Slane Festival

Coordinates: 53°42′33″N 6°33′35″W / 53.70917°N 6.55986°W / 53.70917; -6.55986
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Slane
GenreRock
Dates15 June 2013
Location(s)Slane Castle, Slane, County Meath, Ireland
Years active1981 - present

Slane Concert (often referred to as Slane) is a concert held most years since 1981 in the grounds of Slane Castle near Slane, County Meath, in Ireland. The castle is owned by The 8th Marquess Conyngham, who was known as the Earl of Mount Charles from 1974 until 2009.[1] Slane lies between Navan and Drogheda, about 45 km northwest of Dublin. Concerts typically occur on a Saturday in August, from 12:00 to 22:00. However, the 2011 concert occurred on 28 May and the 2013 concert is scheduled for 15 June.

The sloping grounds of Slane Castle form a natural amphitheatre which is ideal for concerts.[2] As many as 80,000–100,000 people usually attend. One of the venue boundaries is the River Boyne. Two people have died while trying to swim the river to gain free access to R.E.M.'s concert in 1995.[3][4] The minimum age of admission to the Slane Concert was reduced in 2006 from 18 to 16 because of complaints.

Aiken Promotions invited artists such as David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Queen, The Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen to perform during the 1980s.[5] 2001 was the only occasion in which the concert was held twice in one year, both concerts being headlined by U2.[6] The 2005 concert was controversially cancelled after headliner Eminem withdrew after entering drug rehabilitation.

Multiple appearances

The Rolling Stones and U2 are the only bands to have headlined the event more than once, and U2 have played twice in one year. Thin Lizzy are the only band to headline and come back as a support act. Several other acts, listed below, have supported a headliner and returned as a headliner themselves.

Act Years
Oasis 1995, 2009
Red Hot Chili Peppers 2001, 2003
Robbie Williams 1998, 1999
The Rolling Stones 1982, 2007
Stereophonics 1999, 2002
Thin Lizzy 1981, 2011
U2 1981, 1983, 2001 (twice)

Some acts, listed below, have appeared more than once but never as a headline act:

Act Years
Big Country 1983, 1987
James 1993, 1998
Dara 2000, 20011
Moby 2000, 20011
The Charlatans 2002, 2007

1. The second of two concerts that occurred in this year.

List of Slane lineups

1980s

The first Slane Concert was held in 1981 by the then Earl of Mount Charles (popularly known as Henry Mount Charles, and known since March 2009 as The Marquess Conyngham), with concerts following each year until 1987. The seven concerts of the 1980s were headlined respectively by Thin Lizzy, The Rolling Stones, U2, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Queen and David Bowie. For the third concert in 1983, headlined for the first time by U2, Slane Castle was refused permission to hold a concert, so it was held in the Phoenix Park Racecourse in Dublin on August 14, 1983, the only occasion it has been held outside Slane. U2 appeared at Slane in 1981 and 1983, whilst in 1984 Bono performed a duet with Bob Dylan during the latter's encore. This was the last appearance by a member of U2 on the Slane stage until their unique double-headliner in 2001. Thus, Bono has appeared at Slane on a total of five occasions, three of these being in the first four concerts.

1981

1982

1983

This year, the concert was held at the Phoenix Park racecourse in Dublin.

1984

1985

While Springsteen sang The River, footage of the nearby River Boyne was shown on video screens; the footage was retained for the rest of his tour.[8] Elvis Costello and members of Spandau Ballet and U2 were Lord Mount Charles's guests who enjoyed smoked salmon and champagne on the day.[8]

1986

1987

1990s

After a five year absence, the longest since the event began in 1981, Slane Concert returned in 1992. The five concerts of the 1990s were headlined respectively by Guns N' Roses, Neil Young, R.E.M., The Verve and Robbie Williams. The 1995 concert, headlined by R.E.M., was notable for the death of someone who attempted to swim the nearby River Boyne to reach the concert area[citation needed]. The same concert marked the debut of Oasis on the Slane stage; they returned in 2009 to headline the event. The 1998 event was headlined by The Verve, their last appearance in Ireland until Oxegen 2008; in 1998 the band appeared alongside special guests Manic Street Preachers and also Robbie Williams who would return the following year to headline. Stereophonics played support in 1999 and returned to headline in 2002. No members of U2 performed in the 1990s, the only decade in which this has been the case.

1992

1993

1995

On 22 July 1995, R.E.M. played Slane on their first concert following Mike Mills's appendectomy.[9] They were supported by Oasis, who were touring their album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? and would return to headline the event in 2009.[10] One fan threw a rock at the stage as Oasis prepared to play "Roll with It".[10] This provoked Liam Gallagher to say, "If you don't like it, go fucking hang yourself".[10] In 2009, this performance was described as being by "a lairy mob with attitude and half a dozen memorable songs to their credit".[11]

The following performed at Slane Concert in 1995:[9]

1998

1999

28 August 1999[12]

2000s

The eight concerts of the 2000s were headlined respectively by Bryan Adams, U2 (twice), Stereophonics, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Madonna, The Rolling Stones and Oasis. Unusually, two concerts were held during 2001 (the Taoiseach asked the Minister for the Environment to fast-track some new legislation to allow the second concert to happen),[14][15] both headlined by U2 and both featuring an entirely different set of support acts that brought the Slane debuts of Coldplay, Nelly Furtado, Ash, Kelis, The Walls and JJ72 whilst offering returns to Moby and Dara. Red Hot Chili Peppers also appeared for the first time and would return to headline the 2003 event. 2005 was another unique year, intended to centre on rap instead of rock music, but Eminem cancelled his appearance (due on 17 September that year with support from 50 Cent, D-12, Obie Trice, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Olivia, Atlanta's Stat Quo and Flipsyde) after the event sold out.[16] The promoter, MCD Productions, sought damages in the High Court.[17] The resultant two year break in 2005 and 2006 was followed by a return to Slane by The Rolling Stones, only the second artist after U2 to headline the event in two different years, and marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of their first appearance in 1982. The Earl of Mount Charles's delay in the picking of suitable acts led to no concert in 2008;[18] however Oasis headlined the final concert of Slane's third decade in 2009 with support from The Prodigy, Kasabian, Glasvegas and The Blizzards.

2000

2001

U2's headlining appearance sold out in 45 minutes.[2] The first concert occurred the week after Bono's father died.[2] The second concert coincided with the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 2 match between the Republic of Ireland and Holland, and was shown between Nelly Furtado and Ash at the request of fans.[19]

2002

Saturday 24 August 2002[22][23]

2003

Saturday 23 August 2003[24][25]

2004

The Madonna concert at Slane was compared to a football match by one manager, Johnny McDonnell.[27] The Irish Times selected "This is the big time, it's like Madonna coming to Slane" as one of its quotes of that year.[28]

2006

In preparation for their third studio album, Celtic Woman performed at Slane Castle in County Meath, Ireland, on 23 and 24 August 2006, with this show airing on PBS during December 2006. The studio album, titled Celtic Woman: A New Journey, was released on 30 January 2007. As with their debut, the live performance was released on DVD simultaneously. This album immediately hit the Billboard 200 at #4[11] and the Billboard World Music chart at #1,[12] moving their previous two releases down a notch and securing the top three positions on that chart for the group.

2007

The Irish Independent described The Rolling Stones playing to "a mostly middle-aged crowd who were content to stand back, shielded from the rain in their wax jackets, and let the concert wash over them".[29]

2009

Oasis were joined by family members, including their mother Peggy, for the show.[29] They began their performance with "Rock 'N' Roll Star" and finished with "Live Forever" and then returned for an encore of "Don't Look Back in Anger", "Falling Down", "Champagne Supernova" and "I Am the Walrus".Liam Gallagher shouted at the fans: "Slane Castle, you've been fucking biblical".[29] Several Irish celebrities attended the concert, including footballers Gary Kelly, Stephen Ireland and John O'Shea and solicitor Gerald Kean.[29]

Ten people were detained on public order offences throughout the day of the concert, including two people who were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.[30] MCD Productions asked fans to report any problems after complaints regarding transport facilities. Fiach Kelly, writing in The Irish Independent, reported on the "yoof element" where "you could be forgiven for thinking you had arrived at a rather large teenage disco".[29]

2010s

2010

There was no concert in 2010.

The Marquess Conyngham (whose title had changed in March 2009) wrote in a column in the February 12, 2010, edition of the Evening Herald that Slane 2010 would take place in August and that it would involve an "international artist" but that he was still organising the event with Denis Desmond.[36] However, he said during an interview on RTÉ Radio on 3 April that there would not be a concert in 2010.[37]

2011

Kings of Leon played what was announced by the band onstage as their longest set ever.[38] RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock footage

2012

In April 2012, Slane Castle's official Facebook page announced there would be no concert in 2012. The message read: "Good Morning guys, Lord Henry has announced this morning 'there will be no Slane this year, but 2013 will be busy'.[41][42]

2013

The announcement was greeted with mystified derision.[43] Jon Bon Jovi flew into Ireland and told a bewildered press conference: "This was always the goal, to play Slane."[44] A second concert is also expected.[45]

Future

Red Hot Chili Peppers member Chad Smith has stated that he "wouldn't mind doing Slane again" saying the band "had an awesome time last time".[46]

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong has spoken to Hot Press magazine of his admiration for U2's shows at Slane and, in relation to his band performing there in 2010, commented: "It's something that's being looked at".[47] However, the rumour, a recurring one in recent years, was dismissed for 2010 when the band opted to play a show in Marlay Park instead.[48][49]

Lord Conyngham has stated on radio that he will secure AC/DC to perform at the venue in the future in response to repeated calls by fans.[37]

Controversies

Lord Conyngham insists that the venue be played by rock bands and will not not allow so-called 'manufactured bands' such as Westlife or Boyzone to play at his castle grounds. Westlife and Boyzone manager Louis Walsh maintains that Westlife have no interest in playing at Slane, saying a Croke Park concert would be a "dream come true" for his band and that it would be "a far better venue than a field in Meath".[50]

The 2004 concert attracted protests from the people of Slane, as it was to be held on a Sunday.[51] The inhabitants were afraid of repeats of the civil unrest that had occurred the last time a concert was held on a Sunday, in 1984. This was due to concert-goers arriving the day before, Saturday, and consuming large amounts of alcohol before the Sunday concert. The matter was resolved by postponing the start of the concert and having a notably smaller lineup than other years.[citation needed]

In 2009, Dublin Bus did not provide enough transport for those who purchased a return ticket, and there were no Garda Síochána near the buses. The concert ended between 22.30 and 23:00, yet thousands did not get a bus seat until 03:00.[52] The Marquess Conyngham expected improvements for 2010.[53]

DVD and video

References

  1. ^ Henry Vivien Pierpont Conyngham, 8th Marquess Conyngham thePeerage.com. Retrieved: 2011-05-31.
  2. ^ a b c U2 and Slane Castle gear up for 20-year reunion. RTÉ.
  3. ^ "Kings of Leon Slane gig to go ahead, despite the death of their beloved uncle". The Daily Edge. 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2011-10-10. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "Music Trivia Yesterdays: July". Phil Brodie Band. Retrieved 2011-10-10. Two R.E.M. fans died during the bands Dublin's Slane Castle gig. One drowned in the River Boyne and the other was allegedly pushed from a bridge. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "Jim Aiken dies at his home in Belfast". Hot Press. 2007-02-28. Retrieved 2009-04-18. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Irish Examiner
  7. ^ a b c d e "Rainy days & festivals". Irish Independent. 10 July 2004.
  8. ^ a b Marsh, David. "Bruce Springsteen: two hearts : the definitive biography, 1972-2003", p. 558.
  9. ^ a b remtimeline.com. "1995 Concert Chronology".
  10. ^ a b c "Oasis Play Slane Castle Tomorrow!". 'entertainment.ie. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  11. ^ "Review of the week: Oasis/The Prodigy * * *". Irish Independent. 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2009-07-02. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ "Date announced for Slane '99". RTÉ. 4 January 1999.
  13. ^ Pierre Perrone (2000-04-16). "The infinite shades of Gray". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-09-26. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ "Taoiseach intervenes in Slane concert row". RTÉ. 13 March 2001
  15. ^ "U2 fans could get second day out". RTÉ. 14 March 2001.
  16. ^ "Eminem's Slane concert is sold out". RTÉ. 10 June 2005.
  17. ^ "Concert promoter seeks €1.5m over Eminem pull-out". Irish Independent. 2006-12-05. Retrieved 2008-12-26. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ "Slane 2008 cancelled". Phantom FM. 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2008-04-11. [dead link]
  19. ^ "Slane soccer fans will get their fix". RTÉ. 31 August 2001.
  20. ^ a b c d "Second U2 Slane date sold out". RTÉ. 9 July 2001.
  21. ^ a b c d "Walls to support U2 at Slane". RTÉ. 10 August 2001.
  22. ^ "Stereophonics to play Slane?". RTÉ. 23 April 2002.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h "60,000 expected at Slane 2002". RTÉ. 23 August 2002.
  24. ^ a b c d e f "Feeder are added to '03 Slane bill". RTÉ. 6 March 2003.
  25. ^ a b c d "Chili Peppers Slane show confirmed". RTÉ. 26 February 2003.
  26. ^ "Halite to join line-up for Slane". RTÉ. 30 April 2003.
  27. ^ "Planet Football". The Irish Times Alternative link here. 2004-08-08. Retrieved 2009-07-17. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ "Quotes of the year". The Irish Times Alternative link here. 2004-12-12. Retrieved 2009-07-17. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ a b c d e "Castle rocks in throwback to a 1990s teenage disco". Irish Independent. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2009-06-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ "Oasis rock 80,000 at Slane". The Irish Times. 2009-06-21. Retrieved 2009-06-21. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ a b c d e "Slane support line-up confirmed". Hot Press. 2009-05-05. Retrieved 2009-05-06. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ a b c d e "Slane stage times announced". Hot Press. 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2009-06-17. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  33. ^ a b c d e "Etc". The Irish Times. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2009-06-19. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ "The Prodigy added to Slane line-up". Hot Press. 2008-10-21. Retrieved 2008-10-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ Oasisinet
  36. ^ Lord Henry Mountcharles (February 12, 2010). "Celebrity Diary: Lord Henry Mountcharles". Evening Herald. Retrieved February 12, 2010. At the moment, I'm putting a concert together with Denis for this August. It will be an international artist, but I have a reputation for being very secretive. Unless I'm convinced that the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed, I'm not saying anything, and that's been my policy for 30 years. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ a b No concert at Slane Castle this year. RTÉ.
  38. ^ Clayton Lea, Tony."Kings at home in castle". The Irish Times. Retrieved on 29 May 2011.
  39. ^ a b c d e f "Full line-up for Slane is confirmed". RTÉ. 5 April 2011.
  40. ^ a b c d e f "Revised times for Slane sets". RTÉ. 27 May 2011.
  41. ^ "No concert at Slane Castle this year". RTE News. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  42. ^ "Facebook Message". Facebook.com. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  43. ^ Carroll, Jim (30 October 2012). "Why Bon Jovi at Slane Castle will be the yawn gig of 2013". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  44. ^ Finn, Melanie (30 October 2012). "Video: Bon Jovi confirmed as Slane headliners for 2013". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  45. ^ "Slane set for 2013 double date". BreakingNews.ie. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  46. ^ "We'll be Red Hot at Slane again, vow Chili Peppers". Evening Herald. 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2009-07-03. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  47. ^ "Green Day for Slane?". Hot Press. 2009-10-07. Retrieved 2009-10-07. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  48. ^ "Green Day to play Marlay Park, June 2010". Hot Press. 2009-12-15. Retrieved 2009-12-18. The announcement should definitively end speculation that the band will play Slane, which has been rumoured for a number of years now. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  49. ^ Kevin Doyle (2009-12-15). "Green Day return to play summer Marlay Park gig". Evening Herald. Retrieved 2009-12-18. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  50. ^ "Westlife plan concert at Croke Park". RTÉ Mobile. 2002-08-20. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  51. ^ "Efforts to prevent Slane concert". RTÉ. 9 April 2004.
  52. ^ Carr, Aoife. "Crowds at Oasis show critical of transport". The Irish Times. Monday, June 22, 2009.
  53. ^ "Lord Henry's response to this year's Slane concert". Hot Press. 2009-07-03. Retrieved 2009-07-03. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

External links

53°42′33″N 6°33′35″W / 53.70917°N 6.55986°W / 53.70917; -6.55986

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