Summer ends with de luxe festival

Music lovers heading to the Electric Picnic in Co Laois tomorrow are guaranteed a concert feast fit for a king.

Traditional festival characteristics of mud, tents and beer served in plastic cups have been swapped for smoothies, shiatsu and yoga, all to be enjoyed on the rolling lawns of Stradbally Hall.

The final festival of the summer offers an eclectic line up, including Groove Armada, Arrested Development and the Super Furry Animals.

But luxury trimmings including 180 therapists, a natural health service, massage and yoga workshops, will ensure the crowd of 15,000 experience more of a palatial picnic than a mudfest.

Picnic blankets will be supplied at the gates and revellers will be offered fine French wines to wash down their organic wraps and anti-pastas.

Organisers claim the event casts away some of the more negative associations with a festival, such as filthy toilets and long traffic jams, to make it more enjoyable.

Acts including Jurrasic 5, Lee Scratch Perry, Soulwax and 2 Many DJs will perform on three stages from 3pm to midnight.