Weather gods smiling as Electric Picnic 2024 gets under way
Early arrivals at Electric Picnic 2024.
Twenty years on from the very first Electric Picnic, the latest generation of revellers have been making their way to the Co Laois event for the 2024 festival. Running from Thursday to Sunday in a slot that’s a few weeks earlier than usual, this year’s Picnic features the likes of Noah Kahan, Calvin Harris, and Kylie, with a sold-out crowd of 75,000 expected across the weekend.
As an event, Electric Picnic has had several incarnations since co-founders Robbie Butler and the late John Reynolds shook up the festival scene and unveiled their vision to the 10,000 attendees at Stradbally Hall in 2004.
Bigger now? Certainly. Better? That’s a debate to be had between what must be at least four generations of festival-goers. Arcade Fire, The Cure, Portishead, and Billie Eilish are among the artists who’ve performed much-vaunted sets over the two decades, but the music is only part of the story. This, after all, is an event that still sells out before the full line-up is revealed.
The younger demographic of recent years have turned it into a rite of passage, and stories abound of those who missed major headliners as they were having too much fun with their new BFFs at the campsite.
Friday reports from Stradbally were of the usual good cheer, even if a possibly bigger-than-usual batch of early-birds were occupying the best tent-pitches by mid-morning. About 3,700 of them even had a world record under their belt before the festival was properly under way as they took part in the largest ever rendition of ‘Rock the Boat’, with all proceeds going to charity.
Attendees who don’t pitch their tent properly might get away with it this year as the weather gods seem to be smiling on Stradbally. Met Éireann predicts temperatures will hit the low 20s, and there will be nothing more than an occasional shower to worry about between Friday and Sunday.
Events of this size never find it easy to prove their environmental credentials, but the main stage at this year’s event has been attached to the national grid in order to use renewable energy. Festival director Melvin Benn said this marks the first time a festival of its kind in Ireland or the UK has installed mains power to reduce its carbon footprint. Recycling facilities have also been improved, with outlets for the Deposit Return Scheme, and options to donate empty cans and bottles to charity.
Earlier in the week, gardaí had issued a warning to those attending the festival about the danger of illegal drugs, particularly with the increase in synthetic drugs in Ireland. The HSE will again operate its Safer Nightlife Harm Reduction Programme at the Picnic, including a testing programme that has in the past led to information being made available on particularly dangerous substances in circulation.
For most people, however, Electric Picnic will be a weekend of celebration, with many likely to purchase tickets for the 2025 event when they go on sale next Wednesday (August 21).
Not as good as it used to be? Try tell that to the 75,000 smiling faces in Stradbally.
