Everything You Need To Know About Otherside
Image Credit: Otherside
Everything You Need To Know About Otherside
Words: Dray Morgan
Kicking off on 7 July, Otherside is one of Ireland’s newest and most unique festivals. The weekend centres around fostering an environment for connection, collaboration and enjoyment. It Combines comedy with community and music with mysticism. Throughout the Slane grounds, Otherside brings you closer to the historical heart of Ireland and as far from the day-to-day as possible.
A Backbone of Great Music
Music sculpts the energy of a festival and Otherside has curated a lineup of acts to perfectly match its mission statement. Each headliner brings a different element to the table.
With an undisclosed identity veiled behind a distinctive mask, SBTRKT has garnered acclaim for his boundary-pushing compositions. Influenced by a fusion of future bass, UK garage, dubstep, and soul, he has collaborated with an array of esteemed artists including Sampha, Ezra Koenig, and Jessie Ware.
CMAT has had a stellar year. Her throwback pop has seen great success, booking her a performance at Glastonbury and a Saturday headliner over this weekend. Her performances are filled with infectious energy which matches her music.
Closing out the weekend will be Bombay Bicycle Club. Their eclectic sound is based on indie, folk and electronica with introspective lyricism that still gets you dancing.
As well as the headliners, Otherside has ensured a lineup which seamlessly flows with the energy of a summer day. From hip-hop and RnB acts such as Monjola and Aby Coulibaly to the bassline-heavy AE86 collective, Otherside has you covered.
Feast Like Royalty
Otherside would not be complete without their banquet, “The Roast”, created by Happy’s. A feast fit for a festival goer, Happy’s have taken the classic roast and reimagined it from an East Asian perspective. Dishes include a choice between cumin & treacle cured roast beef, char siu rock farm porchetta, or a jungle curry cauliflower steak. Trimmings with an eastern twist ground your tastebuds in Ireland whilst also taking you to “the otherside”.
The structure of the meals, with long banquet tables, once again reinforces the ethos of the festival, to collaborate and communicate. Saturday’s meal is paired with a live Drag show to add that splash of flair to your meal. Sunday’s banquet will be accompanied by a live trad session to culturally enrich the culinary experience.
Laugh for Days
At Otherside, when you aren’t eating or dancing, you’re laughing. Comedy is one of the pillars of the weekend with The Craic Den Comedy Club taking the reigns and exhibiting some of the best comedians Ireland has to offer. This includes David McSavage, John Collery, Emma Doran and many more acts who have consistently been at the forefront of making the Irish public laugh for years.
Festival in Style
If wet tents and dry showers are the things that deter you from enjoying a weekend away at a festival, then Otherside is your saving grace. On sight, there is an array of luxury options which allow for a smooth sailing weekend. Quaint pine shepherd’s huts and luxury yurts are on offer to provide comfort and class for your festival. Thinking bigger? There’s the River House to accommodate up to 12 people.
When you decide it’s time to leave base camp or just need space to unwind from the festivities, delve into the relaxation opportunities available. In the idyllic setting of the rock farm, Rise Nordic Spa is bringing their natural swimming pool alongside hot tubs, saunas, massage and wellness treatments.
Communication is Key
EANCHOÍCHE is a storytelling night founded in Dublin that currently runs in Dublin, London and Amsterdam. Otherside welcomes the storytelling session with an emphasis on real people exploring the fantastical and reality. You can apply on the Otherside website to take part and give yourself a voice. Personal anecdotes, fictional tales, poems, spoken word and any other ideas you may have are all welcome as we all converge to enjoy and discuss in the perfect environment for harbouring social interaction.
Late Night Antics
Relaxation is all good and well, but what is a festival without a party? Otherside has curated arenas specifically structured for a woodland celebration into the late night. From trad in the forest to raves between the trees, there’s an evening event to cater to all tastes. The unique setting of the Slane grounds paired with the sounds of the traditional and modern make for an unforgettable experience.
Otherside festival takes place from 7-9 July. You can grab tickets and find more information here
Elsewhere on District: CMAT wins ‘Album of the Year’ at RTÉ Choice Music Prize
