Electric Picnic is in full swing out in Stradbally and whether you are here lapping it up or at home with a massive case of FOMO, there is definitely no avoiding the annual event that is the Picnic. So far the atmosphere is truly electric (sorry) and there is still a shed load more to come. Here’s our best bits so far…
1. The Traffic
Why does this make it into the best things list you may wonder? Well it did eat up quite a bit of our time on Friday but there’s no traffic jam you’d rather be in. Car loads of Picnicers rearing to go is the sight your sore eyes have been craving these last twelve months. This is it. We are packed, ready to go and no traffic jam is going to stop us. At one point people were just out of their cars, chatting, comparing booze loads, and generally just revelling in the sheer excitement of the night and weekend that awaits. Even the Gards were winking and jovial as we passed. Magical times folks, magical times.
2. Underworld
We all knew these nineties ravers were going to deliver on Friday night, but what a show it was. They steadily built up to the crescendo the crowd was craving and had a triumphant finish with Born Slippy that would have lifted the roof if there was one. It was epicness of the highest order.
3. Eco Camping
What a revelation eco camping is. Just beyond the Oscar Wilde camp site, the whole area operates on the policy that if you drop it, you pick it up and in general just clean your sh*t up. The ethos of the whole place means that you generally have a gathering of sound out campers all on the same buzz. Don’t get us wrong, Jimi Hendrix and the like have a lot to offer, but does it have a dude with a bicycle powered blender?
4. Cider
There is cider at the picnic this year! This may not mean a lot to you beer sluggers out there but for those that enjoy the crispy taste of a cool glass of cider, it’s the icing on the Electric Picnic cake. Orchard Thieves bar have set up station just beside the Electric Arena with a kicking little seated area beside it, and even if you’re not a fan of the fruity goodness, it’s worth stopping by.
5. 2 Unlimited
It seems there’s nothing us Irish love more at the moment than a good whack of nineties nostalgia, and we will take it as cheesy as it comes please. In fairness though, we all knew we were there for just one reason, and you know what it was….
6. What’s to come…
We’re sorry for all those of you who aren’t here, but the best thing about Electric Picnic so far? The expectation and excitement of what’s to come. For festival goers of Ireland, this is Christmas, and Santa has yet to arrive.
