Electric Picnic review: Six talking points from Saturday in Stradbally 

Kneecap were magnificent, and The Coronas drew a huge crowd, but punters at Day Two of Electric Picnic had some tough choices to make on the scheduling front 
Electric Picnic review: Six talking points from Saturday in Stradbally 

Kneecap and Fatboy Slim featured among the highlights of Saturday at Electric Picnic. Pictures: Kieran Frost, Larry Cummins, Aerial.ie

1. Kneecap hit the spot 

 Kneecap’s manager Dan Lambert was emotional at the incredible response the group got from the huge crowd at their Saturday afternoon set: “Hounded by British media, a smear campaign by Zionists and a witch-hunt by the British state... And this is what Ireland thinks of three of the best people you could ever meet!” 

 How right he was. From people of all ages wearing tricolour balaclavas to the mass chants and singalongs, Mo Chara and co combined fun with meaningful messages in one of the best sets of the weekend. Review here.

 A family all set for Kneecap at Electric Picnic. Pic: Larry Cummins
A family all set for Kneecap at Electric Picnic. Pic: Larry Cummins

2. Tinkling the ivories in Croí 

Croí, formerly the Body and Soul area, has long been a haven for those looking to take the heartrate down a notch or to nip in and rest after a long day of dancing and walking. The addition of a new stage with just a piano on it was a nice touch.

Extra points for the name, which was decided by the public: Electric Keys. A must-see for anyone looking to chill out for a while.

3. Nile Rodgers has still got it 

Spoiler alert: a band that’s been going since the 1970s are still absolutely class.

Nile Rodgers is no stranger to Stradbally or indeed Ireland in general, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still wow audiences.

Nile Rodgers and Chic perform on day two of the Electric Picnic. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Nile Rodgers and Chic perform on day two of the Electric Picnic. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

He and Chic are approaching 50 years in the business but, similarly to Fatboy Slim, it wasn’t just older generations in the crowd at the main stage. That in itself is a testament to the American guitarist, who ran through both his own hits and those that he helped pen.

Special shout out to Let’s Dance, which was quite a visual as the heavens opened in Laois. The weather led to Rodgers noting that he was getting “frostbitten.” 

4. Gaza front and centre 

Right from the first act on Saturday, Palestine was being put front and centre by both performers and organisers.

Cork’s Izz Café joined forces with Dublin’s Bethlehem Restaurant in the Theatre of Food shortly after the main arena opened to discuss their work and family with One Plate for Palestine, including Izz chef Habib Al Ostaz’s ‘Paddystinian Balls’, combining potatoes with za’atar.

The Global Green area saw a display of activists, artists and movements – which came an hour after Kneecap lent a good portion of their time on the main stage to discussing the genocide.

 Fatboy Slim performs on Saturday night at Electric Picnic. (Photo by Kieran Frost/Redferns)
 Fatboy Slim performs on Saturday night at Electric Picnic. (Photo by Kieran Frost/Redferns)

Fatboy Slim's slamming dance set on Saturday night was delivered via a set of kit emblazoned with the words: 'Drop acid, not bombs."

When added to Hozier’s powerful words on Friday night, and Kneecap's powerful messaging, the genocide is not being let fade from people’s minds in Stradbally.

5. The Coronas draw a monster crowd

 Imagine being an Irish band having to go directly head to head with a festival headliner. Now imagine you were still able to fill the second biggest stage and an extra couple of thousand around the outside of it.

That is exactly what happened for The Coronas on Saturday night as a jammed Electric Arena were treated to a wonderful hour.

Accompanied by their usual supergroup of Lar Kaye (All Tvvins), Cian McSweeney (True Tides) and Roisin O (seven and a half months pregnant!), there was a surprise appearance from Mundy for July.

Front man Danny O’Reilly struck a typically humble note. “At a time where Irish music is at its strongest its ever been, we feel very grateful to still be in the conversation.”

5. Unfortunate clashes 

Kneecap and Dara O’Briain. The Coronas and Fatboy Slim. The Frank and Walters, Aslan and Sam Fender. Not a dream dinner party list — instead, all were clashing on Saturday.

Sam Fender onstage during Electric Picnic Festival. (Photo by Kieran Frost/Redferns)
Sam Fender onstage during Electric Picnic Festival. (Photo by Kieran Frost/Redferns)

Add that to Friday’s collisions between Chappell Roan, The Saw Doctors and Self Esteem, Hozier and Confidence Man and some heavy hitters have played to smaller crowds than they deserved.

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