your p u d e p p a all wr If you have been wondering who’s playing at OXEGEN this year, what else is happening, or how to get to and from the festival, then look no further!

Oxegen 2009 Line-Up MAIN STAGE Friday 10th July: Blur, Snow Patrol, The Script, Lily Allen, James, The Coronas. Saturday 11th July: Kings Of Leon, Bloc Party, Elbow, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, James Morrison, The Blizzards, Squeeze, The Saw Doctors Sunday 12th July: The Killers, Razorlight, The Specials, Paolo Nutini, Lady Gaga, Calvin Harris, Ocean Colour Scene

DANCE ARENA Friday 10th July: DeadMau5, Swedish House Mafia, Crookers, Tom Middleton, Aeroplane (DJ Set), Japanese Popstars, Frankmusik, BURNS Saturday 11th July: Tiga, Boys Noize, Annie Mac, Digitalism, Yuksek, Dr Lektroluv, Popof, Don Rimini Sunday 12th July: Felix Da Housecat, Miss Kittin & The Hacker (live), Fever Ray, MSTRKRFT, The Bloody Beetroots, Hudson Mohawke, Kissy Sell Out.

STAGE 2 Friday 10th July: Keane, Pendulum, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Duke Special, Therapy?, The Answer Saturday 11th July: Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, Doves, The Mars Volta, Maximo Park, Eagles of Death Metal, The Game, The Gaslight Anthem Sunday 12th July: Nine Inch Nails, Jane’s Addiction, The Ting Tings, Katy Perry, White Lies, Starsailor, You Me At Six, The Horrors

IMRO NEW SOUNDS STAGE

HEINEKEN GREEN SPHERES Friday 10th July: 2 Many DJ’s, Republic Of Loose, Mogwai, Fight Like Apes, Dreadzone, God Is An Astronaut, Dirty Epics Saturday 11th July: Pet Shop Boys, TV On The Radio, Peter Doherty, Regina Spektor, The Saturdays, Daniel Merriweather, Gary Go Sunday 12th July: Manic Street Preachers, Glasvegas, Jason Mraz, Foals, Friendly Fires, Noisettes, Iglu And Hartly, That Petrol Emotion

Sunday 12th July: Florence And The Machine, Of Montreal, Casio Kids The following acts are also playing the Red Bull Music Academy stage across the weekend: Chloe, Lukid, 202’s, Defcon, Tuki, Mano le Tough, Colm Kenefic, Messiah J & The Expert, Johnny Moy, Jamie Woon, Mickey Dee, Onar, RSAG, Rory Donohue.

HOT PRESS NEW BANDS STAGE Friday 10th July: Spinnerette, Howling Bells, The Hours, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Mumford & Sons, Carolina Liar, Priscilla Ahn, O Emperor, The Truffle Shuffles. Saturday 11th July: The Airborne Toxic Event, Patrick Wolf, Passion Pit, Hockey, Little Boots, Sneaky Soundsystem, Go Audio, Magistrates, In Case Of Fire, Will and the People Sunday 12th July: The Twang, The Maccabees, Wallis Bird, Camera Obscura, The Virgins, Wild Beasts, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Phenomenal Handclap Band, The Chapters.

RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY STAGE Friday 10th July: Ladyhawke, M83, David Holmes Saturday 11th July: Crystal Castles, Tinchy Stryder, Telepathe, Goldielocks

Getting to OXEGEN

Bus Travelling by bus is the most hassle-fr ee, quickest and greenest way of getting to OXEGEN this year. Both Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann provide bus services to and from the festival site. There is also a park and ride facility with shuttle buses for persons going to and from Naas. This shuttle service will oper ate from Thursday 9th July to Monday 13th July on a continuous basis. Pick up in Naas is beside Kavanaghs Public House, Main Street. The buses will be clearly identifiable as SHUTTLE BUSES – NAA S. At the end of the concert each night a designated collection point is assigned at the main car park. Dublin Bus operates a special return shuttle service from Parnell Square Wes t, Dublin 1 for €20. Buses depart every 20 minutes. Buses depart OXEGEN from the bus car park near the main entrance immediately after arena curfew each night of the festival and from 6am on Mon day morning. For further details and to purchase a ticket visit www.dublinb us.ie Train Train services are also on offer to ensu re festival-goers get to and from Punchestown safely. The nearest train stations are Sallins and Naas. Dublin train stations are sligh tly further afield but can be connected to Punchestown via bus. Full rail details are available on www.irishrail.ie

Friday 10th July: David Kitt, Heathers, The Joy Formidable, The Flaws, Yes Cadets, The Mighty Stef, Cashier No. 9, Ruth Anne Cunningham, The Brilliant Things, Home Star Runner, Stone Motion. Saturday 11th July: Director, General Fiasco, St Vincent, Codes, And So I Watch You From Afar, Cap Pas Cap, Joe Echo, Nightbox, Angel Pier, Carosel, Jenna Toro Sunday 12th July: Villagers, Wintersleep, Broken Records, Concerto For Constantine, Dark Room Notes, Blood Or Whiskey, The Chakras, reason you can’t The Jades, Andrew Hozier Byrne, Bone Music may be the main e are a few other her wait for OXEGEN but ut! abo ited exc get things to in to the air at Fancy being catapulted slingshots at the Tickets for OXEGEN 2009 are available 160kph? Then head to the priced at a 2008 price freeze of €224.50 s. fair Festival Fun en to some beat (incl. booking fee) for three days Chill out on rugs and list Marquee. including camping ticket. For an extra poetry at the Moroccan pping options, €20 fans can purchase a four-day ticket sho of There are plenty rything from including camping ticket. where you can pick up eve st fashions and late For price details checkout the to ials ent festival ess www.OXEGEN.ie and to purchase your even fancy dress. entertainment ticket visit www.ticketmaster.ie For information on more e N.i GE visit www.OXE

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