HISTORY
Electric Picnic is an annual boutique arts-and-music festival which has been staged since 2004 in Stradbally Hall, Stradbally, County Laois in the Republic of Ireland. It is currently organised by Pod Concerts and Festival Republic, who purchased the majority shareholding in 2009.
The Picnic has received widespread international acclaim, being described as "Ireland's version of Glastonbury" and "a great inspiration to Latitude". US magazine Billboard describing it as "a magnificent rock n roll circus, a textbook example of everything a festival should be" and Rolling Stone stating it "one of the best festivals we've ever been to".
Electric Picnic has sold out months in advance for the last 3 years and the 2008 event was described by The Irish Times as 'the best Electric Picnic yet'. Electric Picnic differs from other festivals in Ireland in that the music choice is more eclectic than the other mainstream events (its history includes international acts such as Kraftwerk, Röyksopp, Nick Cave, Sonic Youth, New Order, Björk, Beastie Boys, The Stooges, The Chemical Brothers, The Flaming Lips, Sigur Rós and Sex Pistols), and there is more emphasis on quality festival services (such as food and sleeping arrangements) and a generally more positive and relaxed atmosphere. There is also an emphasis on eco-friendly initiatives.
Electric Picnic began as a one-day event in 2004, before growing to a weekend-long festival within a year, and becoming a three day affair in 2006. It is rapidly gaining ground on Oxegen as the most popular Irish music festival with the 2008 festival selling out faster than any other year. Oxegen, which sold out in record time for the 2007 festival, was slow to sell tickets for its 2008 festival, while Electric Picnic sold out it's 32,500 tickets over 4 months in advance in 2008. The festival also incorporates other attractions such as the 24-hour cinema tent, the Body and Soul arena (offering an ambient lounge with beanbags, massages and tarot card readings), the International Comedy Tent 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 Festival Line Up - 2011
THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS, ARCADE FIRE, PULP
Interpol, PJ Harvey, Beirut, Mogwai, Underworld Blonde Redhead, The Drums, Santigold, The Family Stone, Joan As Policewoman, The Undertones, Public Enemy, Jimmy Cliff, DJ Shadow, Flying Lotus, The Charlatans, Sinéad O'Connor, White Lies, OMD, Toots & The Maytals, Lykke Li, Midlake, Death in Vegas, The Go! Team, Big Audio Dynamite, Boys Noize, Paul Kalkbrenner, Dave Clarke, Warpaint, James Blake, James Vincent McMorrow, The Rapture, Bob Geldof, M. Ward Zola Jesus, Best Coast, 3epkano, Power Of Dreams, Yuck, Twin Shadow, Willy Mason, Trentemøller (Live), Killing Joke, HEALTH, Mundy, Gavin Friday, The Walkmen, Adam Beyer, Sharon Shannon Big Band, British India, Ivan St. John, The Cast Of Cheers, Micah P. Hinson, Caitlin Rose, The Potbelleez, Adebisi Shank., The Danger is, Codes, R.S.A.G., O Emperor, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Unthanks, John Grant, Gemma Hayes, The Japanese Popstars, The Lost Brothers, Funeral Suits, I Am Kloot, Foster the People, Republic of Loose, The Black Angels, Everything Everything, Niki & the Dove, The Rubberbandits, Parish, Ghost Estates, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Sharon Corr