Kings of Leon top bill at Slane anniversary gig

AMERICAN ROCK band Kings of Leon were yesterday confirmed to headline the 30th anniversary concert at Slane Castle next summer.

The four-piece will play the historic Co Meath venue on May 28th next, three decades after Thin Lizzy headlined the first Slane gig, supported by U2.

Having the band playing was “inevitable”, venue owner Henry Lord Mountcharles said.

Having the Tennessee act, consisting of three Followill brothers and a cousin, to headline the anniversary concert was a “really good fit”, he said.

“Their musical journey is special. They have openly admitted that Thin Lizzy was one of their primary influences, and [Thin Lizzy] opened the first Slane in 1981.Thirty years later, that had a poignancy to me,” Lord Henry Mountcharles said.

He has consulted U2, who have had Kings of Leon as a support act on tour, about the US outfit.

Lord Henry has walked though the estate listening to the band's latest album to try to imagine how it might sound. He concluded the songs on the Come Around Sundownalbum, at No 1 in the Irish charts, have "all the stuff that works in the venue".

The set list will likely include hits from previous albums such as Sex on Fireand Use Somebody. Kings of Leon have become Irish festival favourites, headlining Oxegen in 2008 and 2009.

“Significant changes” are to be implemented due to a review after the last Slane concert in 2008. Fans complained of major transport delays, queues and alleged overcrowding after Oasis headlined.

The changes include bus turnaround facilities (refreshments and toilets), widening of the Dublin entrance, a new emergency exit, a bigger bar, and a widening of the perimeter.

“We have a proud tradition and want to get it right,” Lord Henry said.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, November 5th, priced at €79.

TOO HOT TO HANDLE: TAKE THAT FANS CRASH WEBSITE

THE VOLUME of demand for Take That tickets crashed the Ticketmaster website yesterday as thousands of fans tried to secure tickets for the band’s two Croke Park concerts.

Tickets for the July 18th concert went on sale at 8am and sold out within about 30 minutes. Tickets for the July 19th gig went on sale at about 8.40am and were “selling well” before the site crashed. Some 82,000 tickets a night are available for the Dublin shows.

The problems were sparked by the volume of fans in the UK coming online to secure tickets for the British leg of the Progress Live tour, which went on sale at 9am.

The tour includes four nights at Wembley Stadium. The unprecedented demand also caused significant problems for online ticket websites in the UK.