Music

EP crowd loses its mind for DJ MoK with RTÉ Concert Orchestra

Orchestra’s strings often drowned out by the crowd’s enthusiasm for Rankin’s Wood set

Perfect festival formula: DJ Mo K and the RTE Concert Orchestra onstage in Rankin’s Wood. Photograph: Dave Meehan/The Irish Times

Una Mullalley
Fri Sep 1 2017 - 21:57

DJ Mo K and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra

Rankin’s Wood

*****

The second you walked into the tent for the latest in RTÉ’s astonishingly successful series of catapulting their orchestra into contemporary pop culture with a splash of nostalgia, you knew it was about to go off. The support DJ bashed out bangers from Migos, Cardi B and YG. The place was slammed, and if there were officials outside collecting license fees, now would be the time, RTÉ.

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The place starts belting out the Ole Oles before a note is played. The gig is non-stop, the orchestra’s strings often drowned out by the crowd’s enthusiasm for tracks by Wu Tang, Salt n Pepa, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Lauryn Hill, 2Pac, Dre, Eminem, Kanye, 50 Cent, Stormzy and House Of Pain.

Especially brilliant are the strings on Lose Yourself, Flashing Lights and In Da Club.

Occasionally the energy overtakes the tightness of the performance, but the people on each other’s shoulders and punters losing their minds don’t care.

This is a perfect festival formula; musical prowess and unadulterated pop fun.

It’s truly a shame that this set isn’t headlining Electric Arena or an evening slot on the Main Stage, because with so many people under the canvas, the sound is often lost in the hysteria. An absolute triumph.

In three words: Wreck the gaff

If you like this, go see: A Tribe Called Quest

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