The electronic dance group Basement Jaxx will be headlining this year’s Trinity Ball, Trinity News can reveal. The duo, who have had several number one singles and won two Brit Awards, are the most prominent act in a line-up that includes LXURY, Years and Years and The 2 Bears. After a five-year hiatus, they released a new album called Junto in the middle of last year. A song from that album, Never Say Never, has since become their most popular Youtube video with over 10m views.
Also appearing are Irish act Walking On Cars. The band, comprising five school friends from Dingle, Co. Kerry, are a traditional guitar-based pop act, in contrast to most of the other acts on the line-up. Lead singer Patrick Sheehy has described how some of the members were “on the verge of emigrating” before the band formed. Following chart successes with Two Stones and Hand in Hand, they are now firmly installed as an up-and-coming Irish band and will be supporting The Coronas at the 3Arena later this month.
English group Years and Years will bring their electro-soul music to an expectant audience. The three-piece band, who have received praise from the influential radio presenter Zane Lowe, were winners of BBC Sound of 2015 which was won in previous years by Ball alumni Jessie J and Ellie Goudling. Many big name acts to have played the Ball, including Dizzee Rascal and Imagine Dragons, did so before they were well known, and it may be the case that Years and Years will, in years to come, be seen as the stand out from this line-up.
Irish electro group La Galaxie will be returning for the second year in a row while Ryan Sheridan makes another appearance having previously played in 2012.
Speaking to Trinity News, Ents officer Finn Murphy predicted that “it will be a great night” with some “good talent.” Asked about the predominance of Electro/Dance acts, he said, “It is very hard to keep everyone happy. Even the 2013 line-up that had the likes of Bastille and Imagine Dragons took a lot of flack on the announcement. Booking fees [are] skyrocketing due the continuing collapse in record sales” and, as “DJs and electronic acts are generally cheaper than popular bands,” that has resulted in “the line-ups [being] more dance heavy.”
Having to be held two weeks later than usual so as not to clash with Good Friday’s alcohol restrictions and College events during Trinity Week, Murphy said it was “a bit unlucky” that the Ball will be on the same weekend as the music festival Coachella. “Acts that would have potentially been playing, like Hozier, simply aren’t available,” he said.
He described his experience dealing with MCD as having being “fine”. He said that, “They ultimately hold all the cards for the line-up,” and, “while I have input, I don’t have any control. Their job is to book it and my job is to sell and promote it.” One input of Murphy’s was to dissuade the booking of an act that had performed last year as he felt “repeat bookings of artists would annoy students.” Murphy sent MCD a “wish list” but said that, “Ultimately, I was given the final line up two weeks ago and have to work with what I’m given.”
He also said that he felt “crowd flow issues” that inhibited access to the dance tent “took away from some people’s nights last year.” As “a lot of consideration” has been paid in that area, he feels “there shouldn’t be any problems this year.”
Trinity Ball takes place on Friday, April 17th. Tickets, priced at €80, go on sale this Wednesday and can be bought in the SU shop and online at trinityball.ie.
Full line-up: Basement Jaxx, Walking On Cars, Years & Years, The 2 Bears, Le Galaxie, Krystal Klear, LXURY, Kormac’s Big Band, Wyvern Lingo, Ryan Sheridan, Booka Brass Band, ElectroDecks, Havar, Luna, Trinity Orchestra.
Photo: www.anagram.biz
