It began with a 3pm backline call, the dulcet sounds of Decky noodling away on a bass, and Murt bringing the tardy tidings of the Tri-Kaya mob, who wouldn't be down until 6. With nothing more to do besides reaching for bags of cans and long-necks, Jimmy and Floody voiced early concerns about being too langered to perform. The grey overhead threat of rain was enough to convince the boys to abandon hopes of setting their shit up in the outdoor Green Arena. For the second fucking summer in a row. Elusive D.J. def ME bowled into the shed soon after, and took to entertaining the swelling crowd. After struggling with his equipment, he soon settled to deliver a set that included everything from Incubus to Roni Size, and the snippet of Soundgarden that had played its part in getting the soundchecking gS thrown out of the C**tle Inn circa 1999. As piles of empty Rolling Rock & Super Bock bottles grew in size, Jimmy pushed for a soundcheck. So the boys ran through Nailbomb's "Cockroaches". By this time, the 'Kaya heads were in Carlow, waiting to make their way out in Maxis. (Carlow's others Willknot and Sass had also been pencilled in to perform, but had pulled out prematurely due to work commitments, when in fact - due to the delays - they would both have been able to play). As soon as the bees arrived, and hi-hats were snatched, gS kicked off their set proper, fleecing through "Anna Rex" and "Den : I Know" before playing the four-track "Excuse?" CD in sequence. (Dave would later make some crowing comments about it not working as a concept album, but he was roundly ignored). Floody bore the brunt of Jimmy's quick tongue as he introduced "I.B.A.S." - claiming it to be a song highlighting the plight of a man in love with a relative. The hastily-practiced Disturbed-style "uhwackadoo" intro proved to be equally as chucklesome, such was its ineptitude. Old Godlike Shapes' cover of Life Of Agony's "Method Of Groove" was dusted down and given the gS treatment i.e. butchered. And then the threesome rounded it off with a blast through "Tom (Extension)" and "Murt's Song". Unfortunately, there would be no photographic record of these tremendous events, as Floody's camera had been rendered useless when doused in Amstel. However, Pauline graciously offered the use of her camcorder, and young Meade took to his renewed media task with gusto. Should there ever be a need for a gS video, there's bound to be some cool footage there.

Tri-Kaya assumed their positions onstage to a slightly hostile reception, with heckles raining down from Dr. Deck and Intern Murt, who were perched on the expensive stepladder balcony seats. The 'Rothery boys began with "Sober" (oh, the ironing of it all), and ploughed through an impromptu set, pausing to take requests at times. "Jackbeast!!", was the roar from the back of the hall, and responded to in fine fashion. More "Full Circle". And it wouldn't have been a Tri-Kaya Floodfest performance if Babar hadn't broken a string, now would it? Cue much puzzlement over the "unique" tuning scheme on his replacement guitar - Jimmy's. The drum kit was taken apart for the usual tribal outro of "Kaiowas", which, as always, rocked. As the 'Kaya left the stage, and people began milling out into the early evening air, it became apparent that something ominous was afoot. Murt was prevented from dismantling his kit by a rather secretive Jimmy. Dave had mumbled something about not remembering the last time he'd seen all four ex-Neckweed members in the one room. And then all four members were suddenly picking up their instruments and breaking into "Ruined In A Day", a spontaneous split-second reunion which could not have been scripted. Sample quote - "I can't believe I remembered the fucking thing".

Soon after, all plans of taking the session into town, to The Shed, towards the evil tree etc were understandably (lazily) abandoned, and the clean-up of equipment - to allow Dinny's car its rightful bed for the night - commenced around Joey and Enda, who launched into their own funky jam. Floody took to his role as host like a Webb to whiskey, strolling around with a pad, pencil and moneybag, taking orders for what would be a sizeable trip to the off licence. On the way into the beer store, their Maxi passed the stumbling Dave, who was making his way silently home. Floody deemed him "unworthy" of a lift, and the car zoomed past. The beer, the leaves and the bullshit flowed as tents were erected for the travelling revellers. Floody returned and handed out the goodies. O'Connor arrived and kidnapped Murt for a brief spin in the X_mobile. The driver would later regret it, such was the spillage of Buckfast on the passenger's side. Not quite so bad as the Willknot guitarist puking his ring up in the same seat hours later. (If that wasn't bad enough, as the understanding driver commenced cleaning up the disgusting mess of bile and beer, the Willknot boys took his bottle of Southie and wore it comprehensively off a wall).

Back at the ranch, things were slowly disintegrating into a swirl of slurring fools and fading weaklings. Your Ballbag reporter being one of both. (Although there was nothing weak about the achingly long trek back in along the dark Wexford road with nothing more than the moon and Carlsberg for company).

And so Floodfest 2001 puttered to a close. Despite the best intentions of both parties, attempts to have sister festival Rudfest 2001 a week later have been scuppered by the unavailability of both gS string-players, leaving Tri-Kaya to consider headlining and supporting themselves, also appearing as special guests. Um, how's aboot doing it all again in 2002? Choice.

"Cheers, fuckface".