Jim Carroll on music

Family-friendly festival for Farmleigh

When the Earl of Iveagh had the builders round to Farmleigh House in 1881 and back again in 1896, he could never have envisaged how his 78-acre estate would be used in the future. Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the Farmleigh Affair is expected to attract 4,500 people.

Visiting acts over the three days will include São Paulo samba-rockers Clube do Balaco, Canada's Bebert Orchestra, Australia's Spooky Men's Chorale (singing songs about power tools and growing beards), Dobet Gnahore from the Ivory Coast and Macedonia's brassy Kocani Orkestar, as featured on the soundtrack to the Borat movie.

Flying the Irish colours at the free festival will be singing cellist Vyvienne Long, the North Strand Klezmer Band, Damien Dempsey and the mighty Kilfenora Céilí Band.

According to programmer Gerry Godley from the Improvised Music Company, it's a showcase for trad and folk music. "It's about valuing all music equally. We should look at our own trad music in the same way we look at Balkan and European music. That's why we have the Kilfenora Céilí Band on because they will slay people."

The impetus for the event comes from the estate's landlord, the Office of Public Works (OPW). "Farmleigh used to host the RTÉ Proms, so the OPW were very keen to have another blue-chip music event there," Godley explains. "The OPW have a genuine desire to make historical properties like Farmleigh accessible to the public."

Godley sees the event as "very family-orientated", drawing an inter-generational audience. "As concert promoters, we put on jazz and world music targeted at a niche audience, but we have created an event here for people who are no longer going to music events because of domestic commitments.

"They can come here with their family and know that Farmleigh is a very safe and robust environment for kids."

Unsigned, green and wet

The Farmleigh Affair is not the only late entry on the Irish festival calender. Three other fests are also striving to attract Irish festival-goers in the coming weeks.

The Undiscovered Festival (www.myspace.com/ undiscoveredfestival2007) will feature unsigned acts and new bands in Roscrea, Co Tipperary on June 29th and 30th, while the Irish Green Gathering (irishgreengathering.com/index.htm) is an eco-friendly weekend featuring the likes of Dry County, Ten Past Seven, Somadrone and dozens more in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford from August 17th to 19th.

For those seeking to combine music and surfing, the Cois Fharraige fest may be just the ticket. Taking place in a 4,500-capacity tent overlooking the Atlantic at Kilkee, Co Clare from September 7th to 9th, the festival's line-up includes such surfer-friendly acts as Fun Lovin' Criminals, Ocean Colour Scene, The Blizzards, Róisín Murphy, The Enemy, Tom Baxter and the ubiquitous Delorentos.

The budget obviously didn't stretch to The Beach Boys.

Godley also believes this audience will enjoy the variety of folk and traditional music on show.

"While there will be a lot of stuff which people won't be familiar with here, that's kind of the point because they'll have their eyes and ears opened to new music."

Entry to the Farmleigh Affair is free and tickets can be obtained from www.farmleigh.ie from July 6th.

Ticket gig of The week

Fervent teenage fans dominated the all-ages audience at Malahide Castle for the Arctic Monkeys last weekend. They mouthed along to every song (even those from the new album) and threw their shoes around - these were the actions of a loyal, loving fanbase. The castle grounds were beautiful, the atmosphere relaxed, and the Monkeys were in fine form, a band on top of their game and possibly on the cusp of greatness. Super venue. Super gig. Our only question: why were they supported by Supergrass?

Hard-working bands

Ireland may not have a new band festival of the size or stature of Austin's colossal South By Southwest or Groningen's excellent Eurosonic, but it does have Hard Working Class Heroes.

The festival is now in its fifth year and will run from September 28th to 30th at Dublin's Pod complex.

Bands who wish to play the festival should apply online (www.hwch.net) before July 19th. More than 700 bands applied in 2006 so competition for the 100 slots is tough. At least, they won't have to contend with Simon Cowell or Louis Walsh as judges.

Come on Kevin

Classic singles, seminal albums and an unique approach to style and fashion have punctuated Kevin Rowland's three- decade-long stand at the pop barricades with Dexy's Midnight Runners.

The notion of Rowland (left) as DJ, then, should ensure a full house at Sassy Sue's Go-Go Inevitable at Dublin's Sugar Club when he spins there on August 10th.

Those seeking an insight into Rowland's possible playlist should note that his three-night stint on BBC 6 Music earlier this year took in everything from the Blow Monkeys and Bruce Springsteen to ELO and Marvin Gaye.

Jim Carroll's blog:Comment on On the Record, check out Jim's Tune of the Week and pick up his other snippets, tidbits and musings on www.ireland.com/blogs/ontherecord