OXEGEN 2010

Punchestown Racecourse, Co. Kildare - 9-12 July

JAY-Z, EMINEM, ARCADE FIRE, MUSE, KASABIAN, STEREOPHONICS, FAITHLESS, FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE, THE PRODIGY, PAOLO NUTINI, BLACK EYED PEAS, FATBOY SLIM, JOHN MAYER, CALVIN HARRIS, MUMFORD & SONS, THE TEMPER TRAP, NEWTON FAULKNER, HOT CHIP, 30 SECONDS TO MARS, GOSSIP AND MANY MORE...

With a line-up like that, well, a ticket for €250 doesn't seem like much! This year, Oxegen sees the introduction of a whole new breed of so-called "rock and roll". Last year's line-up of Snow Patrol, Kings of Leon, The Killers and Blur, all had one thing in common. They were all rock bands. But what about this? From the named acts above, only Muse, Stereophonics, Kasabian and (pushing it) The Temper Trap, could be classed as rock bands.

Music has generalised, and so has Oxegen. With rap superstars Jay-Z and Eminem both set to appear, it seems as if the emphasis of Europe's Greatest Rock'n'Roll weekend has shifted to general music. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? As I sit writing this preview, I'm not very sure.

I'd be extremely excited to Jay-Z take to the stage, after blowing Glastonbury away in 2008. Muse would be another one I'd go to, along with The Prodigy and possibly Fatboy Slim. But from last year's line-up, only Paolo Nutini and Florence & Co have survived. Having seen both of them last year, I would gladly go and refresh my knowledge of them on a live stage for the third time each. Newton Faulkner was fantastic in 2008, and having witnessed The Temper Trap at the Meteor Awards, I would happily drag myself to them.

But I'm still not so sure.

It seems as if dance-pop-chart lovers would be delighted with this line-up, with Faithless, the Prodigy and Fatboy Slim ready to blow everyone (already off their faces) away, and Black Eyed Peas to declare that "Tonight's gonna be....." But is this really Oxegen? Or has Oxegen now generalised? Go see for yourself. If you're into that kind of thing!

OL

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO AT OXEGEN 2010:

10) SEE MUMFORD AND SONS. WHENEVER THEY MAY BE ON, THEY SHOULD NOT BE MISSED!

9) GO INTO THE CENTRA SHOP, GET A PLASTIC TUB OF CORN FLAKES MILK THEM, AND EAT THEM WHILE SLOWLY DANDERING AROUND THE SHOP. WHILE APPROACHING THE TILL, MAKE SURE YOU'RE FINISHED, AND HEY PRESTO, YOU JUST GOT A FREE BREAKFAST!

8) TAKE PLENTY OF PHOTOS. SOMETHING TO LOOK BACK ON WHEN YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO GO THE YEAR AFTER.

7) STEAL SOMETHING FROM A STALL. WHETHER IT BE A HAT, SUNGLASSES, T-SHIRT, ANYTHING, STEAL IT, AND DISAPPEAR INTO THE CROWD.

6) ROCK OUT ON THE THURSDAY NIGHT TO A TRIBUTE BAND. SET THE TONE FOR THE WEEKEND.

5) MIX WITH PEOPLE.... SAFELY.... AND NOT STUPIDLY...

4) HAVE A BEER FIGHT. (ON THE LAST DAY, IF YOU HAVE LEFTOVERS)

3) IF DIZZEE RASCAL AND FLORENCE ARE PLAYING ON THE SAME DAY, MAKE SURE TO CHECK BOTH OUT. JUST IN CASE YOU GET TO SEE A LIVE "YOU GOT THE LOVE" MIX.

2) MAKE FRIENDLY CONSTANT CONVERSATION WITH CERTAIN STALL OWNERS (DON'T STEAL FROM THESE) AND THEY'LL HELP YOU SAVE A BIT OF THAT OH SO PRECIOUS MONEY.

1) ROCK/GENERALISE OUT!