Forest Fest - Emo, Co. Laois - July 21-23 2023

Seathrun66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120894025#Comment_120894025

We all know who that was.

Penfailed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120895324#Comment_120895324

Y'see...I didn't. I had this niggling feeling that I'd read that description of a Boardsie on last years EP thread. I didn't have enough drink on board at that stage just to go up and ask. I happened to be passing again later when I had enough drink but he was deep in conversation with someone at the front of an ice cream van (rather aptly).

mp3ireland2

Getting onto this late as I was travelling to Hungary on holiday today so a busy few days.

I really enjoyed the festival, lineup was very good and I didn't notice any filler. Bell x 1 Vs kila and brass was my worst clash. Caught the walkelalies on a tiny tent in behind circus tent, 35 of them playing ukuleles and really enjoying themselves. Only about 20 audience could fit in.

Glamping site wasn't too mucky considering the rain, I was fearful of the weather being a lot worse. It agree with the post above about all the bands being punctual. Good laugh in the campsite on the Friday and Sunday, was sensible on the Saturday and went to sleep when I got back. Sister sledge really dragged add others said, we only came for the end of it, can't remember what we were looking at prior. I can't complain about the lineup caught some random stuff I'd normally not listen to. It was easy enough to bring drink into the venue too.... So I hear 😉

yannanevotna

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120888929#Comment_120888929

Had an amazing weekend, superb lineup, right up our street (all mid to late 40s!), but Suede, omg, what a show, what a band, what a front man in Brett. Still buzzing, what a finale to a rocking, if a little wet weekend. It may well be the best festival set I've ever seen (well joint best with the Viagra Boys a few weeks ago :)) 🤘

scruff monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120895321#Comment_120895321

also note "The Proclaimers declared it was their second time in Laois, having played Electric Picnic just down the road in their early days."

The Proclaimers early days were the late 80s, their early singles were almost old enough to vote by the time EP started so yeah, writer is a muppet.

rubick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120894025#Comment_120894025

Long-sleeve black one?

That'll be me.

It's my regular Evening Wear at every festival I go to, but had to stick it on a bit early because we were in the middle of The Poseidon Adventure.

RINO87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120899091#Comment_120899091

The Poseidon Adventure! Gene Hackman plays a priest!!!

.....sorry.

scruff monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120900128#Comment_120900128

He was pretending to be Shelly Winters though.

Penfailed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120899091#Comment_120899091

'Twas you then!

sam_boooko

Hey, I would be interested to hear how the tent camping worked out. Seems there were shuttle buses from the park and ride to the Campsite. I can't imagine how people hauled all their camping gear on an off the buses, was there some other way to get your stuff to and from the Campsite?

Thundercats Ho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120900911#Comment_120900911

It depended on how much stuff you had.

Rubik and Desk tidy pulled up beside us in the car park. They only had a couple of bags each, so sailed in no bother.

We had a good bit of stuff and had the cart loaded etc, so it was a bit of a faff, but worked out ok.

You could walk it, but it was 35-40 minutes of hilly road which was trafficked so not recommended.

I hadn't done park and ride at a festival before so didn't know what to expect, but once you allow yourself a bit of extra time and a bit of patience it works well.

The field itself was pretty cut up. l was getting over a broken foot from a few months ago, so the little trenchlines were unwelcome.

scruff monkey

Honestly, from looking at the camping site as I sailed in and out each day, it's not something I'd have sent a swamp donkey into.

MattD

The campsites were pretty rough, but the staff putting the hay down did make a big difference. I had two little ones, but the wagon we were planning to use to truck them around was useless in the mud and the hay.

Just a note for others to throw in; there had been promise of a Family campsite all the way along on the website and the maps even on the weekend, but that was not a thing at all.

The bus transport (Campsite to carpark) was pretty good, but I reckon we got lucky. When we arrived/left we were on a big coach where we put our gear in the luggage hold, but there were definitely others who were struggling to get their stuff onto what was a standard bus.

Chelon

I was a bit surprised to see standard coaches for the shuttles - as if they didn't expect people to rock up with big trolleys etc. Maybe a flatbed truck following the bus would have been an idea.

But the staff couldn't have been more helpful in fairness and mimimal queueing really both there and back.

My first time there and hugely impressed, so many great bands but especially James and Suede, neither of whom I'd seen before,, wow they are both superb live.

Wasn't much in the way of fairy lights and fancy sculptures etc but who needs it when the music is of this quality.