Boutique festival delivers electric line-up

DESPITE the huge number of open-air concerts last year, new arrival Electric Picnic proved the hit of the summer and with another star-studded line-up just announced, it looks poised to repeat the trick.

With a roster of performers aimed at the wealthier late-20s and the thirtysomething market, the promoters have announced a very strong bill that includes Basement Jaxx, Massive Attack, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, Groove Armada, and Mercury prizewinner Antony and the Johnsons.

Local hero Damien Rice will be joined by DJ Shadow and flavour of the month Yeah Yeah Yeahs, while festival perennials The Frames will rub shoulders with weird folkie Devendra Banhart and Rufus Wainwright.

Maintaining its left-field appeal, Electric Picnic also offers Gary Numan, whose reprisal of his hits of the late 1970s and early 1980s should delight the older fans, while the Dublin Gospel Choir and the legendary Blue Nile’s only live appearance of the year are further examples of the event’s eclectic appeal.

The ‘boutique’ festival, held over three days, last year attracted an older audience to the grounds of Stradbally Hall Estate, Co Laois, for the opportunity to relive misspent youths but without the mud and general discomfort, with facilities on offer including beach huts sleeping up to 10 people for €889 for the weekend.

Also on offer will be the Silent Disco, with each dancer getting their own pair of headphones and female urinals which should speed up toilet queues for the women - providing they are willing to pee standing up.

The usual festival fodder of greasy burgers and chips won’t be found at Electric Picnic with a healthier organic food policy prevailing, but there will still be plenty of opportunities to wet your whistle at any one of a wide selection of bars, including cocktail lounges.

Getting there

TICKETS

Tickets for the three-day festival - taking place on September 1-3 - are €175, including camping. Phone and internet bookings are subject to €5.95 service charge. Agents charge a €2 per ticket handling fee. Available from www.ticketmaster.ie or on 0818-719300.

TRANSPORT

JJ Kavanagh’s will provide a nationwide bus service again this year. Bookings on 01-6791549.

www.electricpicnic.ie