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

SteM · 23-07-2023 12:47PM

Apart from the weather were enjoying it but it does remind me a bit of the gaa days out we would go to when we were kids. It's dressed up a bit and better line up obviously but it's not an ATN or BTP style festival by any means. We were well aware of that before hand though so I wouldn't hold it against them.

Stillill42 · 23-07-2023 12:49PM

Not sure if anyone has explained why it isn't possible for them to link up with the estate and use some of the fields on the estate. Plenty of room, beautiful grounds, so much potential there.

Bruce2008 · 23-07-2023 12:54PM

Saw one child in a kind of beach tent on a trolley at these charming men facing the stage, the tent would increase the noise for the child ffs!

Main stage Friday night near the front a man with a few months old childs head poking out of his poncho, no ear protection! Are these people stupid!

,

scruff monkey · 23-07-2023 12:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120885990#Comment_120885990

They’re wha now? I don’t think the woods are part of the school / gaa pitch property (any locals able to verify?) and it just takes a single incident of little Tarquin twisting his ankle as he ran through the woods off his tits from what ever he’d consumed to cause serious issues with their insurance

bodhrandude · 23-07-2023 12:57PM

I tend to avoid festivals in July, traditionally the wettest of the summer months, I grab a few in June and then usually onto late July or August for ATN and hopefully a drier Picnic this year.

BlueEyeGleams · 23-07-2023 01:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120886026#Comment_120886026

As well as that a twig could have my eye out

Bruce2008 · 23-07-2023 01:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120886033#Comment_120886033

Now you tell me 😆!

Just spent last weekend at Forever Young and now in Forest Fest!

Hopefully you're right about ATN and EP. Still if you're halfway organised you know yourself can't beat a good festival!

SteM · 23-07-2023 01:12PM

Might try Green Man in Wales next year, a nice way to dip our toes into UK fests.

rossie1977 · 23-07-2023 01:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120886064#Comment_120886064

August/September are traditionally wetter than July and July https://www.met.ie/cms/assets/uploads/2017/08/rain_monthly.png

September is also much colder especially once sun goes down. It's been wet this weekend but its still humid and t-shirt or light tops at night. You will need something heavier after 9pm in September trust me.

CoffeeImpala · 23-07-2023 01:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120886101#Comment_120886101

That's my plan anyway. I can get a nice cycle tour of Wales in as well.

scruff monkey · 23-07-2023 01:49PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120886101#Comment_120886101

Been looking at that one, seems a reasonable size and decent line ups.

scruff monkey · 23-07-2023 01:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120886064#Comment_120886064

tell me you’re a sadomasochist without saying you’re a sadomasochist.

SteM · 23-07-2023 02:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120886258#Comment_120886258

Yeah, it always usually gets good reviews but seems to sell out quite quickly. We can drive to Rosslare, ferry to Pembroke Dock and drive on from there. My wife has family living close by so we can stop off with them on the way.

s8n · 23-07-2023 03:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120885880#Comment_120885880

what are you, ten ?

Bruce2008 · 23-07-2023 03:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120886283#Comment_120886283

🙊🙊🙊

Penfailed · 23-07-2023 03:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120885380#Comment_120885380

That was my line up yesterday too. Great day!

scruff monkey · 23-07-2023 04:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120886630#Comment_120886630

Of course not, why on earth does it matter what I call a pox riddled societal data vampire?

Stillill42 · 23-07-2023 04:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120887071#Comment_120887071

He means Facebook here, s8n. Just to clarify.

scruff monkey · 23-07-2023 05:03PM

We be taking it very easy today, heading in to catch the evenings action

thebusher · 23-07-2023 06:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120886011#Comment_120886011

Heard that it may be heading that way next year. I'm sorry to see the 'GAA day out' being trotted out. Yea the main arena is a GAA pitch but I think we've all been spoiled by bigger festivals. The last picnic I was at was very messy with a lot of coked up drunk kids barging about everywhere.

We've had a ball here, I'd describe it more as a manageable mini picnic. Everyone here fir the music. Even the clashes were fine cos you can make any stage within minutes Peter Hook/James. Undertones/Trouble Pilgrims. Big Country/TCM.

The weather is the weather and as far as we can see they've done a good job in all honesty. Everyone on site is sound.

Highlights for me Peter Hook, James were brilliant, Kila with brass, Trouble Pilgrims, Allie sherlock, Live Forever did a great Oasis set, Proclaimers brilliant and of course These Charming Men had a packed tent.

We'll be back next year

Stillill42 · 23-07-2023 06:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120887528#Comment_120887528

Ah it's the perennial search for the festival sweet spot. Great music, lovely setting, nice food, booze, minimal arsehole content. Forest Fest have got an awful lot right, by the looks of it. Every step up in attendees is fraught with peril. Glad you enjoyed it, Busher. I'm giving EOTR a whirl this year. We'll see how that goes.

s8n · 23-07-2023 07:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120887108#Comment_120887108

appreciate the clarity.

Stevie S · 24-07-2023 12:56AM

Did the day trip today with 2 young kids and couldn't really fault it other than a few clashes of similar artists such as Paddy Casey and Duke Special. Much prefer Duke so watched most of him and as someone pointed out it's only a couple of minutes and you're in another tent.

Had to leave early with the kids there was no way of seeing Suede which I'd made my peace with before coming down. Saw them before anyway.

The GAA Park n ride, straw on the ground, food, drink, queues, soundness of staff, all spot on today anyway. I appreciate from reading FB comments that campervans for example will have a very different view but I thought it hit the spot anyway, even the weather was decent til after 8pm when we were leaving

scruff monkey · 24-07-2023 01:05AM

Suede, suede suede. Oh boy. What a show.

sydthebeat · 24-07-2023 01:30AM

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

Only lacked a bit of Bernard, but my god, what a show.

Paul Brady for me was the highlight of the day. Seeing someone enjoy themselves so much on stage is the extra X factor

scruff monkey · 24-07-2023 02:12AM

Remember, Butler left Suede 29 years ago, they’ve done fine without him.

Penfailed · 24-07-2023 02:16AM

Suede were absolutely amazing. Brilliant!

sydthebeat · 24-07-2023 02:28AM

Eventually home again after the third day.

As a festival it has pros and cons, but in optinion the pros of " less walking time, availablity of cash drink and food stalls, curated band selection" out weight the cons of " it's a gaa club, **** weather, lots of filler'.

A lot of the "filler" were actually excellent (barley mob, carrie Baxter, lost Messiahs, primitives, TCM, classic Beatles, ares redemption, )