Rory McConnell and his BBC Radio One Introducing NI team will return to Glasgowbury this year in association with the Small But Massive Main Stage.
After the success of last year’s involvement when Rory and his Radio One team recorded the entire main stage programme, their return comes at a time when the chosen acts will help Glasgowbury celebrate 10 years at the heart of new music.
Radio One’s commitment has helped Glasgowbury and its unsigned acts become more recognised on an international scale, promoting the best in new and emerging music.
“Since the show became part of the BBC Introducing strand our focus changed completely to exclusively N.Irish and Irish unsigned and under the radar artists, getting involved with Glasgowbury just made so much sense,” said Introducing presenter Rory McConnell.
“As before where priorities with festival organisers might not always be about the music, it was refreshing to get involved with a group of people who had one thing on their mind: showcasing the amazing music made on this island and celebrating it in front of as many people as possible.”
Fighting With Wire will headline the Small But Massive stage after ten years of festival involvement, propelling both themselves and the event into a new era.
“It’s a big year ahead for Fighting With Wire. There’s a lot of people calling on them to stand up and be considered a world class act where they’ll be expected to regularly stand on stages the size of the Glasgowbury main stage.
“So the night of the 24th will reassure those people, and also be a very proud moment for Paddy and myself who have known Cahir from the beginning.”
Looking ahead to this year’s event, Rory is keen that this year’s acts use the platform wisely.
“I see last year as the showcase of N.Irish and Irish talent to the world, and this year now we’ve got peoples attention it’ll be important to make the most of it.
“People know there’s an amazing scene here now, so Glasgowbury 2010 is a chance for bands to act upon it and make the most of peoples ear while we’ve got it. If you’re a band lucky enough to play the festival in 2010 then invite as many people as you possibly can that are in a position to help your career, over to see you.
“Paddy should be inundated by all the bands playing asking for guestlist for all the industry folk coming to see you. Glasgowbury’s your stage, use it wisely.
“I think the way things are going this could be the last Glasgowbury as we know it, so the festival itself could be one to keep an eye on.
“It’s like a bubbling pot that’s about to boil over, I don’t think it’ll be able to stay contained much longer.”
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Glasgowbury receives funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and DCAL.
