There used to be a rock festival called Feile every year in Thurles, Co Tipperary, and folk used to come from all over the country to spend three days listening to bands in the fragrant surroundings of Semple Stadium. They didn't have Oasis in those days, but Feile did have crusties like The Wonder Stuff and Ned's Atomic Dustbin, both of whom were quite popular in their time. There were also a few up-and-coming bands such as Blur, The Prodigy and The Cranberries, not to mention such old stalwarts as Christy Moore, Chris De Burgh and Mary Black. Oh, the craic was mighty in the Midlands, and we all sobbed into our cider when the curtain came down on the final Feile in Thurles.
Now I hear the Trip To Tipp is on again, although this time it's only for one day, and you won't be allowed to camp in the Thurles area before or after the gig (What, we can't sing Cumbaya and Losing My Religion around the campfire?). Tomorrow's DayTrip To Tipp features a lot of trendy new bands who weren't around in my day, but I'm told that the line-up features the best of the current beat combos. Still, I can't help wishing they'd added someone like The Pixies just to keep us old folk happy (what, they've broken up? When did that happen?).
The gates of Semple Stadium open at noon tomorrow, and first band onstage is The Supernaturals, whose current album, It Doesn't Matter Anymore, is chock full of jangly Britpop tunes (a very fashionable style of music, I hear). Next up are "techno" group Fluke. Their new album, Risotto, features the dancefloor hit, Atombomb, which should wake everyone up on the day. The Cardigans sound like a nice, comforting band, and I'm told Nina Persson has a sweet little voice, unlike Gary Stringer from Reef, whose gruff, rasping tones are perfect for the band's retro rock 'n' roll style. I know about Reef, 'cos I saw them once on T.F.I. Friday, doing their latest smash hit, I think it was called It's Your Letters.
I've recently found out that Foo Fighters are not a family of singing ninjas, but a fab rock band fronted by Dave Grohl, who used to play drums in Nirvana (Seattle group you wouldn't remember). I also heard that Kula Shaker are a Nazi, swastika-waving bunch whose singer has a posh name and a big mouth, but I wouldn't believe everything I read in the NME - after all, they also said that Crispian's mother is 1950s child star Hayley Mills - incredible. I am disturbed, however, to learn of their unhealthy obsession with the likes of George Harrison, Jerry Garcia and some dude called Govinda. Manic Street Preachers have endured the disappearance of their guitarist and lyricist, Richey Edwards, but have come back brighter than ever with last year's Every- thing Must Go album. The last time they played in Ireland (two nights at the Olympia) they sold out 3,500 tickets in 25 minutes. The last time I saw them was when they sang You Love Us on Top Of The Pops - nice to know that you still do love them.
Finally, headliners The Prodigy take the stage, riding on the crest of their mega-successful album, The Fat Of The Land. The album went to Number One in 22 countries, including the U.S.A., traditionally hostile territory for "electro" bands - Keith Flint's clean-cut image combined with the singalong melodies of Firestarter must have done the trick. Now, this part is all true: Iarnrod Eireann has set up a fleet of trains to bring everybody to and from Thurles tomorrow, but it's essential to book in advance. Phone (01) 8366222 for information on special services from Dublin, Galway, Waterford, Cork and Limerick. Bus Eireann are also running from Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Bangor - phone (01) 836611 for details - and there are lots of private bus companies running return trips from a variety of countrywide locations. Don't bother bringing the tent, but if you really need a bed for the night, the accommodation hotline number is (0504) 23579. However, it's only operating from Monday to Friday, so it's no bleedin' use to you now.
Finally, a few useless facts about The Day Trip To Tipp: the concert features high-tech stage visuals, with over 900 computerised lights and two giant video screens. PopMart - pah! There are 28 miles of cable being used, so watch you don't trip over any of it; the stage weighs 20 tonnes, and takes 20 people nine days to construct and dismantle. The 35,000 day-trippers will eat a total of 100,000 hot dogs, 150,000 hamburgers and 250,000 breadrolls, smothering it all with 10,000 litres of ketchup - enjoy the trip, you gluttonous lot.
