Oxegen

From 09 July 2010 to 11 July 2010

If you were on Facebook last Tuesday, there's a good chance you stumbled across status messages much in the tone of "OMG, Oxegen line-up amazing! Soooo going!"

Yes folks, it's getting close to that time of year again. Oxegen could nearly be given a subtitle as "After Leaving Cert holiday" because it's become so popular with 6th years celebrating freedom over the years. And what better way to celebrate than by getting wasted in a field with 80,000 others?

What would July be without the long drive to Punchestown, the futile pitching of a tent, the mind-numbingly impossible amount of muck you'll undoubtedly fall into, the "accidental" stumbling into an act's dressing room before getting turfed out? By the time you're getting set to come home, you still haven't managed to get the tent up and now smell like you've been living underground for a week.

But hey, that's all part of the fun, isn't it? Someone once said of Glastonbury that it's best to get the falling on your arse out of the way on the first day and you'll enjoy the rest of the festival then. The same is true of Oxegen. In fact don't just slip, do a dirty, great, exhibitionist Klinsmann right through the muckiest spot of the site. You'll feel much better after it.

Jay-Z and Eminem take the headlining slots this year, though I wager that the bookies will be taking bets on the latter turning up. Present also are John Mayer (fresh off his, so-racist-he-must-have-been-mad Playboy interview), newest Irish whipping boys, Mumford and Sons, and everyone's favourite smelly Scotch-man Paolo Nutini. Florence and the Machine, Kasabian and Vampire Weekend also take to the stage.
Tickets go on sale March 12th. But if you can't wait until then, register at oxegen.ie for an exclusive pre-sale.

After that, start saving for cans!