Electric Picnic redefines itself as a complete music and arts festival
Electric Picnic 2008 review
Wednesday 10th September 2008
Electric Picnic has to be the most exciting festival I've ever been to! I feel the festival really has announced itself as the jewel in the crown of Ireland's Festival season. Last year it made Times online list of 'Europe's 20 best summer music festivals', and after three days of enjoyable happenings I can see why. It has so much going on. The festival has been known as a boutique festival in previous years and is what I'd imagine some aspects of Glastonbury to be like on a smaller scale, but this year it has redefined itself as a music and arts festival. The festival strikes me like a thrilling rock'n'roll circus from the outset. And from arriving on site and sampling the various array of fine music, theatre, comedy, holistic health and art I know its going to be an awesome end and good-bye to my summer.
Electric Picnic has established itself as a truly unique irish festival, set amid the rolling lawns of Stradbally Hall, Co Laois, a beautiful 600 acre estate just 50 mins from Dublin. There is around 33,000 campers all camped between the various campsites that this year have been given artistic names. The Charlie Chaplin campsite, The Oscar Wilde campsite, The Jimmy Hendrix campsite and The Andy Warhol campsite. Which makes for some interesting conversations once the alcohol has been sunk and all sense of direction has been lost. As well as that the festival is child friendly and there is a quiet camping area for the more relaxed festival go-er and also a Family camping area. A nice touch I thought, it really brings a mix of people to the festival that adds to the joyful but mixed atmosphere. Everything immediately feels very surreal on site and my festival journey is about to begin.
After some confusion getting on site in the early Friday afternoon due to travel arrangements I get on site around 4pm about the same time as the first acts are due to begin. I take a good walk around of the site and find the Stradbally estate incredibly refreshing festival grounds. The festival campsites are split by what I can only describe as mini forest that has walkways between the adjoining areas. Later on that night when the light fades the area is lit up by colorful lighting that looks amazing in the dark – There is a 'Rave in the Woods' area with live music and also a Reggae/ Almost a shrine to the great Bob Marley area where a lot of people seem to be hanging out and saving there energy rather than entering the main arena tonight.
I make camp in the quiet area as I have a busy weekend and everywhere else looks a little crazy if not scary for a busy working journalist. Crazy in a good way of course! In the four main campsites there is plenty of stuff going on. Particularly in the Oscar Wilde campsite where there are three music tents basically pumping out music all weekend. This area is called the Bodytonic area and is has a great line up of bands and DJs with a wide range of music taste. Some acts are well known, some not so well known but all experienced and talented performers. DJ Diplo is to play the main Bodytonic Tent on the Sunday night. Diplo is one hell of a DJ to be playing a campsite tent.
The Bodytonic area used to be part of the main arena but is one of the slight changes to this year's festival. I get the impression that some of the festival goers in this campsite may not leave here at all over the three days and still have a blast! There's abit of music for everyone and more than plenty for the open-minded...
Morale is high and the first act I want to see in the main arena is about to come on so I head towards the Electric Arena to see Digitalism, a German electro house duo. This tent is by far the largest and seems to have attracted much of the Friday night crowd. I get the sense that the festival is not yet at capacity. Either festival go-ers are still flooding onto the site or many are waiting until tomorrow morning (Saturday) to arrive. Its something I think the festival organisers have taken into consideration with the line-up as the schedule on the friday night isnt as hectic as the other days. Digitalism rock it with there electro house dance punk beats. They are such a good live dance act, they really get everyone buzzing and that exactly what you want from an act like this at a festival. This really marks the start of the festival for me.
On the main stage is something completely different but also very interesting. It's Sigur Ros an Icelandic post rock dream pop ambient almost thrash sound. They back up their dream pop reverberation with a fantastic lighting show that goes down a treat. A mixed reception from the crowd. I have to say much of their music is seemed extremely similar. I enjoyed them but I felt many where a little disillusioned by there sound. I heard one punter shout, "It's like an hour long song!" I agreed but gave them more credit - It was one damn interesting song! A cool group all the same.
I decide to spend what's left of my evening trying to get my bearings in the main arena. I end up catching a bit of New Young Pony Club purely by chance. There a band I've heard a lot about probably because of the striking name, They impress me with their set and I write down in my little handbook one to look up when I'm home! They have been labelled nu-rave but I class them more as a post punk electro band. Their front woman Tahita Bulmer really gets the crowd going with her rock chick antics. A really good performance to a semi-filled tent.
There is so much going on! I didn't have time to catch DJ Tiga but I hear reports his elecroclash set was pumping. An act at the forefront of modern dance music. The organizers have really went out on a limb to bring some of the top dance acts to this year's festival and they really have achieved a line-up to be proud of.
I count at least 15 music tents in the main arena as well as the massive main stage. I decide to delve into the more arty aspects of the festival. I head to the comedy stage for laughs and listen to an Australian comedian crack jokes about Oxegen, Ireland largest music festival. Particularly amusing for myself as I seen him perform a near similar act at Oxegen this year only making Electric Picnic the brunt of his jokes. I also visit the cinema stage where the viewing is what I can only describe as a Star Wars music medley with visuals and it has attracted a large crowd. Either there are a lot of warped Star Wars fans here or people are really enjoying the freshly laid comfy carpet in this tent!
I round up my first day of Electric Picnic by catching a few unusual acts, one a group called Fovea Hex – Really interesting music and a slight challenge to describe but I would say its experimental to say the least. I also see a jazzy Miles Davis tribute group they are fantastic and end a great first day. Roll on Saturday!!!
review by Lonan O'Neill photos by Lonan O Neill / Matthew Boyle / Shane Boylan
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