Oxegen needs Change

Oxegen

Year after year I get a swarm of emails from the cool people at Oxegen 09, but I am seldom impressed. MCD, the organisers, lack innovation. Year after year, they do the same thing, with almost the same headliners. This year they have yet again Snow Patrol, Kings of Leon, and The Killers. We’ve seen them all before, doing their same 10-song set. While we are all too drunk to truly appreciate it, the organizers are taking our cash with open arms, and now I’m sick of it. Here are a few ways they could help spice up future festivals

1. Television

The last time I was at Oxegen was in 2007, and I saw about 15-20 cameras around each stage. I know these are primarily for the giant screens on each side of the stage, but they could be used for so much more.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could experience Oxegen, without going to Oxegen. Ok maybe not but what about the people who loved Oxegen so much when they went, the wanted a DVD to relive it. Surely they could work that into an agreement with bands so they are allowed to make one, and I think people would buy it.

Other festivals like Reading and Pinkpop have televised concerts, so why not Oxegen? Also I know they play clips from the bands on 2fm every so often, but its just not enough.

2. Cheaper tickets

Ok maybe its because I’m a student, but the tickets are way overpriced. There have been improvements this year, with people having to only pay a €60 deposit, and pay in increments, but besides that they aren’t selling them like they could. Think about it, if they sold the tickets cheaper, more people would buy them, making a larger turnout, which in turn would give them more money. Especially in these times of recession, we need this more than ever.

3. Variety

At Oxegen 2007 they had some great bands there. Muse, Kings of Leon, Killers, Snow Patrol. But now a lot of these acts are back… again. Kings of Leon are returning for their third consecutive year and Snow Patrol is playing their second time in 3 Years. Can we have someone else, MCD?

4. Location Change

Punches-town Racecourse is a great venue, but its getting a bit old. Maybe move to a venue in the west of Ireland, where we get little or no high profile acts throughout the year. My suggestion would be Limerick Racecourse, because its a short drive to the airport, easy access from Limerick City, and its in the West of Ireland! No more congestion on the Naas Road.

Oxegen is in a rut, year after year of the same old acts that have gone the year before. Oxegen is a great festival and it saddens me with the fact that nothing has been done to liven in up. The organisers need to change their ways before no one goes…