Myokhotelwon a competition to play at Oxegen.
Not many bands can say that their ninth-ever gig was a performance at Oxegen, but Kildare-based myokhotel can say exactly that come 1pm today. As part of a competition run by Kildare County Council in conjunction with MCD, the band were chosen as one of two (Miraclebell are the other) to appear at the New Band stage at the festival.
"We didn't even own a microphone up to three weeks ago," says singer and guitarist Shane Delahunty (19), explaining how far they have come since being selected by a panel of judges from 55 unsigned bands at the final.
"We were convinced it was going to be this big anti-climax and then they announced we had won and we all just stood there shaking our heads. It didn't sink in for a long time and then we started to think about all the work we needed to do and how nerve-wracking it was going to be. Obviously we are excited, but there are also emotions there that don't even have a name."
The band consists of friends, Delahunty, Conor Berkeley, Niall Barret and Matt Stapleton. "We started in sixth year but it's only really in the last year that we have been doing things properly." All four went off to college in various locations after school but Delahunty has since dropped out.
"I was doing commerce in UCD but it was just boring. I am going to switch to multi-media or something this year, hopefully. With the guys in college we are only rehearsing every three weeks or so, but when we do get together we work really hard."
Delahunty admits that Oxegen is a colossal step up from anything they have done before. "We don't know how many people will show up. Because the lads are at college, we have loads of people promising to come along but we don't know if anyone else will show any interest. It would be great to look out from the stage and see people we don't know, people who are just coming along to see us because they are curious. That would be unreal." As you would expect, the dream of being picked up by a label is also in the mix. "It would be amazing if something came of this but realistically we might be forgotten about the next day. I know we might never get this opportunity again so I just want to enjoy it."
Preparations this week have included nightly rehearsals and finalising their half hour set. "We have six songs lined up, although when we are nervous we tend to play fast so we have two or three extra ones ready, just in case. You don't want to be standing there 20 minutes in with no material left." So they're all ready then? "We just need a tent now for the weekend - that would be useful." Michael Kelly
Oxegen 2007 starts today and continues tomorrow at Punchestown, Co Kildare. www.oxegen.ie