It’s hard to characterize Hothouse Flowers who mix modern and traditional influences into a delicious stew that is sometimes referred to as “Irish Soul. Few others have sounded like them in the past and still fewer after their breakthrough release “People”.

Tonight they are playing at the Field of Heaven, an audience strong in loyal followers but perhaps dimmed by the upcoming performance of Bob Dylan nearly an hour later. Still it was a full throated and loud cheer as Phiakuna Oblanian (guitar), Peter O’Toole (bass), •and Liam O’Maonlaí (Vocals / Keyboard / Bodhrán) appeared on the stage with the song “Li Riibh Tu Ar An g Carraig”

Next, the band wasted no time in getting to the hit, “I Can See Clearly Now”, which go the crowd singing along. It was an extended jam, longer than usual, adding a few extra bars for festival audiences. Next, Liam O’Maonlaí joked “we have a new record, and it’s called “new record”. This elicited laughs from the audience. He then implored the audience to sing “la la la” beginning, which became louder and louder, giving way to “Movies”, followed by “Back Through Time” and “Three Sisters”.

The crowd was clearly enraptured with the with the music, swaying and dancing in unison. When it came to “Hallelujah Jordan”, Liam O’Maonlaí tried a visual ending, with the audience waving their arms in the air as the sage went silent, it was a touching moment, punctuated with a few bars of music at the end.

And for the conclusion O’Maonlaí made a few jokes, reminding the audience that the band is from Ireland and stammered and stuttered before the pan flute and Boudrain – a goatskin hand drum- played “Si Do Mhamo I” a song inspired by traditional Irish music which got the crowd reeling and dancing It was a great fitting ending for Hothouse Flowers who have been a great friend to Fuji Rock. See you next time .Wow what an ending.