Upstart Festival returns with a bang in Cork 

In the post-covid circumstances surrounding Cork and its music scene, the ever-changing goalposts of venues, the comings and goings of festivals, and the unending turnover of people whose lives drift in and out of the city amid wider socioeconomic events have rendered some events, artists, and scenes more accessible than others to the general public.

The crisis has forced us all to think about access to some degree or other, be it quiet zones for neurodivergent gig-goers and performers, the state of physical disability accommodations, or remote access to events for those still immunocompromised or otherwise limited in their mobility — to say nothing of changed personal circumstances, etc.

It’s within those frames that Glounthaune community one-dayer Upstart Festival becomes ever-more important to the city’s cultural community — accessible by public transport or bike, available to gig-goers ages 16 and up, with food and merchandise stalls, running in the afternoon to the late evening, and all done and dusted before the last train back to the city.

“When we talk to people, a lot more people seem to have heard of it this year, which is great to hear,” says festival director Jesper Pedersen.

“It gives the team a lift that’s needed, y’know, it’s a lot of work, and that’s what keeps us going.

“It is developing a good reputation, we think we’re growing a little bit, and we’re definitely finding our formula by showcasing Cork bands.

“We could have grown it quicker, but we’ve grown it at a pace that’s really let us make sure that everyone feels welcome, that the bands feel welcome, that the neighbours are okay with it.”

That widening awareness of events like Upstart, alongside other community events like DOSE Weekender, Young Tongues of Cork, and the New Blood gigs at St Luke’s for 2024’s Midsummer Festival, points to the viability of non-traditional availability of music in the city’s public realm.

While Pedersen and crew have taken it one step at a time, that conversation is growing exponentially as the city’s music scene continues to endure a dearth of dedicated spaces.

“We kind of felt that if you make everyone feel welcome, they’d all want to go. We’re finding that we’re loving it, because we’re seeing up-and-coming bands; neighbours just appreciate the atmosphere of a good day out.

“Everyone sees that it’s a friendly, warm welcome you get when you go, and we think that’s maybe what just stands out a little bit from bigger events or that kind of thing — there’s just that vibe of the whole thing being organised by friends and neighbours that’s still coming across, even four years in.”

The festival’s policy of spotlighting emerging talent is to the fore again this year: Post-punk outfit Cardinals are on a roll in Britain at present; I Dreamed I Dream are just back from a Portugal excursion with an armful of new material; Telebox cash in their UCC Battle of the Bands win with a spot at the festival; Mossy’s dreamy indie-pop has gone from strength to strength; Single Men in Their Twenties’ dark-horse status continues aboard a packed line-up, while former members of Cork rockers Manhole have reconvened under the name The Men from Manhole.

“I just think ‘tis class, I think it’s really cool that they’ve taken this space, just a field, y’know, and they make it the most unbelievable day festival,” says I Dreamed I Dream guitar-mangler Elle O’Leary-Kelleher.

“A young person can go, and it’s not the same kind of messy, shitty festival thing, people going there for non-musical reasons. Everyone who goes to it is there to see cool bands and have a good time — that’s class.”

“We were there two years ago for the first time, took the train out to Glounthaune, and we just have such fond memories of it,” recalls Cardinals man Euan Manning. “You never allow your head to get too big [with recent success across the water], that you can’t play a festival in Cork that you want to do, or, you know, do something that you want to do in your city, for the people that you know, so we’re feeling excited, really, and looking forward to it.

“We can’t wait,” says Mossy lead guitarist Brian McDonnell.

“It’s cool that there’s something like this in Cork, even like because at the level that we’re at, y’know, we don’t really get offered many festivals, because we’re still playing the smaller venues and stuff.

“To be given the opportunity, especially so close to home, and especially with all the other bands that have played there, like The Cliffords and God Alone, is class.”

“The Men from Manhole are going to have a lot of people interested — a lot of people not knowing what they’re going to see, a lot of people can’t wait to see what they saw years ago,” opines Pedersen.

“It came out of the blue that we reformed, so to speak, three out of

the five of us,” explains Manhole bassist Gussie O’Herlihy.

“It’s really exciting again, in order to be playing in front of people, and Upstart is a cracking festival because it’s small, it’s local, it’s easy access, and there’s no big corporation involved.

“It’s like we never kind of stopped,” continues O’Herlihy on the band’s reunion. “It’s as chaotic and enjoyable as when we were in our 20s. A lot of it comes back to you, and other stuff, you have to go: ‘Yeah, there’s some vague little memories of this tune coming here now’, when we’re reworking the old stuff.

“The music itself is a soundtrack for an animated movie made by Glen, our keyboard player. The story behind it is very complicated. I don’t even get it, but luckily, I don’t have to.”

With all this in mind, Pedersen’s gearing up for another full day of music and fun at the heart of the village that also gave the world Cathal Coughlan — reinforcing its status as a crucible for Cork’s homegrown music.

“I’m expecting a good day out, same as we’ve had the other years.

“I just really hope that people will come down, bring their friends, and have a great day out. There’s great music, there’s great food, and we’re doing early bird tickets to the end of August.

“I think people are beginning to get it, and they’re beginning to see that even if you don’t know every band, maybe you can take a chance, come down, and you see for yourself there’s some great bands playing. In some cases, the bands on the lineup are playing much bigger festivals, and we’re getting to see them at a nice local event close up. We can’t wait. It’s going to be brilliant.”

• Upstart Festival takes place in Craig’s Field in Glounthaune on Saturday, September 14.
• Gates open at 4pm, with Cardinals, I Dreamed I Dream, Mossy, The Men from Manhole, Telebox, and Single Men in Their Twenties on the line-up, finishing up by 10pm.
• More information and early-bird tickets (€20 plus booking fee) are available at upstartfestival.ie. Open to 16-year-olds and older, with 15-year-olds allowed alongside a parent or guardian. Music is curated by The Glounthaune Vinyl Club, and help comes from Cork County Council, PureCork, and Fáilte Ireland’s Local Festival fund.