Scheduling clashes are an occupational hazard of attending a pageant, being torn between two of your favorite acts taking part in on the identical time and separated by a prolonged stomp throughout the fields. Even so, it appears like a very merciless logistical oversight to place Fontaines D.C.’s headline set on the Park Stage on concurrently Idles are taking to the Different Stage down the hill, successfully chopping each bands’ fanbases in two.

Judging by the ever-increasing throng cramming themselves nearer and nearer to the Park’s pit earlier than Fontaines D.C. come on, it appears that almost all have opted to offer the Dubliners their vote, and for the subsequent 90 minutes they’re greater than rewarded for his or her loyalty.

A couple of hundred meters away, Idles’ Joe Talbot is partaking his trustworthy with customary between-song messaging, however up right here, for the remainder of the night, his Fontaines D.C. counterpart Grian Chatten will say barely a phrase. He doesn’t must. Fontaines D.C are magnificent simply as they’re.

The Dublin-centric scuffle documented on 2019 debut Dogrel led many to view the group as a extra punky Pogues, delivering tales of drizzle-soaked streets, all day drinkers and misplaced souls with the scrappy gusto of The Undertones. 2020 follow-up A Hero’s Loss of life, nevertheless, confirmed that they have been by no means going to be mounted to such a slim palette and the band have constantly grown and advanced with every transfer.

The towering gothic structure Chatten and his bandmates assemble round these songs tonight owe extra to Pornography-era Remedy, Echo & The Bunnymen (Skinty Fia’s Roman Vacation specifically, however guitarists Conor Curley and Carlos O’Connell’s glowing traces have reflections of Will Sergeant glimmering inside them all through) and of their extra grungy churns and swirls, Smashing Pumpkins (maybe Chatten’s leather-based skirt and eyeliner combo is a nod to Billy Corgan?)

The bolshy volleys chosen from Dogrel – Large, Sha Sha Sha, Boys In The Higher Land, Chequeless Reckless – get a few of the greatest cheers, however the whole lot performed is greeted like a favorite tune.

That the band are daring sufficient to finish on relative beginner Starburster – a latest single taken from forthcoming fourth LP Romance, i.e. an album that nobody in attendance has heard – shows a cast-iron self-confidence and the truth that everybody goes bananas for it proves the assumption is totally justified. Neglect being on the Different Stage, certainly subsequent time across the Pyramid beckons.

Set Checklist

Romance
Jackie Down The Line
Televised Thoughts
Roman Vacation
Large Shot
Chequeless Reckless
A Hero’s Loss of life
Large
Nabokov
How Chilly Love Is

A Lucid Dream
Sha Sha Sha
Boys In The Higher Land
I Love You
Favorite
Starburster

Keep on MOJO4MUSIC for full protection of 2024’s greatest music together with IDLES, Squeeze’s opening biggest hits present, Paul Heaton and Fatboy Slim’s Housemartin’s reunion, Dexys on the Park Stage, LCD Soundsystem, PJ Harvey and extra.

Photograph: Fontaines D.C., Bergen, Norway, June 2024. Credit score: Per Ole Hagen