:en:Oxegen
{{short description|Music festival in Ireland}}
{{about|the music festival held in Ireland|the chemical element|oxygen}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox music festival
| name = Oxegen
| image = Oxegen festival logo, circa 2010s.png
| image_size = 300px
| caption = The Oxegen logo, circa 2010s
| location = Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare, Ireland
| years_active = 2004–2011; 2013
| coordinates = {{coord|53.18443|N|6.62124|W|type:landmark_region:GB-NBL|display=inline,title}}
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20160206185323/http://www.oxegen.ie/ Oxegen.ie] (archived)
}}
Oxegen {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɒ|k|s|ɛ|dʒ|ɛ|n}} was a music festival in Ireland, first held from 2004–2011 as a rock and pop festival and again in 2013 with dance and chart acts only. The event was regularly cited as Ireland's biggest music festival,{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/snow-patrol-steal-the-limelight-from-top-acts-52787.html|title=Snow Patrol steal the limelight from top acts|date=2 February 2007|access-date=10 February 2009|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media}}{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/theticket/articles/2008/0704/1215054782218.html|title=OXEGEN 08: THE LINE-UP|date=4 July 2008|access-date=21 February 2009|newspaper=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust}}{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/opinion/editorial-rain-cant-dampen-our-spirits-1819256.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801191555/http://www.herald.ie/opinion/editorial-rain-cant-dampen-our-spirits-1819256.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 August 2012 |title=Editorial: Rain can't dampen our spirits |date=13 July 2009 |access-date=14 July 2009 |work=Evening Herald }}{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/snow-patrol-take-a-breather-from-u2-tour-14392935.html|title=Snow Patrol take a breather from U2 tour|date=9 July 2009|access-date=14 July 2009|work=Belfast Telegraph|publisher=Independent News & Media}} and, by 2009, it was being cited as the greenest festival, being a 100% carbon neutral event in Ireland,{{cite news|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/Oxegen%20breaks%20all%20carbon%20neutral%20records/5690645.html|title=Oxegen breaks all carbon neutral records|date=16 July 2009|access-date=18 July 2009|work=Hot Press}} although some critics questioned how enviromentally friendly the festival was from 2008 onwards.{{cite news |last=Gibbons |first=John |date=28 August 2008 |title=At last, a summer festival with green credentials |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/at-last-a-summer-festival-with-green-credentials-1.934887 |work=Irish Times |location= |publisher= |access-date=16 April 2025}} It was previously called Witnness,{{cite news|first=Kevin |last=Doyle |url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/music/oxegen-mud-sweat-and-beers-1432656.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801133906/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/music/oxegen-mud-sweat-and-beers-1432656.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 August 2012 |title=Oxegen: Mud, sweat and beers |date=14 July 2008 |access-date=21 August 2009 |work=Evening Herald }} which ran from 2000 and was sponsored by Guinness. The event was promoted by MCD and was sponsored by Heineken. Oxegen was originally a three-day festival, but from 2008 onwards, it was expanded to four days.
It took place at the Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare, Ireland and has an average attendance of around 60,000 a day, with around 50,000 of these camping on site for the duration, and the rest travelling to the site each day. It took place on the same weekend as T in the Park in Scotland and shared a very similar lineup each year, but Oxegen was generally regarded as Ireland's version of the Glastonbury Festival, with the 2008 festival sharing three of the same headliners as its English counterpart.{{cite news|url=http://www.tribune.ie/article/2008/jul/06/goodbye-glasto-hello-oxegen/ |title=Goodbye Glasto... Hello Oxegen |date=6 July 2008 |access-date=5 July 2008 |work=Sunday Tribune |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715194214/http://www.tribune.ie/article/2008/jul/06/goodbye-glasto-hello-oxegen/ |archive-date=15 July 2010 }}
Oxegen attracted significant attention from outside Ireland, with many of those attending travelling from overseas experiencing a "mass exodus" to the festival.{{cite news|url=http://www.tribune.ie/news/article/2008/jul/13/multinational-audience-joins-rite-of-passage-for-i/ |title=Multinational audience joins rite of passage for Irish teens |date=13 July 2008 |access-date=27 July 2008 |work=Sunday Tribune |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801104747/http://www.tribune.ie/news/article/2008/jul/13/multinational-audience-joins-rite-of-passage-for-i/ |archive-date=1 August 2008 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/in-pictures-festivalgoers-get-a-whiff-of-oxegen-14396946.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728100855/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/in-pictures-festivalgoers-get-a-whiff-of-oxegen-14396946.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 July 2012 |title=In Pictures: Festival-goers get a whiff of Oxegen |date=10 July 2009 |access-date=14 July 2009 |work=Belfast Telegraph}} Members of bands such as The Killers, Snow Patrol and R.E.M. have spoken positively of their experiences at the festival. Celebrities frequently attend, including models Helena Christensen (a regular attendant) and television personality Chris Pontius,{{cite news|url=http://www.examiner.ie/story/ireland/gbqlcwqlsn/rss2/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927104526/http://www.examiner.ie/story/ireland/gbqlcwqlsn/rss2/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2013|title=Fans find Oxegen's frequency just right, Kenneth|date=14 July 2008|access-date=3 July 2009|first=Juno|last=McEnroe|work=Irish Examiner|publisher=Thomas Crosbie Holdings}} actor Josh Hartnett,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/uk_enl_1183909619/html/1.stm|title=Hollywood star Josh Hartnett and former Danish supermodel Helena Christensen watch the Kings of Leon at the Oxegen Music festival at Punchestown racecourse in County Kildare.|access-date=3 July 2009|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC}} and Ronnie Wood of The Rolling Stones, who was pursued by "half the journalists in the country" and many of his own relatives for much of the 2008 festival.{{cite news|url=http://www.tribune.ie/article/2008/jul/13/journalists-engage-in-futile-hunt-for-ronnie-wood/ |title=Journalists engage in futile hunt for Ronnie Wood |date=13 July 2008 |access-date=3 July 2009 |work=Sunday Tribune |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715193438/http://www.tribune.ie/article/2008/jul/13/journalists-engage-in-futile-hunt-for-ronnie-wood/ |archive-date=15 July 2010 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/relatives-of-rolling-stone-ronnie-rush-to-ireland-in-bid-to-halt-bender-13907611.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723023130/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/relatives-of-rolling-stone-ronnie-rush-to-ireland-in-bid-to-halt-bender-13907611.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 July 2012 |title=Relatives of Rolling Stone Ronnie rush to Ireland in bid to halt bender |date=13 July 2008 |access-date=3 July 2009 |work=Belfast Telegraph}} The event has also attracted some negative publicity, particularly following the 2006 festival. This is attributed to such factors as the age of admission (17) and easy access to alcohol.{{cite news|url=http://www.tribune.ie/article/2008/jul/13/oxegen-one-parents-nightmare/ |title=Oxegen: one parent's nightmare |date=13 July 2008 |access-date=27 July 2008 |work=Sunday Tribune |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204192844/http://www.tribune.ie/article/2008/jul/13/oxegen-one-parents-nightmare/ |archive-date=4 February 2009 }}
Oxegen, for two consecutive years, was named as the Best European Festival in a poll which included festivals from France, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom and other countries, leading The Sunday Business Post{{'}}s Nicola Cooke to describe it as "one of the most successful music festivals in Ireland has{{sic}}".{{cite news|first=Nicola|last=Cooke|url=http://www.sbpost.ie/newsfeatures/rock-festivals-are-set-to-beat-the-economic-blues-49988.html|title=Rock festivals are set to beat the economic blues|date=20 June 2010|access-date=20 June 2010|work=The Sunday Business Post}} Leagues O'Toole has described it as an "enormously successful, award-winning, established brand [...] aimed at a young audience out for a good time, a post-Leaving Cert rite of passage perfect for acts with big singalong tunes that sound great in the mud".{{cite news|first=Leagues|last=O'Toole|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2010/0625/1224273240780.html|title=Living on the edge|date=25 June 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust|access-date=25 June 2010|quote=The two big events that bookend the Irish summer are Oxegen and Electric Picnic, both now enormously successful, award-winning, established brands. [...] On one hand you have MCD’s Oxegen, which starts on Friday, July 9th, a three-day music extravaganza at Punchestown Racecourse in Kildare aimed at a young audience out for a good time, a post-Leaving Cert rite of passage perfect for acts with big singalong tunes that sound great in the mud.}} Oxegen received a mention in the Colum McCann short story "Aisling".{{cite news|first=Caroline|last=Walsh|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/0619/1224272833059.html|title=Loose Leaves: Colum McCann tries his hand at the aisling|date=19 June 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust|access-date=19 June 2010|quote=Now it's Colum McCann’s turn. His new short story entitled Aisling, in the summer issue of the Paris Review , is quite a departure from the realist prose of his National Book Award-winning novel Let the Great World Spin. [...] And although it’s very short, at under two and a half pages, he manages to include a wide range of Irish references, from Loreto Foxrock to Oxegen and the Trocadero.}}
In April 2014, organisers announced that the Oxegen festival would not be going ahead that year, citing a lack of suitable headline acts.{{cite web|url=http://www.oxegen.ie/8175/news/oxegen-2014/ |title=Oxegen 2014 |publisher=Oxegen.ie |access-date=2014-08-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626132831/http://www.oxegen.ie/8175/news/oxegen-2014/ |archive-date=26 June 2014 }}
History
Oxegen first took place in 2004 over the second weekend in July. The Killers, who went on to headline the festival twice in 2007 and 2009, were one of the bands to appear at the first Oxegen. Dave Keuning, in an interview with Hot Press prior to the 2009 festival, described Oxegen as "a big deal because it's one of the first European festivals we played {{Sic}} when we came over from Vegas in 2004. We only had one hit—"Mr. Brightside"—and were worried in case no one showed. But the tent was packed with people screaming out the words to songs we didn't think they knew. It was that night we thought, 'Hey, something's happening here!' Oxegen more so than Glastonbury even was the highlight of our summer."{{cite news
| url = http://www.hotpress.com/The%20Killers/news/The%20Killers%20eager%20return%20to%20Oxegen..and%20the%20fans%20are%20excited%20too/5599689.html
| title = The Killers eager return to Oxegen..and the fans are excited too
| date = 3 July 2009
| work = Hot Press
| access-date = 3 July 2009
}}
The original festival, Witnness, sponsored by Guinness, took place during the start of August with notable headliners, including Oasis, The Foo Fighters and Green Day. In its second and third year, running changed its dates to the second weekend of July. In 2008 Oxegen became a three-day festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/oxegenfestival/34594 |title=Rage Against The Machine to headline Oxegen festival |date=22 February 2008 |access-date=2009-06-12 |work=NME |location=UK |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606045152/http://www.nme.com/news/oxegenfestival/34594 |archive-date=6 June 2011 }}
Rodrigo y Gabriela made their breakthrough after being asked by Damien Rice to perform with him at Oxegen 2004.{{cite news
| url=http://www.corkman.ie/entertainment/mexican-guitar-duo-head-for-music-school-1837371.html
| title=Mexican guitar duo head for music school
| date=23 July 2009
| access-date=26 July 2009
| work=The Corkman
}}
{{Registration required}}
The Japanese Popstars formed after viewing several dance acts at Oxegen 2006.{{cite news|url=http://www.list.co.uk/article/18181-rock-ness-2009/|title=Rock da bank|date=11 June 2009|access-date=14 June 2009|work=The List}}
R.E.M. members Michael Stipe and Peter Buck watched several shows from side stage at Oxegen 2007 before returning to headline the festival the following year.{{cite news|url=http://www.phantom.ie/content/view/1348/104/|title=REM announced for Oxegen '08|access-date=12 June 2009|work=Phantom FM}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Stipe credits his 2007 visit with inspiring him to want to go on tour again, saying: "I saw all these great bands and the next day after the festival we went into the studio."{{cite news|url=http://www.phantom.ie/content/view/1768/104/|title=Stipe credits Olympia and Oxegen with wanting to tour again|access-date=12 June 2009|work=Phantom FM}} {{Dead link|date=June 2010}}
Muse, known for their spectacular light show and their reputation as one of the best live bands in the world, headlined Oxegen 2007.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0604/breaking29.htm|title=Fleetwood Mac to play Dublin|date=4 June 2009|access-date=14 June 2009|newspaper=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust|quote=Former Oxegen headliners Muse, who have a spectacular light show and have gained a reputation for being one of the best live bands in the world, will play the venue on 6 November. They were the first group to play the new Wembley Stadium.}} {{Subscription required}} They returned to headline the mainstage on the Saturday night of the 2010 festival.
Battles played the biggest festival show of their career at that time in the Pet Sounds Arena during Oxegen 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.nme.com/news/battles/38043|title=Battles play biggest ever festival show at Oxegen|date=11 July 2008|access-date=12 June 2009|work=NME|location=UK}} The Prodigy played four new songs at Oxegen 2008. Also in 2008, Interpol were sent champagne by U2 as they arrived for rehearsals.{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/shes-with-the-band-supermodel-helena-joins-hordes-of-oxegen-festivalgoers-in-support-of-her-indierocker-boyfriend-1431953.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801070515/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/shes-with-the-band-supermodel-helena-joins-hordes-of-oxegen-festivalgoers-in-support-of-her-indierocker-boyfriend-1431953.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 August 2012 |title=she's with the band: supermodel helena joins hordes of oxegen festival-goers in support of her indie-rocker boyfriend |date=12 July 2008 |access-date=3 July 2009 |work=Evening Herald }}
Chad Wolf of Carolina Liar described the band's performance at Oxegen 2009 as "an out-of-body experience".{{cite news
| first= Tony
| last= Clayton-Lea
| url= http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2009/0814/1224252518491.html
| title= What's on your rider?
| date= 14 August 2009
| access-date= 14 August 2009
| newspaper= The Irish Times
| publisher= Irish Times Trust
| quote= What’s the best gig you’ve been to? More than likely the Oxegen fest. It was just so big and so strange to be in a new country and get such a reception. Really, it was just an out-of-body experience.
}}
Each Oxegen has been defined by the attention focused on its own weather, with The Belfast Telegraph referring to 2005 as "the sunny one", 2006 as "the torrentially rainy one", 2007 as "the muddy one" and 2008 as "the so-so one".{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/reviews/rain-fails-to-dampen-oxegen-vibes-14402127.html|title=Rain fails to dampen Oxegen vibes|date=13 July 2009|access-date=14 July 2009|work=Belfast Telegraph|publisher=Independent News & Media}}
| class="wikitable" | |||||||
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| valign="top"
| Headliners included: (more...) | Headliners included:
(more...) | Headliners included:
(more...) | Headliners included:
(more...) | Headliners included:
(more...) | Headliners included:
(more...) | Headliners included:
(more...) | Headliners included:
(more...) |
Facilities
As well as the current eight stages of music, there were three large areas for camping which were subdivided by number and the colours blue, red and green – which was the VIP campsite. The backstage and media areas were located in the middle of the site in the buildings normally used to watch the races. Stalls and shops were also provided for festival-goers, as well as toilet and shower areas for campers from 2006 onwards.
A Centra store was located in each campsite from 2007 onwards[http://www.oxegen.ie/2008/node/305 "SHOP TILL YOU DROP!"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080716063008/http://www.oxegen.ie/2008/node/305 |date=16 July 2008 }} and An Post first appeared at the festival in 2008.{{cite news|url=http://phantom.ie/entertainment/from-the-newsdesk/1653-postcards-from-the-edgeof-oxegen.html |title=Postcards from the edge...of Oxegen |date=3 July 2008 |access-date=6 July 2008 |work=Phantom FM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125949/http://phantom.ie/entertainment/from-the-newsdesk/1653-postcards-from-the-edgeof-oxegen.html |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}
There was also a funfair adjacent to the arena, featuring a big wheel and other rides, such as the "Magic Carpet", the "Big Drop", and the roller coaster. In 2008, an additional funfair was located in the blue campsite alongside other campsite entertainment such as a circus, silent disco and the Xbox Live Stage.{{cite news|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/4646405.html|title=Xbox Live Stage for Oxegen|date=26 June 2008|access-date=28 June 2008|work=Hot Press}} Glass in any form was banned from the festival site and bottle corks, cans and umbrellas are banned from the concert arena.{{cite news|url=http://2010.oxegen.ie/info/faq/ |title=Oxegen " FAQ : Food & Drink |quote=No glass is allowed in the campsite but liquids can be transferred into plastic bottles at the bottle decanting stations at the entrance to the campsite. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517140312/http://2010.oxegen.ie/info/faq |archive-date=17 May 2010 }}
52 miles of fencing are used across the site.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/festivals/oxegen-09-top-20-oxegen-facts-and-figures-1803897.html|title=Oxegen 09: Top 20 Oxegen facts and figures|date=3 July 2009|access-date=3 July 2009|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media}} 14 megawatts of power are used to energise Oxegen, with 28,000 miles of cable used to transfer this power. 25,000 litre water tankers are located around the site. Hats and cloaks are regularly seen,{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/festivals/oxegen-09-the-az-of-oxegen-fashion-1803784.html|title=Oxegen 09: The A-Z of Oxegen fashion|date=3 July 2009|access-date=3 July 2009|first=Sinead|last=Nolan|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media}} whilst wellies are also commonly worn by festival-goers.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/independent-woman/fashion-beauty/style-guide--festival-fashion-dos-and-donts-1800670.html|title=Style guide: Festival fashion dos and don'ts|date=1 July 2009|access-date=2 July 2009|first=Danielle|last=Cahill|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media}}
The Dance Arena was a large shed previously used for ideal homes exhibitions.{{cite news|first=Steven|last=Carroll|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0709/breaking46.html|title=Wellies de rigueur at Oxegen|date=9 July 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust|access-date=9 July 2010|quote=The dance arena, a huge shed that once hosted ideal homes exhibitions, has proved a popular shelter for some of the masses. This was much to the delight of Irish rugby star Cian Healy, who has swapped the front row of the scrum for a spot behind the decks as he moonlights as DJ Church.}}
2004 Festival
Oxegen 2004 took place at Punchestown Racecourse from 10 to 11 July. The Strokes,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0226/oxegen.html|title=Strokes now added to OXEGEN's bill|date=26 February 2004|access-date=23 February 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} The Cure,{{cite news
|url= http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0226/1224241835452.html
|title=Cure live broadcast cancelled
|date=26 February 2009
|access-date=6 March 2009
|newspaper=The Irish Times
|quote=The band played the Oxegen festival in 2004 and in Dublin’s Point in June 1996.
}}
{{Subscription required}}
Basement Jaxx,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0416/oxegen.html|title=The Cure, Basement Jaxx added to OXEGEN|date=16 April 2004|access-date=23 February 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} The Darkness, Faithless, Kings of Leon, PJ Harvey, Wu-Tang Clan,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0315/oxegen.html|title=PJ Harvey, Wu-Tang for OXEGEN fest|date=15 March 2004|access-date=23 February 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} The Libertines, Muse,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0407/oxegen.html|title=Muse, Libertines latest for OXEGEN|date=7 April 2004|access-date=23 February 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} Massive Attack, Keane,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0316/oxegen.html|title=Massive Attack, Keane join OXEGEN|date=16 March 2004|access-date=23 February 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} Franz Ferdinand,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0405/oxegen.html|title=Ash and Franz Ferdinand for OXEGEN|date=5 April 2004|access-date=23 February 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} Chemical Brothers, Belle & Sebastian, Scissor Sisters, Elbow, Electric Six, Ocean Colour Scene, The Complete Stone Roses and Cartoon are some of the bands that played at the 2004 festival which took place over five stages. Orbital played their last ever Irish show at the festival,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0506/oxegen.html|title=Orbital announce last Irish show|date=6 May 2004|access-date=23 February 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} whilst The Black Eyed Peas performed in Ireland for the first time in over two years.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0413/oxegen.html|title=Black Eyed Peas for OXEGEN line-up|date=13 April 2004|access-date=23 February 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} The Killers, Republic of Loose and Razorlight were among the bands headlining the New Band Stage. Other Irish acts to appear included Ash, The Divine Comedy, Hothouse Flowers, The Saw Doctors, HAL, Snow Patrol, The Devlins, Simple Kid, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Cathy Davey and Bell X1. David Bowie was due to headline the festival but had to pull out due to illness.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0630/oxegen.html|title=The Darkness replace Bowie at OXEGEN|date=30 June 2004|access-date=3 January 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} Kings of Leon's performance was threatened by an incident at Roskilde the weekend before Oxegen when Nathan Followill injured his wrist but, despite the cancellation of a midweek show in Serbia,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0705/kingsofleon.html|title=Kings of Leon drummer injures wrist|date=5 July 2004|access-date=23 February 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} the band turned up for Oxegen.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0706/kingsofleon.html|title=Kings of Leon definite for OXEGEN|date=6 July 2004|access-date=23 February 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}}
Tickets sold out a week before the event, having gone on sale on Friday 5 March. One-day tickets cost €59.50, two-day tickets were priced at €110.00 whilst a two-day ticket with camping included cost €130.00.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0219/oxegen.html|title=Bowie & Darkness Punchestown-bound|date=19 February 2004|access-date=3 January 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}}
=2004 Line-up=
The main acts that played the festival were:
| class="wikitable" | |
| Saturday 10 July | Sunday 11 July ([http://www.hotpress.com/archive/2737514.html running order]) |
| valign="top"
| Main Stage: | Main Stage:
|
:* – denotes cancelled performance
2005 Festival
{{For|main article|Oxegen 2005}}
Oxegen 2005 took place at Punchestown Racecourse from 9 to 10 July. Green Day{{cite news|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2005/03/03/story192010.asp |title=Green Day confirmed for festival |date=3 March 2005 |access-date=6 January 2008 |work=BreakingNews.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203103442/http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2005/03/03/story192010.asp |archive-date= 3 February 2009 }} and Foo Fighters{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/1201/foofighters.html|title=Foo Fighters to headline OXEGEN 2005|date=1 December 2004|access-date=3 January 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}}{{cite news|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2004/12/01/story178447.asp |title=Foo Fighters to headline Oxegen |date=1 December 2005 |access-date=6 January 2008 |work=BreakingNews.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070622222818/http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2004/12/01/story178447.asp |archive-date=22 June 2007 }} headlined. Also appearing were New Order,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/0303/oxegen.html|title=New Order & QOTSA join OXEGEN bill|date=3 March 2005|access-date=8 January 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} Ian Brown,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/0104/browni.html|title=Ian Brown joins line-up for OXEGEN|date=4 January 2005|access-date=3 January 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} James Brown, The Prodigy,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/1210/oxegen.html|title=Prodigy announce OXEGEN appearance|date=10 December 2004|access-date=3 January 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} Queens of the Stone Age,{{cite news|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2005/03/04/story192128.asp |title=Tickets for Oxegen on sale today |date=4 March 2005 |access-date=6 January 2008 |work=BreakingNews.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203103502/http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2005/03/04/story192128.asp |archive-date= 3 February 2009 }} The Frames,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/0214/oxegen.html|title=The Frames added to OXEGEN line-up|date=14 February 2005|access-date=3 January 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} Keane,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/0210/oxegen.html|title=Keane join line-up for OXEGEN 2005|date=10 February 2005|access-date=3 January 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} Feeder, The Killers,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/0208/oxegen.html|title=Killers are added to OXEGEN's bill|date=8 February 2005|access-date=3 January 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} Bloc Party,{{cite news|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2005/04/20/story199009.asp |title=New acts added to Oxegen line-up |date=20 April 2005 |access-date=6 January 2008 |work=BreakingNews.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203103541/http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2005/04/20/story199009.asp |archive-date=3 February 2009 }} Kaiser Chiefs, Kasabian,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/0211/oxegen.html|title=Streets & Kasabian added to OXEGEN|date=11 February 2005|access-date=8 January 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} The Bravery, Nine Black Alps, The Departure, Razorlight, LCD Soundsystem,{{cite news|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2005/04/05/story196752.asp |title=Top dance music names lined up for Oxegen |date=5 April 2005 |access-date=6 January 2008 |work=BreakingNews.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102081149/http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2005/04/05/story196752.asp |archive-date=2 January 2008 }} Echo & the Bunnymen, The La's and Snoop Dogg. Irish acts to appear included The Revs, The Saw Doctors, Kerbdog, HAL, Bronagh Gallagher, Humanzi, Director and The Blizzards.
=2005 Line-up=
For full line-up, see Oxegen 2005#2005 Line-up.
The main acts that played the festival were:{{cite web|url=http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/lineups.php?FestID=902 |title=Oxegen 2005 line-up and rumours |publisher=eFestivals.co.uk |date=2005-06-06 |access-date=2014-08-02}}
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| style="vertical-align:top; width:*;"| Saturday 9 July Oxegen Stage
| style="vertical-align:top; width:*;"| Sunday 10 July Oxegen Stage |
2006 Festival
File:Main stage at Oxegen 2006.jpg
{{For|main article|Oxegen 2006}}
Oxegen 2006 took place at Punchestown Racecourse from 8 to 9 July. A limited number of tickets for the festival went on sale a week after the 2005 festival on Friday 15 July. On 20 February the festival was launched and the first acts were officially announced.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2006/0220/oxegen.html|title=The Who, Chili Peppers to headline OXEGEN 06|date=20 February 2006|access-date=8 January 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} Tickets went on general sale on Friday 3 March at 8 am, with weekend camping tickets priced at €160. This allocation of tickets sold out within 48 minutes. The festival itself encountered bad weather which eclipsed previous records. There were improvements on the Sunday afternoon with sunny skies and a cool, gentle breeze ensuring a decrease in wet festival-goers.
The Who and Red Hot Chili Peppers headlined the festival, the former performing live in Ireland for the first time in 35 years, the latter for the fourth time in five summers. James Brown made his last ever live performance at an Irish festival and Arctic Monkeys their first festival appearance in Ireland. Also appearing were The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, Placebo, Richard Ashcroft, Primal Scream, Editors, Feeder, The Kooks, Kasabian, Sigur Rós, Jester, The Feeling, The Futureheads, The Go! Team, The Automatic, Paolo Nutini and Lily Allen. Irish acts to appear included Bell X1, Damien Dempsey, Republic of Loose, Director, The Marshals, Sharon Shannon, The Blizzards, The Divine Comedy, Gemma Hayes and Humanzi.
Security arrangements were criticised as being poor by some sections of the media. The camp-site was not free from trouble, with reports of tent-burning and an alleged stabbing on the Sunday night/Monday morning of the festival.{{cite news
| url = http://www.indymedia.ie/article/77264
| title = Oxegen, Poxegen: The Modern Rock and Roll Experience.
| work=IndyMedia Ireland
}}
In the Green Room a considerable leak allowed rain into the enclosed marquee. There were 225 arrests for drugs (with 13 charged for possession with intent to supply), one alleged rape,{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/now-rapeclaim-revelation-rocks-oxegen-organisers-82644.html|title=Now rape-claim revelation rocks Oxegen organisers|date=11 August 2006|access-date=16 December 2007|first=Edel|last=Kennedy|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media}} and the Evening Herald reported that around 250 people were treated for alcohol and drug abuse. When 40 people were sent to Naas General Hospital, fears were raised of a bad batch of ecstasy, but no evidence of such a batch was found. A number of media outlets were threatened with legal action on their coverage of Oxegen 2006 in its aftermath. These included the Irish Independent and boards.ie, where all discussion of MCD events and venues was banned.
=2006 Line-up=
For full line-up, see Oxegen 2006#Stages.
The main acts that played the festival were:
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| style="vertical-align:top; width:*;"| Saturday 8 July Main Stage
| style="vertical-align:top; width:*;"| Sunday 9 July Main Stage |
2007 Festival
{{For|main article|Oxegen 2007}}
File:Muse @ Oxegen 07.jpg headlined Oxegen 07]]
Oxegen '07 took place at Punchestown Racecourse from 7 to 8 July. The Live Earth concerts occurred around the world on the same day as the Saturday of Oxegen 2007. Tickets went on general sale at 8 am on Friday 2 March 2007. These sold out in under seventy minutes. The price of a day ticket rose to €96.50, a weekend ticket cost €177.50, whilst the price of a weekend ticket plus camping this year rose to €197.50 (roughly the same price as a three-day Electric Picnic ticket), as compared to €160 in 2006. As in 2006, it was possible to purchase four weekend camping tickets together and receive a free car parking ticket. As with previous years, a number of pre-sale tickets without the price increase went on sale in November 2006.
The headliners were Muse and The Killers. Also playing the festival were Arcade Fire, Scissor Sisters, Razorlight, Bloc Party, Daft Punk, Kings of Leon, Brian Wilson, Interpol, The Kooks, Mika, My Chemical Romance, Avril Lavigne, Queens of the Stone Age, The Goo Goo Dolls, Editors, Klaxons, Maxïmo Park and The Fratellis. Irish acts that played included The Blizzards, Director, The Thrills, The Coronas, David Kitt, Delorentos, Dirty Epics and Sinéad O'Connor. Amy Winehouse pulled out at the last minute{{cite news|url=http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-festivals/amy-winehouse-a-doubt-for-oxegen/spId/96FA28EA-F33F-9956-C65CA71145F2FDE9.html |title=Amy Winehouse a doubt for Oxegen |date=5 July 2007 |access-date=16 December 2007 |work=MUSE.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218201204/http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-festivals/amy-winehouse-a-doubt-for-oxegen/spId/96FA28EA-F33F-9956-C65CA71145F2FDE9.html |archive-date=18 December 2007 }} whilst The Immediate split up on the same day that they were announced.{{cite news|url=http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-irish_news/the-immediate-split-up-/spId/89E50F81-F7D1-A715-417F1D3656EC3ED6.html |title=The Immediate split up! |date=14 May 2007 |access-date=16 December 2007 |work=MUSE.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204200446/http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-irish_news/the-immediate-split-up-/spId/89E50F81-F7D1-A715-417F1D3656EC3ED6.html |archive-date= 4 February 2009 }}
=2007 Line-up=
For full line-up, see Oxegen 2007#2007 Line-up.
The main acts that played the festival were:[http://www.oxegen.ie/line_up.php ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405175944/http://www.oxegen.ie/line_up.php |date=5 April 2007 }}
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| style="vertical-align:top; width:*;"| {| class="wikitable" | |
| Saturday 7 July | Sunday 8 July |
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| Main Stage: | Main Stage:
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| class="wikitable" | |
| Saturday 7 July | Sunday 8 July |
| valign="top"
| Stage 2/NME: | Stage 2/NME:
|
:* – denotes cancelled performance
|}
2008 Festival
{{main|Oxegen 2008}}
Oxegen '08 was a three-day event,{{cite news
| url = http://music.guardian.co.uk/festivals/story/0,,2290581,00.html
| title = Cleaners for festival 'had to sleep in stables'
| date = 24 November 2007
| access-date = 7 June 2010
| work = The Guardian
| location = London
| first = Esther
| last = Addley
}}
a first for the festival. It took place from Friday 11 July until Sunday 13 July at Punchestown Racecourse in Naas, County Kildare. Presale tickets went on sale at 8:00 am on Friday 30 November 2007 at a cost of €197. Actual sale tickets went on sale at 8:00 am on Friday 7 March 2008 but failed to sell out until 7 May.{{cite news|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/4552337.html|title=UPDATE: Oxegen '08 sells out as daily line-up is revealed…|date=7 May 2008|access-date=11 May 2008|work=Hot Press}}{{cite news|url=http://www.phantom.ie/content/view/1539/104/ |title=Oxegen 2008 sells out… |date=7 May 2008 |access-date=11 May 2008 |work=Phantom FM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203195603/http://www.phantom.ie/content/view/1539/104/ |archive-date=3 February 2009 }} Extra tickets went on sale on 20 June in "a move to combat touting".{{cite news|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/4592129.html|title=Extra Oxegen tickets released…|date=13 June 2008|access-date=14 June 2008|work=Hot Press}}{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/if-its-raining-it-must-be-festival-time-1427471.html|title=If it's raining it must be festival time…|date=4 July 2008|access-date=17 July 2008|first=Jason|last=O'Brien|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media}}
Kings of Leon were the first band to be announced on 27 November 2007 at 5:00 pm{{cite news|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/entertainment/mhmhidcwmhmh/rss2/|title=Kings of Leon confirmed for Oxegen 2008|date=27 November 2007|access-date=16 December 2007|work=Breaking News.ie}}{{cite news|url=http://www.virtualfestivals.com/latest/news/4191|title=Kings of Leon confirmed for Oxegen|date=28 November 2007|access-date=26 December 2007|work=virtualfestivals.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204014729/http://www.virtualfestivals.com/latest/news/4191|archive-date=4 February 2009}} They headlined the opening night of the festival.{{cite news|url=http://www.4ie.ie/entertainment/news.asp?newsid=52268 |title=REM To Headline Oxegen Festival |date=15 February 2008 |access-date=19 February 2008 |work=TheBigList |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204093316/http://www.4ie.ie/entertainment/news.asp?newsid=52268 |archive-date= 4 February 2009 }} On 15 February 2008 R.E.M. were confirmed for Oxegen 2008, headlining the Saturday night.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0215/oxegen.html|title=REM to headline Oxegen|date=15 February 2008|access-date=15 February 2008|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}}{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/rockers-revealed-as-oxegen-08-headliners-1290089.html|title=Rockers revealed as Oxegen 08 headliners|date=15 February 2008|access-date=20 February 2008|first=Richie|last=Taylor|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media}} On 19 February at 16:29, Kaiser Chiefs, The Raconteurs and Ian Brown were announced on the official website,{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/hail-to-the-chiefs-as-boys-line-out-with-ian-brown-for-oxegen-1292880.html|title=Hail to the Chiefs as boys line out with Ian Brown for Oxegen|date=19 February 2008|access-date=20 February 2008|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media}}{{cite news|url=http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-festivals/raconteurs-ian-brown-kaiser-chiefs-for-oxegen/spId/31C12E18-ED01-411D-2B9D8A63341FD65B.html |title=Raconteurs, Ian Brown & Kaiser Chiefs for Oxegen |date=19 February 2008 |access-date=24 February 2008 |work=MUSE.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227215459/http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-festivals/raconteurs-ian-brown-kaiser-chiefs-for-oxegen/spId/31C12E18-ED01-411D-2B9D8A63341FD65B.html |archive-date=27 February 2008 }} followed by The Fratellis, Interpol and Counting Crows the next day.{{cite news|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/4447891.html|title=Charlatans confirmed for Oxegen|date=20 February 2008|access-date=21 February 2008|work=Hot Press}} The Chemical Brothers and Justice were amongst those added on 21 February,{{cite news|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/4448163.html|title=The Chemical Brothers and Hot Chip for Oxegen|date=21 February 2008|access-date=21 February 2008|work=Hot Press}}{{cite news|url=http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-irish_news/hot-chip-set-for-two-irish-dates/spId/3DB8E2EC-EDDE-78C5-C79EA8D7F04DFD27.html |title=Hot Chip set for two Irish dates |date=21 February 2008 |access-date=24 February 2008 |work=MUSE.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227215616/http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-irish_news/hot-chip-set-for-two-irish-dates/spId/3DB8E2EC-EDDE-78C5-C79EA8D7F04DFD27.html |archive-date=27 February 2008 }} whilst on 22 February Rage Against the Machine were the last of the headliners to be confirmed.{{cite news|url=http://www.nme.com/news/oxegen-festival/34594|title=Rage Against The Machine to headline Oxegen festival|date=22 February 2008|access-date=22 February 2008|work=NME|location=UK}} On Sunday 24 February, The Verve were confirmed on the official website for an appearance at Oxegen 2008, performing last on the Main Stage on the Saturday. In the following months more bands were announced including Stereophonics,{{cite news|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/4464258.html|title=Stereophonics for Oxegen|date=25 February 2008|access-date=27 February 2008|work=Hot Press}} The Prodigy,{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/entertainment/mhojaugbgbmh/|title=Prodigy to play Oxegen|date=26 February 2008|access-date=27 February 2008|work=Irish Examiner|publisher=Thomas Crosbie Holdings}} Panic! at the Disco, The Feeling,{{cite news|url=http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-festivals/the-prodigy-added-to-oxegen-bill/spId/5A45EE04-A90C-98FF-63E5FE6814B94246.html |title=The Prodigy added to Oxegen bill |date=27 February 2008 |access-date=27 February 2008 |work=muse.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305075611/http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-festivals/the-prodigy-added-to-oxegen-bill/spId/5A45EE04-A90C-98FF-63E5FE6814B94246.html |archive-date=5 March 2008 }} Editors, Kate Nash, Bowling for Soup, The Hoosiers, Newton Faulkner, Scouting for Girls, The Zutons, Battles,{{cite news|url=http://www.nme.com/news/oxegen-festival/34826|title=Kate Nash, Richard Hawley, Editors, The Hoosiers for Oxegen 2008|date=3 March 2008|access-date=3 March 2008|work=NME|location=UK}}{{cite news|url=http://www.examiner.ie/breaking/entertainment/mhojkfeyqloj/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404182043/http://www.examiner.ie/breaking/entertainment/mhojkfeyqloj/|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 April 2008|title=New acts added to line-up for Oxegen festival|date=3 March 2008|access-date=16 March 2008|work=Irish Examiner|publisher=Thomas Crosbie Holdings}} The Wombats, The Subways, Ben Folds, The Stranglers, Amy Macdonald, Alphabeat, Amy Winehouse,{{cite news|url=http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-festivals/amy-winehouse-confirmed-for-oxegen/spId/79E1A388-CDF0-5885-7A8D9E345B161063.html |title=Amy Winehouse confirmed for Oxegen |date=4 March 2008 |access-date=9 March 2008 |work=MUSE.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307123817/http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-festivals/amy-winehouse-confirmed-for-oxegen/spId/79E1A388-CDF0-5885-7A8D9E345B161063.html |archive-date=7 March 2008 }} The Pogues, The Charlatans, The Swell Season,{{cite news|url=http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-festivals/glen-hansard-mark-ta-irglov-added-to-oxegen-bill/spId/849DA0B2-FC86-6ACB-798B066615BD5C75.html |title=Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová added to Oxegen bill |date=6 March 2008 |access-date=9 March 2008 |work=MUSE.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309101349/http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-festivals/glen-hansard-mark-ta-irglov-added-to-oxegen-bill/spId/849DA0B2-FC86-6ACB-798B066615BD5C75.html |archive-date=9 March 2008 }} Manic Street Preachers, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Ting Tings, Black Kids, MGMT, The Kooks, Groove Armada, The National, Tricky, The Go! Team, Feeder, The Pigeon Detectives, The Enemy and One Night Only.{{cite news|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/4554975.html|title=The National, The Go! Team and Tricky head list of Oxegen additions…|date=16 May 2008|access-date=16 May 2008|work=Hot Press}} Irish performers to play the festival included The Blizzards, Republic of Loose, Róisín Murphy, Bell X1, Mundy, Aslan, Paddy Casey, The Coronas, The Saw Doctors, The Kinetiks, Dirty Epics, Declan O'Rourke, Delorentos, Future Kings of Spain, Concerto For Constantine, God Is an Astronaut, The Script, Fight Like Apes, Codes and Oppenheimer.
In late 2008, Oxegen '08 won the "Yourope Award for Best European Festival" which was voted for by members of the public from across Europe.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/kings-of-leon-to-hold-court-at-oxegen-1616824.html|title=Kings of Leon to hold court at Oxegen|date=28 January 2009|access-date=1 February 2009|first=Grainne|last=Cunningham|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media}} The festival was chosen ahead of rivals such as Glastonbury, Roskilde and T in the Park.
=2008 Line-up=
For full line-up, see Oxegen 2008#Stages.
The main acts that played the festival were:[http://www.oxegen.ie/2008/lineup ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225063628/http://www.oxegen.ie/2008/lineup |date=25 February 2009 }}
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Friday 11 July | Saturday 12 July | Sunday 13 July |
| valign="top"
| Main Stage: | Main Stage:
| Main Stage:
|
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Friday 11 July | Saturday 12 July | Sunday 13 July |
| valign="top"
| The O2 Stage: | The O2 Stage:
| The O2 Stage:
|
:* – denotes cancelled performance
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Friday 11 July | Saturday 12 July | Sunday 13 July |
| valign="top"
| Green Room: | Green Room:
| Green Room:
|
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Friday 11 July | Saturday 12 July | Sunday 13 July |
| valign="top"
| Pet Sounds: | Pet Sounds:
| Pet Sounds:
|
2009 Festival
File:Blur @ Oxegen 09.JPG and Alex James of Blur on the Main Stage as the band headline Oxegen '09.]]
{{Main|Oxegen 2009}}
Oxegen '09 took place over three days{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/theticket/articles/2009/0130/1232923374641.html|title=Five Oxegen '09 acts announced|date=30 January 2009|access-date=30 January 2009|newspaper=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust}}{{cite news|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/5231382.html|title=Oxegen curfew rumours dismissed|date=30 January 2009|access-date=1 February 2009|work=Hot Press|url-access=subscription }} (subscription required) between 10–12 July with Kings of Leon, Snow Patrol, Blur and The Killers headlining.
=2009 Line-up=
The following are condensed tables of the line-up. For more details, see: Oxegen 2009#2009 Line-up.
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Friday 10 July | Saturday 11 July | Sunday 12 July |
| valign="top"
|Main Stage: | Main Stage:
| Main Stage:
|
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Friday 10 July | Saturday 11 July | Sunday 12 July |
| valign="top"
|The O2 Stage: | The O2 Stage:
| The O2 Stage:
|
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Friday 10 July | Saturday 11 July | Sunday 12 July | |
| valign="top" | Heineken Green Spheres: | Heineken Green Spheres:
| Heineken Green Spheres:
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2010 Festival
{{Main|Oxegen 2010}}
Oxegen 2010 was held between 9–11 July in Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Ireland.{{cite news
| url= http://www.hotpress.com/news/Oxegen%202010%20dates%20revealed/5716707.html
| title= Oxegen 2010 dates revealed
| date= 23 July 2009
| work= Hot Press
| access-date= 25 July 2009
}}
Eminem, Muse, Arcade Fire, Jay-Z, The Black Eyed Peas, Kasabian, The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, Florence and the Machine, Paolo Nutini, Faithless, Editors, Bell X1, Stereophonics, David Guetta, Dizzee Rascal, Doves, Julian Casablancas, The Stranglers, Earth, Wind & Fire, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Cribs, The Overview, Hot Chip, Calvin Harris, Republic of Loose, Newton Faulkner, The Temper Trap, Empire of the Sun, Goldfrapp, Gossip, La Roux, Rise Against, Ocean Colour Scene, The Coral, The Coronas, The Courteeners, Broken Social Scene, Vampire Weekend, Mumford & Sons, Ellie Goulding, Laura Marling, Two Door Cinema Club, Scouting for Girls, The Middle East, Armand Van Helden, Steve Angello, Simian Mobile Disco, Erol Alkan, Jamie T, Steve Aoki, A-Trak and Aeroplane are among the acts set to perform.
Oxegen 2010 was scheduled to be Arcade Fire's first Irish appearance since performing in the Phoenix Park and was their first 2010 European show to be confirmed.{{cite news|url=http://www.hotpress.com/Oxegen%202010/news/Arcade-Fire--Fatboy-Slim-added-to-Oxegen-lineup/6301412.html|title=Arcade Fire & Fatboy Slim added to Oxegen line-up|date=8 March 2010|access-date=8 March 2010|work=Hot Press}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nme.com/news/arcade-fire/50112|title=Arcade Fire announce European festival appearance|date=8 March 2010|access-date=8 March 2010|work=NME|location=UK}} Bell X1 gave their only Irish performance of the summer at the event on 11 July.{{cite news|url=http://www.hotpress.com/news/Bell-X1-announce-Oxegen-appearance/6460186.html|title=Bell X1 announce Oxegen appearance|date=28 April 2010|access-date=28 April 2010|work=Hot Press}} Biffy Clyro were added as well as Plan B and Kids in Glass Houses. Barry "The Blender" Henderson (of "I Am Fighter" fame) also made an appearance.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}
An anticipated appearance by Jedward did not materialise***.{{Cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2010/02/23/the-first-name-on-the-oxegen-10-bill-and-its-not-jedward/|title=The first names on the Oxegen '10 bill – and there's no sign of Jedward|first=Jill|last=Carroll|date=23 February 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust|access-date=8 June 2010}} Control Thieves did not appear at that year's festival.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}} Irish band The Overview were also rumoured to be a late addition to the line-up.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}
=2010 Line-up=
Main Stage
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Friday 9 July | Saturday 10 July | Sunday 11 July |
| valign="top"
| | *Muse
| *Eminem
|
Vodafone Stage
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Friday 9 July | Saturday 10 July | Sunday 11 July |
| valign="top"
| | *The Black Eyed Peas
| *The Prodigy
|
Heineken Green Spheres Stage
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Friday 9 July | Saturday 10 July | Sunday 11 July |
| valign="top"
| | *Calvin Harris
| *Mumford & Sons
|
2011 Festival
{{Main|Oxegen 2011}}
Oxegen 2011 was held between 7–10 July. Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, My Chemical Romance, Beyoncé, Slash, The Black Eyed Peas, The Strokes, Weezer, Beady Eye and Paolo Nutini were among the international artists to play. The Script, Whipping Boy, Imelda May, Two Door Cinema Club, Maverick Sabre, Fight Like Apes, Bressie, Royseven, Ryan Sheridan, The Rubberbandits and The Minutes were among the Irish artists to play. English pop artist Jessie J announced on 30 June that she would be unable to play the festival after falling off stage and breaking her foot which required surgery.
=2011 Line-up=
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| Main Stage |
| Friday
!Saturday !Sunday |
|---|
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"|
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"| | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"| |
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| Vodafone Stage |
| Friday
!Saturday !Sunday |
|---|
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"|
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"| | style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"|
|
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| Heineken Green Spheres |
| Friday
!Saturday !Sunday |
|---|
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"|
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"| Propaganda DJs
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"| |
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| 2FM Hotpress Academy |
| Friday
!Saturday !Sunday |
|---|
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"|
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"|
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"|
|
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| Redbull Electric Ballroom |
| Friday
!Saturday !Sunday |
|---|
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"|
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"|
| style="text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:200px;"|
|
– ** artist cancelled attendance after official announcement
2012 hiatus
On 21 December 2011, MCD posted a short notice on the Oxegen website confirming rumours that Oxegen 2012 had been cancelled. The statement read as follows: "OXEGEN, like Glastonbury, is taking a year off in 2012 and will be back July 2013. Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas & peaceful New Year. Keep Rockin' in 2012 and we will see you in 2013! Your Oxegen Team".{{cite news|url=http://www.nme.com/news/oxegen-festival/61091|title=Oxegen 2012 festival cancelled: The Irish festival promises to be back in 2013|date=21 December 2011|access-date=21 December 2011|work=NME}}{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/the-day-the-music-died-oxegen-taking-a-breather-for-a-year-2969918.html|title=The day the music died – Oxegen taking a breather for a year|date=21 December 2011|access-date=21 December 2011|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media}}{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/1221/oxegen.html|title=Oxegen 2012 cancelled|date=21 December 2011|access-date=21 December 2011|work=RTÉ Ten|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann}}{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1221/breaking1.html|title=Oxegen festival cancelled for 2012|date=21 December 2011|access-date=21 December 2011|first1=Ronan|last1=McGreevy|first2=Kitty|last2=Holland|newspaper=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16286169|title=Ireland's largest music festival cancelled for 2012|date=21 December 2011|access-date=21 December 2011|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC}}
The cancellation was expected to damage the local economy in Kildare.{{cite news|url=http://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/business/oxegen_cancellation_could_hit_local_jobs_1_3355467 |title=Oxegen cancellation could hit local jobs |date=21 December 2011 |access-date=21 December 2011 |work=Leinster Leader |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604191315/http://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/business/oxegen_cancellation_could_hit_local_jobs_1_3355467 |archive-date=4 June 2012 }} Media described the Dublin leg of The Stone Roses Reunion Tour, held in Phoenix Park on 5 July 2012, as a replacement for the year's lack of Oxegen.{{cite news|first=Brian|last=Boyd|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0705/breaking41.html|title=Rain stays away as Stone Roses play|newspaper=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust|date=5 July 2012|access-date=5 July 2012}}{{cite news|first=Ken|last=Sweeney|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/stone-roses-dreams-come-true-for-fans-in-bed-of-roses-3160455.html|title=Stone Roses: Dreams come true for fans in bed of Roses|newspaper=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|date=6 July 2012|access-date=6 July 2012}} A Swedish House Mafia concert at the same venue two days later also drew comparisons with the festival, with "Oxegen-like behaviour" culminating in a number of random unprovoked attacks and concerns that "The off-stage events which have dominated the news agenda since the Swedish House Mafia show [...] will forevermore be associated with stabbings and suspected drug deaths rather than the music."{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Carroll|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2012/07/09/a-weekend-of-festivals-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/|title=A weekend of festivals: the good, the bad and the ugly|newspaper=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust|date=9 July 2012|access-date=9 July 2012}}
2013 festival
{{Main|Oxegen 2013}}
MCD chief Denis Desmond revealed, on the official Oxegen website in April 2013, the news that Oxegen would return to the Irish festival line-up that summer following a one-year hiatus.
The festival took place in its usual home of Punchestown Racecourse in Kildare, and took place from 2–4 August 2013.{{cite web|url= http://www.joe.ie/entertainment/music/the-first-confirmed-acts-for-oxegen-2013-are-0036859-1|title= The first confirmed acts for Oxegen 2013 are...|date=22 April 2013|work=Joe.ie|access-date=24 April 2013 }}
On 22 April an announcement was made to confirm the first set of acts playing. Confirmed were Calvin Harris, Rizzle Kicks, Jack Beats, Duke Dumont, Example, Pitbull, Nero. On 24 April David Guetta was announced as one of the headline acts. The line-up was heavily criticized for having no guitar bands. The actual announcement posts were deleted on the same day as negative feedback was so heavy that festival promoters urged MCD to remove it to avoid embarrassment.{{citation needed|date=June 2013}} It is thought that ticket sales were poor, and this may have been the last time MCD attend the festival. Revellers noted that there were 38 bands above this years headliners in 2010.{{cite web|url= http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/oxegens-back-but-is-dj-guetta-really-enough-to-draw-in-the-fans-29219314.html|title= Oxegen's back... but is DJ Guetta really enough to draw in the fans?|date=24 April 2013|work=Evening Herald|access-date=24 April 2013 }}
See also
{{Portal|Rock music}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20040725050135/http://www.oxegen.ie/ Official website]
- [http://www.mcd.ie MCD, Oxegen's Promoters]
{{Oxegen}}
{{Irish Festivals}}
{{Rock festivals}}
Category:2013 disestablishments in Ireland
Category:Music festivals in Ireland
Category:Music in County Kildare
Category:Rock festivals in Ireland
Category:Electronic music festivals in Ireland