View source for Witnness

{{Short description|Irish music festival}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox music festival |
  | music_festival_name = Witnness
  | image = [[File:Witnness.JPG|225px]]
  | location = [[County Meath]], [[Ireland]] (2000–2002) <br> [[County Kildare]], [[Ireland]] (2003)
  | years_active = 2000–2003
  | founded_by = 
  | dates = First weekend of August (2000–2001) <br> Second weekend of July (2002–2003)
  | genre = [[Alternative rock]]; [[Rock music|rock]]
}}

'''Witnness''' was an Irish [[music festival]], sponsored by [[Guinness]], which ran for four consecutive summers from 2000 to 2003. Originally it was held at [[Fairyhouse Racecourse ]] in [[County Meath]], but it was moved to [[Athy]] in [[County Kildare]] for its final year. 

In 2004, Guinness were replaced by [[Heineken]] as sponsors, and the festival continued as before at Punchestown, changing its name to '''[[Oxegen]]'''.

==2000 Festival==
The 2000 festival was the first Witnness festival to be held. It took place on 5 and 6 August 2000 in Fairyhouse Racecourse in [[County Meath]], [[Ireland]].

The main event was supported by several smaller local gigs in and around Dublin featuring artists playing smaller venues than they would normally play. A promotional [[Enhanced CD]] containing music, videos and interactive toys was distributed free of charge in participating clubs and pubs.

The line-up included [[Travis (band)|Travis]], [[Beck]], [[David Gray (British musician)|David Gray]], [[Bell X1 (band)|Bell X1]], [[Marbles (Band)|Marbles]], [[Paul Weller (singer)|Paul Weller]], [[Asian Dub Foundation]], [[Johnny Moy]], [[Badly Drawn Boy]], [[The Undertones]], [[Kíla]], [[Paddy Casey]], [[Happy Mondays]], [[Death in Vegas]], [[Hothouse Flowers]], [[Watercress]], [[Leftfield]], [[Toploader]], [[Wilt (band)|Wilt]], [[All Saints (group)|All Saints]], and [[Therapy?]].

==2001 Festival==
The 2001 festival again took place in Fairyhouse on 4 and 5 August 2001. Amongst the bands playing were [[Muse (band)|Muse]], [[Fun Lovin' Criminals]], [[Faithless]] and [[The Avalanches]].

Also on the line-up were Ash, Placebo, Shack, [[The Keds]], The Charlatans, Stereophonics, [[Neil Finn]], [[The Waterboys]], [[Evan Dando]], [[Texas (band)|Texas]], [[Frank Black]], [[Snow Patrol]], [[Alabama 3]], [[Turn (band)|Turn]], [[The Frames]], [[Proud Mary]], [[Relish (band)|Relish]], [[The White Stripes]], [[James (band)|James]], Clinic, Teenage Fanclub, Super Furry Animals and [[David Kitt]].

==2002 Festival==
[[File:Picresized brown.jpg|right|thumb|[[Ian Brown]] performing at Witnness in 2002.]]
The 2002 festival was moved from August to 13 and 14 July at Fairyhouse Racecourse. The festival was closed out on Sunday night by headliners [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] and Saturday night was headlined by [[The Prodigy]].<ref>For further information and photos, see [http://www.showbizireland.com/news/july02/15-witnness02.shtml here]. See also: [http://www.hotpress.com/music/interviews/2667774.html Dave Fanning's thoughts]</ref>
The line-up included [[The Chemical Brothers]], [[2 Many DJ's]], [[Basement Jaxx]], [[The Dandy Warhols]], [[Badly Drawn Boy]], [[Green Day]], [[The Foo Fighters]], [[Sonic Youth]], [[Mercury Rev]], [[No Doubt]], [[Damien Rice]], [[Mogwai]], [[The Redneck Manifesto (band)|The Redneck Manifesto]], [[The Frames]], [[Lemon Jelly]], [[Massive Attack]], [[The Polyphonic Spree]], [[The Coral]], [[Primal Scream]], [[Nina Hynes]], [[Jimmy Eat World]], [[The Hives]], [[The Devlins]], [[Turn (band)|Turn]], [[The Libertines]], [[Hoobastank]], [[Spiritualized]], [[The Jimmy Cake]], [[Black Rebel Motorcycle Club]], [[Gemma Hayes]], [[Idlewild (band)|Idlewild]], [[Ian Brown]], [[Rival Schools (band)|Rival Schools]], [[Cooper Temple Clause]], [[Dogs Die In Hot Cars]], [[The Beta Band]], [[Leaves (Icelandic band)|Leaves]], [[Starsailor (band)|Starsailor]] and [[David Kitt]].

==2003 Festival==
The last Witnness festival took place across five stages in a new venue, [[Punchestown Racecourse]] in [[County Kildare]], on 12 and 13 July 2003. Tickets went on-sale Friday 11 April at 8&nbsp;am and cost €59.50 (for one day), €109.50 (for both days) and €130.50 (for both days plus camping).

Saturday was headlined by [[Coldplay]] and also featured [[Sugababes]], [[Badly Drawn Boy]], [[Supergrass]], [[Underworld (band)|Underworld]], [[The Streets]], [[The Coral]], [[The Roots]], [[Death in Vegas]], [[The Complete Stone Roses]], [[Röyksopp]], [[Gemma Hayes]], [[Mogwai]], [[The Thrills]], [[Appleton (music duo)|Appleton]], [[Colin MacIntyre|Mull Historical Society]], [[Ed Harcourt]], [[The Rapture (band)|The Rapture]] and many more. 

Sunday was headlined by [[David Gray (British musician)|David Gray]] and [[Manic Street Preachers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualfestivals.com/festivals/reviews/521|title=Witnness 2003: Manic Street Preachers to headline!|date=13 April 2003|access-date=3 March 2008|publisher=[[virtualfestivals.com]]}}</ref> and also featured [[The Cardigans]], [[The Polyphonic Spree]], [[Super Furry Animals]], [[Beth Orton]], [[The Music]], [[The Flaming Lips]], [[Tricky (musician)|Tricky]], [[The Datsuns]], [[Keith Flint]], [[Calexico (band)|Calexico]], [[The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster]], [[Kings of Leon]] and [[Har Mar Superstar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualfestivals.com/festivals/reviews/636|title=Witnness 2003: Full Line-up Revealed!|date=2 June 2003|access-date=3 March 2008|publisher=[[virtualfestivals.com]]}}</ref> Others to feature included [[Doves (band)|Doves]], [[The Thrills]], [[Turin Brakes]], [[Nightmares on Wax]] and [[Damien Rice]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualfestivals.com/festivals/reviews/507|title=Doves, Turin Brakes, Keith Flint & more for Witnness!|date=7 April 2003|access-date=3 March 2008|publisher=[[virtualfestivals.com]]}}</ref> [[The Flaming Lips]] were stepped up the bill on the Sunday to replace [[The White Stripes]] (cancelled due to frontman [[Jack White (musician)|Jack White]] suffering a broken hand) and by all accounts delivered a well-received set which included a version of The White Stripes's hit "[[Seven Nation Army]]".

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Oxegen}}
{{Irish Festivals}}

[[Category:2000s in Irish music]]
[[Category:Music festivals in Ireland]]
[[Category:Music festivals established in 2000]]