2004 in Irish music

This is an, as yet, incomplete summary of the year 2004 in the Irish music industry.

Summary

March

* Tickets for Oxegen 2004, the festival that would in years to come be a worthy successor to Witnness, went on sale on Friday March 5. 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 web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0219/oxegen.html|title="Bowie & Darkness Punchestown-bound"|date=2004-02-19|accessdate=2008-01-03|publisher=RTÉ]

June

* On Friday June 11, tickets for Dido's August performance at Marlay Park in Dublin, supported by Scissor Sisters, went on sale priced at €55. [cite web|url=http://www.hotpress.com/archive/2730305.html|title="Dido announces Dublin date"|date=2004-06-02|accessdate=2008-02-10|publisher="Hot Press"]
* On Saturday June 12, Red Hot Chili Peppers played Phoenix Park, supported by Hothouse Flowers. It was their fourth consecutive year to appear in Ireland. [cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0604/rhcp.html|title="Chilis break Irish concerts record"|date=2004-06-04|accessdate=2008-01-03|publisher=RTÉ]
* On June 25, tickets for The White Stripes two August shows in Dublin (Marlay Park) and Belfast (Botanic Gardens) went on sale. [cite web|url=http://www.hotpress.com/archive/2732002.html|title="The White Stripes for Dublin & Belfast"|date=2004-06-12|accessdate=2008-02-10|publisher="Hot Press"]
* On Wednesday June 30 it was announced that David Bowie would be unable to headline his scheduled slot on the Sunday night of Oxegen 2004. [cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0630/oxegen.html|title="The Darkness replace Bowie at OXEGEN"|date=2004-06-30|accessdate=2008-01-03|publisher=RTÉ]

July

* Oxegen 2004 took place on Saturday July 10 and Sunday July 11, headlined by The Darkness, The Strokes and The Cure. It was the natural successor to Witnness and like the previous year's festival was held at Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare. It was the first of two new festivals this year that would leave a permanent mark on the Irish music scene in later years.

August

* On August 24, The White Stripes played Marlay Park in Dublin. On August 25, they played Belfast's Botanic Gardens. They were supported at both shows by New York Dolls. [cite web|url=http://www.hotpress.com/archive/2732986.html|title="New York Dolls to support the White Stripes"|date=2004-06-17|accessdate=2008-02-10|publisher="Hot Press"]
* On August 25, Dido played Marlay Park in Dublin with support from Scissor Sisters. [cite web|url=http://www.hotpress.com/archive/2730305.html|title="Dido announces Dublin date"|date=2004-06-02|accessdate=2008-02-10|publisher="Hot Press"]
* The first Electric Picnic was held at Stradbally, County Laois. Beginning as a one-day event, it was soon to become an international hit, and it wasn't long before it was catching up on Oxegen in popularity. Its patrons praised it for its unique atmosphere and, although it didn't attract the same internationally recognised acts as Oxegen, it became very much a fixture in later years.

November

* November 19 saw the Irish release of the internationally anticipated eleventh studio album by U2. "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" debuted at #1 in 34 countries and worldwide sales as of 2006 number close to 10 million copies sold. The album was preceded by the lead single "Vertigo", released for radio airplay on September 24, when it received extensive airplay and topped the charts in several countries when it was released on November 8.

December

* On December 1, Foo Fighters were confirmed as the Sunday night headliner for Oxegen 2005. [cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/1201/foofighters.html|title="Foo Fighters to headline OXEGEN 2005"|date=2004-12-01|accessdate=2008-01-03|publisher=RTÉ] [cite web|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2004/12/01/story178447.asp|title="Foo Fighters to headline Oxegen"|date=2005-12-01|accessdate=2008-01-06|publisher=BreakingNews.ie]
* On December 10, The Prodigy were confirmed for Oxegen 2005. [cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/1210/oxegen.html|title="Prodigy announce OXEGEN appearance"|date=2004-12-10|accessdate=2008-01-03|publisher=RTÉ]

Bands formed

* The Chakras
* Dark Room Notes
* The Flaws
* Glyder
* Lluther
* Travega "(January)"
* Triega "(July)"

Bands disbanded

* Moloko

Bands reformed

* Planxty
* The Radiators From Space

Albums & EPs

:"Below is a list of notable albums & EPs released by Irish artists in Ireland in 2004."

* "Absent Friends" - The Divine Comedy "(March 29 2004)"
* "Meltdown" - Ash "(May 17 2004)"
* "Kindness" - The Radio "(August 2004)" [http://www.muse.ie/music-ireland-music_news-irish_news/the-radio-announce-second-album-details/spId/AE2E62F8-B589-E937-780AB7CE73E294EB.html]
* "Let's Bottle Bohemia" - The Thrills "(September 13 2004)"
* "Burn the Maps" - The Frames "(September 17 2004)"
* "Bavarian EP" - The Divine Comedy "(October 25 2004)" - "(EP downloadable from official website)"
* "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" - U2 "(November 19 2004)"Unknown
* "Nightrock" - The Chalets "(2004)" - "(EP)"
* "Something Ilk" - Cathy Davey "(2004)"
* "" - The Undertones "(2004)"
* "" - "( 2004)"
* "" - "( 2004)"

Singles

:"Below is a list of notable singles released by Irish artists in Ireland in 2004."January - July
* "Clones" - Ash "(February 24 2004)"
* "Come Home Billy Bird" - The Divine Comedy "(March 22 2004)"
* "Chocolate" - Snow Patrol "(April 12 2004)"
* "Orpheus" - Ash "(May 3 2004)"
* "Absent Friends" - The Divine Comedy "(June 14 2004)"
* "Starcrossed" - Ash "(July 19 2004)"
* "" - "( 2004)"

August - December
* "Finally" - The Frames "(August 20 2004)"
* "How to Be Dead" - Snow Patrol "(October 25 2004)"
* "Vertigo" - U2 "(November 8 2004)"
* "Renegade Cavalcade" - Ash "(December 2004)"
* "" - "( 2004)"
* "" - "( 2004)"
* "" - "( 2004)"

Date unknown
* "Whatever Happened to Corey Haim?" - The Thrills "(??? 2004)"
* "Not For All the Love in the World" - The Thrills "(??? 2004)"
* "" - "( 2004)"
* "" - "( 2004)"

Festivals

Oxegen 2004

* Oxegen 2004 took place at Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare on Saturday July 9 and Sunday July 11. It was headlined by The Darkness, The Cure and The Strokes, whilst Kings of Leon, PJ Harvey, The Divine Comedy, The Libertines, Franz Ferdinand, Scissor Sisters, Muse, Faithless, Massive Attack, Basement Jaxx and Chemical Brothers also appeared.

Electric Picnic 2004

* Electric Picnic 2004 took place in Stradbally Estate, County Laois. It was headlined by Groove Armada, Super Furry Animals, Jurassic 5, David Kitt, Mylo and Erol Alkan.

Heineken Green Energy

* Heineken Green Energy took place for the 9th year in 2004, featuring The Streets and The Stooges.

Slane 2004

* Slane 2004 was headlined by Madonna, supported by Paul Oakenfold and Iggy Pop and the Stooges.

Music awards

2004 Meteor Awards

The 2004 Meteor Awards were held on ???, 2004.

* Best Irish Male: Paddy Casey
* Best Irish Female: Cara Dillon
* Best Irish Band: The Frames
* Best Irish Album: "So Much for the City" - The Thrills
* Best Irish Single: "" -
* Best New Irish Act: Future Kings of Spain
* Best Irish Pop Act: Westlife
* Best Live Performance: Red Hot Chili Peppers (Slane 2003)
* Best Irish DJ: Ryan Tubridy
* Hope For 2004: Republic of Loose
* Best Folk/Traditional: Damien Dempsey
* Best International Male: Justin Timberlake
* Best International Female: Beyoncé Knowles
* Best International band: The Darkness
* Best International album: "Elephant" - The White Stripes
* Industry Award: Dave Fanning
* Lifetime Achievement Award: The Dubliners
* Humanitarian Award: Sister Stanislaus Kennedy

Choice Music Prize

The Choice Music Prize did not exist this year.

References

External links

News
* [http://www.hotpress.com/ Official "Hot Press" website] Festivals
* [http://www.oxegen.ie/ Official Oxegen website]
* [http://www.electricpicnic.ie/flash.html Official Electric Picnic website]
* [http://www.budrising.ie/ Official Bud Rising website]
* [http://www.heinekenmusic.ie/index1.php Official Green Energy website] Other
* [http://www.imro.ie/ Official IMRO website]
* [http://www.rte.ie/2fm/ Official 2fm website]
* [http://www.mcd.ie/home/splash.php3 Official MCD website]
* [http://www.aikenpromotions.com/ Official Aiken Promotions website]