Electric Picnic 2010 – The Line Up:
Can this really be the seventh running of Electric Picnic? The promotional material for pretty much every festival ever held will generally use the term “going from strength to strength” no matter what dire state an event is in. But E.P organizers can be justified in saying that the Stradbally-based event really has done just that since it’s inception in 2004.
As it has got bigger perceptions of Electric Picnic have changed however, no longer just a ‘boutique’ festival for ‘grown-ups’ there’ll be plenty of people attending who were also in Punchestown for Oxegen, that’s not shorthand for ‘scumbags’ by the way, just acknowledgement that E.P services a broader congregation than ever before. The timing of the Picnic has also ensured that it’s become something of a annual last hurrah at the end of the summer, the musical equivalent of the All-Ireland Final.
So what about this years line-up? As usual the organizers have resisted the urge to blow half their budget on a monster acts for the top of the bill. Roxy Music, Massive Attack, Leftfield, Mumford & Sons, LCD Soundsystem, Modest Mouse – they’ll all have plenty of support, but ask 10 people who they’re most looking forward to and you’re liable to get 10 different answers. But that’s part of Electric Picnic’s charm, you’re not going to get a Jay-Z –esque moment where it seems that everyone is in the one place, in front of the mainstage. But all weekend you’ll hear phrases along the lines of “You should have seen x playing, they were awesome”. (Click here for stage times)
Further down the ticket E.P has plenty of potential gems. Janelle Monae will play to a packed tent of ‘edgy’ haircuts and outsized specs. Mercury nominated Villagers will be treated like returning heroes. As will Two Door Cinema Club. All married, trendy, thirtysomethings will get nostalgic over the Frames. Foals will pack out a tent. The Big Pink are making their first Irish appearance. Heathers are popping their Electric Picnic cherry. Sigour Ros’s Jonsi’s could be brilliant. As could Low Anthem.…and U.N.K.L.E…and Black Mountain….and Stars….and, oh jesus, Hot Chip….and Friendly Fires….and Crystal Castles…and EELS….and Robyn….and The Horrors…and Fight Like Apes…and Redneck Manifesto… and Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip…..and The Mighty Stef…and The Tallest Man on Earth…and Caribou…and…and…and….
In a nutshell it should be excellent, any talk of weather and how it will effect the weekend is pretty much moot, it’ll probably be muddy and it’ll probably rain, bring wellies and a change, prepare for the worst and any sunshine/dryness is a bonus. Besides you want to be able to say you saw the Rubber Bandits playing with Crystal Swing, don’t you?
By Kev Donnellan
Here’s a day by day breakdown:
Breakdown of Stage Times are now available from the Electric Picnic site.
Electric Picnic 2010 – The Low Down:
WHAT?
Ireland’s answer to Glastonbury. Not quite there but gold star for effort so far. Now in it’s 7th year.
WHERE?
Stradbally Hall, Stradbally, Co. Laois. www.stradballyhall.ie
WHEN?
Friday September 03 – Sunday 05 2010
TICKETS?
There are still tickets available. €240. No day passes available, Weekend tickets only. Camper van tickets are separate and extra but sold out.
CAMPING?
Campsite opens at 9am on Friday Sept 3rd and closes at 1pm Monday, Sept 6th. As per most festivals no cars allowed in the camp site. There are hot showers, shops and toilets available in each campsite. There’s a family campsite if you’re bringing kiddies and there’s a specially dedicated quiet camp site if you fancy a bit of kip.
There’s alternative camping available if you’re feeling a little flush. Ranging from a bit pricey to well-I’ve-already-spent-this-much-so-why-not but altogether utterly delightful. Options range from supply and pitch of a tent for the weekend to the awesome yurtle which epitomises luxury and takes any sign of rough and tumble out of your picnic experience. But what does it say about you?
OTHER FACILITIES?
Electric Picnic pride themselves on the experience. They seem to have stepped away from splashing the cash on the big bands instead they have cast their attention to the grounds of the picnic. You could arrive at the picnic empty handed and find everything you need in the shops and facilities on site. Not advisable but it would make for some story. You can order your tinnies online and pick them up when you get there, genius. You can do the same with your tent. They have hidden raves (possibly not official), if you go into the woods you may just stumble across the nautically themed Salty Dog Stage. There’s a church (if you feel the need for an aul pray), a ferris wheel, a comedy tent, a cinema, lots of places to sit down and take in the vibes around, hot tubes, late night bonfires (the best one is in Body & Soul). There’s arty sections if you feel the urge and there’s
FOOD & DRINK?
Food stands and bars galore at EP. Food from all corners of the world, I had a wild boar burger at EP2008.
