Now It’s Oxedance

Denis Desmond’s resurrected Oxegen Festival in Ireland has become so focused on DJs that he’s thinking of renaming it Oxedance.

Photo: MCD Productions

Or, as the Irish Times put it, “Dance music breathes new life into revamped Oxegen festival.”

Last year Desmond shelved the outdoor on Punchestown race track, which in 2011 had a lineup that included Beyoncé, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, and The Strokes, but this year brought it back with as a dance music show with the likes of David Geutta, Calvin Harris, Snoop Dogg, Pitbull, and Chase & Status. “We’re thinking of re-naming it Oxedance,” he told Pollstar, reporting a 50,000 crowd Aug. 2-4.

Of Desmond’s upcoming festivals, the twinned V festivals and Reading Festival are sold out. Leeds Festival, which is twinned with Reading, is on the way to selling out.

He said tickets for Electric Picnic, currently the subject of a legal battle between Desmond and minority partner John Reynolds, are “flying.” Other acts on the Oxegen bill included Example, Labrinth, Alesso, Soulwax, Nero, and Rita Ora.