Whipping Boy, and Rory Faithfield engage the crowd at Temple House

Kerbdog, popularly dubbed as the 'Kilkenny Grungers' played on Saturday evening on the Bavaria Main stage. Comprised of Colin Fennelly, Daragh Butler and Cormac Battle the band played the songs that have acquired them a cult following throughout Ireland. Notable songs included 'Mexican Wave' from the LP On the turn, 'Hard To Live' and 'Sally'. The band formed in 1991 and saw some success in the 1990's. Like Fighting with Wire the band appear to have an obvious Seattle grunge influence and its fair to say that the crowd they attracted were indeed, true fans. I spoke to one audience member and asked them to give a comment on Kerbdog and can quote them as saying "Kerbdog... not well known, but they f*****g rule." The crowd on the whole appeared to know the songs well and the atmosphere, despite once again being enjoyed by a smallish crowd was buzzing.

I had the pleasure of seeing Whipping Boy on the Bavaria Main stage after Kerbdog. Over the course of the weekend I saw numerous bands but Whipping boy affected me the most. I have since discovered they have been around since the late 80's, with most commercial success coming in the 90's. It is somewhat of a shame that front man Fearghal Mckee's voice and lyrical talent combined with the lead guitar of Killian McGowan appears to have been relegated to the confines of the cassette tape and dated youtube videos. Playing songs that included 'We Don't Need Nobody Else' and 'Twinkle' it is not hard to comprehend why they were once signed by Columbia Records. Despite being portrayed as an indy/rock band Mckee's voice was at times haunting and undeniably melancholy. The crowd, not all Whipping Boy fans were engrossed and engaged. With powerful and screamed opening song lines in the calibre of "in the morning I am a recluse" who could blame them?

On Saturday night the walled garden Acoustic Stage set the scene for a number of acts I had never heard of including The Ball and Chain, Aisling O'Reilly, and most notably Rory Faithfield, an Australian singer songwriter. Playing to a relatively small but appreciative crowd he played 'Big Blue Western Skies' and 'Born In A Sydney Town' from his most recent album 'Songs For Sooner'. Two standout folk style songs in an enthralling musical set.

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