Electric Picnic is an annual arts-and-music festival which has been staged since 2004 at Stradbally Hall in Stradbally, County Laois, Ireland.
Overview It is organised by Pod Concerts and Festival Republic, who purchased the majority shareholding in 2009. It was voted Best Medium-Sized European Festival at the 2010 European Festival Awards, and has been voted Best Big Festival at each of the last four Irish Festival Awards since they began in 2007. The Electric Picnic won eight awards in Hot Press's 2011 Festival Awards, including 'Best Large Festival'.Hot Press Magazine website In 2023, it was awarded 'Festival of the Year' in the Ticketmaster Awards.Leinster Express News website
The Picnic has been described as "Ireland's version of Glastonbury" and "a great inspiration to Latitude" by one of its business partners, Laois. In 2006 US magazine Billboard called it "a magnificent rock n roll circus, a textbook example of everything a festival should be"Billboard official website and Rolling Stone described it as "one of the best festivals we've ever been to". The 2008 event was described by The Irish Times as "the best Electric Picnic yet".
There is also an emphasis on eco-friendly initiatives.Daily Edge News website
History
Electric Picnic began as a one-day event in 2004, before growing to a weekend-long festival within a year. The festival incorporates attractions such as the 24-hour cinema tent, the Body and Soul arena (offering an ambient lounge with beanbags, massages and tarot card readings) and the Comedy Tent (curated by Gerry Mallon) and a silent disco. In 2008, Amnesty International attended the festival to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whilst renowned American Burning Man artist, David Best constructed a Temple of Truth on site. Electric Picnic has been described as an "enormously successful, award-winning, established brand" which "attempts to bring to life a microcosmic cultural experience where music is just the tip of the iceberg".
Festival summary by year Year Dates Headliners Attendance or sales20044 September2 Many DJs, Groove Armada, Super Furry Animals10,00020053–4 September Kraftwerk · Fatboy Slim · The Flaming Lips ·Röyksopp · Arcade Fire · Damien Dempsey · Laurent Garnier · Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds · Mercury Rev · 2 Many DJs · Audio Bullys20061–3 September Massive Attack · Antony & the Johnsons · Groove Armada · New Order · Basement Jaxx · Yeah Yeah Yeahs30,000200731 August – 2 SeptemberLCD Soundsystem · Bjork · Chemical Bros · Beastie Boys · Primal Scream · Iggy & The Stooges32,500200829–31 AugustSigur Rós · Digitalism · George Clinton · Underworld · Sex Pistols · My Bloody Valentine35,00020094–6 SeptemberBrian Wilson · The Flaming Lips · Basement Jaxx · MGMT · Orbital · Madness · Fleet Foxes · Bell X1 · Rodrigo y Gabriela · Chic20103–5 SeptemberRoxy Music · Leftfield · Massive Attack20112–4 SeptemberInterpol · PJ Harvey · Jimmy Cliff · Arcade Fire · The Chemical Brothers · Pulp · Underworld · Beirut201231 August – 2 SeptemberSigur Rós · The XX · Christy Moore · The Cure · Orbital · The Killers · Elbow · Hot Chip201330 August – 1 SeptemberFatboy Slim · Bjork · Arctic Monkeys · Robert Plant32,000201429–31 AugustPortishead · Outkast · Beck41,00020154–6 SeptemberFlorence and the Machine · Blur · Sam Smith · Underworld · Grace Jones51,00020162–4 SeptemberLCD Soundsystem · Lana Del Rey · The Chemical Brothers · New Order · Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds55,00020171–3 SeptemberThe XX · A Tribe Called Quest · Duran Duran55,000201831 August – 2 SeptemberKendrick Lamar · Massive Attack · The Prodigy · N.E.R.D. · Picture This55,000201930 August – 1 SeptemberThe Strokes · Florence and the Machine · Hozier · The 197557,50020204–6 SeptemberRage Against The Machine · Snow Patrol · The Chemical Brothers · Picture This · Lewis CapaldiCancelled20222–4 SeptemberDermot Kennedy · Megan Thee Stallion · Tame Impala · Picture This · Arctic Monkeys · Snow Patrol70,00020231–3 SeptemberBillie Eilish · Niall Horan · Fred Again · Paolo Nutini (replacing Lewis Capaldi) · The Killers · The Script70,000202416–18 AugustNoah Kahan · Gerry Cinnamon · Calvin Harris · Kodaline · Kylie Minogue · Raye 75,000202529 August – 1 SeptemberHozier · Chappell Roan · Sam Fender · Kings of Leon · Kneecap · Jazzy 80,000202628-30 August Lewis Capaldi, Gorrilaz, Fontaines D.C., Sombr, CMAT, Amble, Zara Larsson80,000
2004 festival The 2004 festival was a one-day event, which was headlined by 2 Many DJs. Other acts included Groove Armada, Arrested Development, Jurassic5, Grand Master Flash, Super Furry Animals, Plump DJ's, David Kitt, Soulwax and Mylo. Despite the fact that there was no organised camping, a number of groups camped in the field designated as the car park overnight and stayed up talking and exploring the (then pristine and nettle-free) woods. Thus, the relaxed and friendly vibe of the earlier Electric Picnic festivals was established.
2005 festival The 2005 festival took place on Saturday 3 September and Sunday 4 September. It is best remembered for Arcade Fire's performance which came before their subsequent mainstream success. Headlining acts included Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Kraftwerk, The Flaming Lips, Röyksopp, Mercury Rev and The Human League.
The premiere of "Electric Picnic: The Documentary" took place at the Irish Film Institute on Tuesday 4 July 2006 at 19:00. The critically acclaimed documentary directed by Nick Ryan, was filmed by a small camera crew who recorded the events of Electric Picnic 2005. Narrated by musician Nick Seymour and economist David McWilliams, the documentary includes footage from Kraftwerk's first recorded live performance in twelve years plus interviews with the performing bands and comedians, with a few festival-goers and with the locals of Stradbally Village, who claimed: "We get more trouble at the Vintage Steam Rally".
Kraftwerk Fatboy Slim The Flaming Lips Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Röyksopp Mercury Rev Arcade Fire Soulwax / 2 Many DJs Damien Dempsey Lemon Jelly Laurent Garnier Dublin Gospel Choir The Human League LCD Soundsystem Audio Bullys Doves Vitalic JJ72 The Rakes Hot Chip Boss Volenti James Blunt Be Your Own Pet Ben Watt Channel One Goldfrapp The Subways The Chalets Clor The Unabombers Mr Scruff De La Soul Stereo MCs DJ Format Mixmaster Mike Matthew Herbert Big Band The Kills Toots & the Maytals The Herbaliser
2006 festival In 2006 the festival gained momentum, with all 30,000 tickets (each costing €175 including camping) selling out more than seven weeks in advance. Presale tickets went on sale on Monday 28 November 2005. The event took place on the weekend of 1–3 September 2006, with the line-up being revealed on Friday 24 March. Artists who performed across the seven stages included Sparks, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Basement Jaxx, Rufus Wainwright, Bloc Party, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Gary Numan, François Kevorkian, Groove Armada, Damien Rice and The Frames. The Blue Nile's appearance was their only live performance of the year. The festival's biggest casualty was Gnarls Barkley who had to cancel their appearance after rapper/singer Cee-Lo strained his vocal cords. David McWilliams made an appearance as a celebrity. RTÉ Two televised the festival, with a special RTÉ Two Green Room being set up at Stradbally Hall Estate for presenters Tom Dunne and Jenny Huston.
Journalist and television presenter Joe O'Shea was arrested for driving in an intoxicated state on his way home from the event.
Groove Armada New Order Basement Jaxx Yeah Yeah Yeahs The Frames Massive Attack Bloc Party Pet Shop Boys Josh Ritter Laurent Garnier Rufus Wainwright Elbow Paul Noonan Belle & Sebastian Jape Amadou & Mariam Minotaur Shock Tom Vek Aberfeldy The Archie Bronson Outfit The Swell Season Damien Rice Super Furry Animals Antony and the Johnsons DJ Shadow PJ Harvey Red Sirus Graham Coxon Mogwai Devendra Banhart Sparks Yo La Tengo David Kitt Mundy Broken Social Scene Messiah J & The Expert Dancepig Laura Izibor Tapes 'n Tapes dEUS The Skatalites Cora Venus Lunny Gary Numan The Rapture Hot Chip Tilly and the Wall Saul Williams Soulwax / 2 Many DJ's Tiefschwarz Dublin Gospel Choir François K Coldcut Spank Rock Modeselektor Digital Circus Tadhg Cooke Semifinalists Vyvienne Long Gang of Four Michael Franti David Geraghty Cut Chemist Hystereo Mad Professor Hexstatic Warlords of Pez Nouvelle Vague Zen Hussies The Rumours
The Comedy Tent in 2006 featured PJ Gallagher, Des Bishop, Neil Delamere, and Eric Lalor.
2007 festival Electric Picnic 2007 was once again a three-day event and ran from 31 August until 2 September. The festival maintained its current size of 32,500 festival goers and kept all the same elements plus some new additions. "Early-bird" tickets for the 2007 festival went on sale between Monday 11 December 2006, and Saturday 24 February 2007, costing €199, taking into account the VAT that must now be paid on all outdoor events. Full price tickets went on sale on Tuesday 3 April at a price of €220. The first acts were officially announced on Monday 2 April.
Besides the music other attractions included an inflatable church offering mock weddings, luxury tents, massage chambers, a fairground and silent disco. Acii Disco DJs began the festival on the Friday at 12 p.m. in the Bodytonic Tent. Amongst others to take to the stage on Friday were Björk, Hot Chip, Scott Matthews, Manic Street Preachers and Oppenheimer whilst the unnamed band responsible for The Good, the Bad & the Queen headlined the Electric Arena tent. The Sunday night was brought to a close by Primal Scream.
The festival was marred by the death of a 23-year-old fan. The incident occurred as The Chemical Brothers came to a climax at 2 a.m. early on the Sunday morning. Organiser John Reynolds extended his sympathies and said: "A young man took ill at the festival, was treated at the medical centre, removed to Portlaoise Hospital and was later pronounced dead." Gardaí said they were not treating the death as suspicious.
Beastie BoysNational Radio Ads Björk The Chemical Brothers Dublin Gospel Choir Sonic Youth LCD Soundsystem Primal Scream Jarvis Cocker M.I.A. Modest Mouse The Good, the Bad & the Queen Jamie Lidell Acii Disco DJs Easy Star All-Stars Ratatat Patrick Wolf The Flaws Mainlines Hexstatic Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Fujiya & Miyagi 65daysofstatic Two Gallants Erasure Nouvelle Vague Duke Special Dave CouseElectric Picnic Manic Street Preachers Soul II Soul The Jesus and Mary Chain Paul Hartnoll Shy Child !!! The Go! Team Aim Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Camera Obscura Fionn Regan Emporium Tobias FrobergRoom Thirteen – Where Music Rocks PC Radio SiSiSiSi.tv :: View topic – Oxegen Linup 07!Daft Punk/Erol Alkan/Justice/Lektroluv Ladytron Marlena Shaw Bonde Do Role Architecture in Helsinki The Stooges Spiritualized The Undertones Polyphonic Spree UNKLE The Magic Numbers Fluke Damien Dempsey Derrick Carter DJ Marky Sons and Daughters Greenskeepers Gaudi Jinx Lennon The Dead Milkmen Simian Mobile Disco (live) Josh Wink Deerhoof Hot Chip The Fall Lisa Hannigan The Rumours Brontosaurus Chorus Si Schroeder
2008 festival
Electric Picnic 2008 took place at Stradbally from 29 to 31 August, attended by 35,000 people. Presale tickets went on sale on 9 November 2007 and full price tickets went on sale on Friday 28 March at 9 p.m., costing €240 including camping, with the various sites opening at 9 a.m. on Friday 29 August. Tickets had sold out by 17 June.