Transport, stage times, weather - all the info you need is here
It’s back, baby!
After two years of disappointment and a gaping chasm in our summer festival calendar around the end of August/start of September, Electric Picnic is making a return for its 17th edition.
It’ll return to the grounds of Stradbally Hall in Co. Laois this weekend, from Friday, September 2nd to Sunday, September 4th.
If you’re one of the 70,000 people heading along, here’s everything you need to know.
WHO’S PLAYING?
Headliners this year are Dermot Kennedy (Friday), Tame Impala (Saturday) and Arctic Monkeys (Sunday). Other big names on the bill include Snow Patrol, Picture This, Megan Thee Stallion and a host of big Irish and international names, from Fontaines DC to Pixies to Rina Sawayama.
CAN I STILL BUY TICKETS?
Nope, unfortunately all tickets for 2022 are sold out.
WHAT IF I STILL HAVE TICKETS FROM 2020?
If you chose to retain your 2020 tickets for 2021 (which was also cancelled), they are valid for this year’s festival.
Gates & Wristband Exchanges run 24 hours from 4pm Thursday until Sunday. Outside of box office hours customers wishing to collect can do so from the wristband exchanges.
HOW DO I GET THERE BY BUS AND/OR TRAIN?
By bus:
Travelmaster are running a return service to EP from numerous counties nationwide - see here for details on booking.
Irish Concert Travel are also running return buses nationwide - see here.
Marathon Coaches are running return buses daily from Dublin - see here.
Buses to Concerts are running return buses from Belfast, Lisburn, Banbridge, Newry, Dundalk, Drogheda and Dublin - see here.
By train:
The nearest station to Stradbally is Portlaoise. Martley’s are running a return shuttle service from the train station to the festival site at half-hour intervals over the weekend - note that this is cash only and €7 each way. See here for more details on the shuttle.
HOW DO I GET THERE BY CAR?
M7 Southbound (from Dublin and the North)
Event car traffic should exit the M7 at Ballydavis Interchange Junction 16. Please follow event traffic signage and Garda on duty will direct you to the designated parking areas.
M7 Northbound (Limerick and the South West)
Continue on M7 and exit at Junction 17. Please follow event traffic signage and Garda on duty will direct you to the designated parking areas.
M8 Northbound (Cork and South)
Exit the M8 at Junction 3 for Ballacolla and Abbeyleix. Please follow event traffic signage and Garda on duty will direct you to the designated parking areas.
N80 Carlow & South East
Travel along the N80 and N78 to Simmons Mills and proceed via the Windy Gap into Stradbally. Turn left at Court Square (opposite Dunne’s pub) onto the Timahoe Road and turn left into the designated car park.
N80 West
Proceed via Mountmellick and onto Portlaoise Town. At Fairgreen Roundabout turn right onto the ring road. Continue to Mountrath Road R445 and turn right. Continue to Rockdale Roundabout and turn left onto the Ring Road L26964-0. Turn right at the Roundabout onto the N77 to Meelick Junction where traffic route merges with event traffic from M7 Northbound and Limerick South West, above.
IS THERE PARKING?
Yes, and parking is free. The Green Car Park is open from 4pm on Thursday for Early Entry ticket holders only. The Red and Yellow Car Parks are open from 9am on Friday 2nd September until 1pm on Monday 5th September 2022. You’re not allowed to sleep in your car, FYI!
WHAT TIME DO THE CAMPSITES OPEN?
Campsites open at 9am on Friday, but you can buy an ‘Early Entry’ pass for €30 here, which will allow you access to the campsite from 4pm on Thursday. You need to have a valid weekend ticket in addition to your Early Entry pass.
WHAT TIME DOES THE MAIN ARENA OPEN?
For Early Entry patrons on Thursday, there will be late night entertainment in the woodland areas from 6pm until midnight.
On Friday, the Main Arena will be open from 2pm-12am and the Late Night Arena will be open from 12am - 4am.
On Saturday, the Main Arena will open from 11am-2am and the Late Night Arena will open from 10pm - 4am.
On Sunday, the Main Arena will open from 11am until midnight, and the Late Night Arena will open from 10pm - 4am.
WHAT’S THE WEATHER GOING TO BE LIKE?
It’s looking like a bit of a mixed bag, according to Yr.no.
Friday is looking cloudy into the morning and afternoon, but unfortunately rain is forecast in the evening and overnight, with temps of 16 - 19c.
Saturday is unfortunately looking fairly miserable, with rain forecast throughout the day and temperatures of 12 - 13c.
However, at the moment, Sunday is looking a lot brighter, with spells of sunshine and clouds throughout the day, maybe a few showers, and temps of 11 - 15c.
Y’know yourselves, though - prepare for all eventualities (i.e. bring raingear and suncream!)
WHAT ABOUT THE STAGE TIMES?
Stage times are available from today, and you can download the Electric Picnic app to see ‘em - here for Android and here for iPhone.
Otherwise...
FRIDAY
Main Stage
11.30pm-1am Dermot Kennedy
9.15-10.45pm Megan Thee Stallion
7.30-8.30pm Glass Animals
6-6.45pm Denise Chaila
Electric Arena
Midnight-1am Fontaines DC
10.30-11.30pm Pixies
9.15-10pm Willow
8-8.45pm Bright Eyes
Rankin’s Wood
10.30-11.30pm Fred Again
9.15-10pm Little Simz
8-8.45pm Girl in Red
6.45-7.30pm 100 Gecs
Terminus Stage
11.30pm-1am Mall Grab
9.45-11.10pm Rebūke
8.10-9.30pm Anfisa Letyago
6.30-8pm Efa O’Neill
Three All for Music Stage
11pm-midnight Gang of Youths
9.45-10.30pm Gus Dapperton
8.30-9.15pm Lime Cordiale
7.15-8pm Q
Mind + Body
2-3am 49th & Main
12.45-1.30am Aby Coulibaly
11.30pm-12.15am Kean Kavanagh
10.15-11pm Sprints
8.45-9.30pm Shiv
7.30-8.15pm Efé
6.20-7pm Thumper
5.10-5.50pm Lucy McWilliams
SATURDAY
Main Stage
11.30pm-1.00am Tame Impala
9.15-10.45pm Picture This
7.30-8.30pm The Kooks
6-6.45pm Anne-Marie
4.30-5.15pm Becky Hill
3.15-4pm Hermitage Green
2-2.45pm Hudson Taylor
Electric Arena
Midnight-1am Annie Mac
10.30-11.30pm Wolf Alice
9.15-10pm King Kong Company
8-8.45pm Declan McKenna
6.45-7.30pm The 2 Johnnies
5.15-6pm Lyra
3.45-4.30pm Sam Tompkins
2.15-3pm Cian Ducrot
Rankin’s Wood
10.30-11.30pm For Those I Love
9.15-10pm Rina Sawayama
8-8.45pm The Scratch
6.45-7.30pm JPEGMAFIA
5.30-6.15pm Kojaque
4-4.45pm Kneecap
2.30-3.15pm Lisa McHugh
Terminus Stage
11.30pm-1am Kettama
9.45-11.10pm blk
8.10-9.30pm Obskür
6.30-8pm EVE
Three All for Music Stage
11pm-midnight Sleaford Mods
9.45-10.30pm Saint Sister
8.30-9.15pm Orla Gartland
7.15-8pm Gemma Dunleavy
6-6.45pm Yeule
4.50-5.30pm Thomas Headon
3.40-4.20pm CVC
2-3pm Narolane & Guests
Mind + Body
2-3am TBC
12.45-1.30am The Cope
11.30pm-12.15am Malaki
10.15-11pm Sorcha Richardson
8.45-9.30pm Silverbacks
7.30-8.15pm Nixer
6.20-7pm Just Wondering
5.10-5.50pm Amy Michelle
4-4.40pm Lucy Blue
3-3.30pm Naked Lungs
SUNDAY
Main Stage
10.30pm-midnight Arctic Monkeys
8.15-9.45pm Snow Patrol
6.30-7.30pm The Coronas
5.15-6pm The Academic
4-4.45pm Wild Youth
2.30-3.15pm My Therapist Ghosted Me
1-2pm Dublin Gospel Choir
Electric Arena
10.45pm-midnight Disclosure
9.15-10.15pm London Grammar
7.30-8.30pm James Vincent McMorrow
6.15-7pm Mimi Webb
5-5.45pm Belters Only
3.30-4.15pm Moncrieff
2.15-2.45pm Lea Heart
Rankin’s Wood
9.15-10.15pm Khruangbin
8-8.45pm Rejjie Snow
6.45-7.30pm Joy Crookes
5.30-6.15pm Griff
4.15-5pm CMAT
3-3.45pm Tolü Makay
2-2.30pm The Florentinas
Terminus Stage
10.30pm-midnight Jeff Mills
8.45-10.15pm Helena Hauff
7.30-8.45pm VTSS
6-7.15pm Whorskey
Three All for Music Stage
10.15-11pm Perfume Genius
8.45-9.30pm Just Mustard
7.30-8.15pm Priya Ragu
6.15-7pm Kamal
5-5.45pm Hope Tala
3.45-4.30pm Kynsy
2.30-3.15pm Bronagh Gallagher
Mind + Body
2.30-3.30am Nialler9
1.15-2am Le Boom
Midnight-12.45am Mango x Mathman
10.45-11.30pm Somebody’s Child
9.30-10.15pm Rachel Mae Hannon
8-8.45pm April
7-7.30pm Lemonade Shoelace
6-6.30pm George O’ Hanlon
4.45-5.15pm Cruel Sister
3.30-4pm Carlsbad
HOW MANY STAGES/AREAS ARE THERE?
There’s the Main Arena, which is where all the biggest action happens (including the Electric Arena, Rankin’s Wood Stage and the 3 All for Music stage);
Comedy Stage, which will be headlined by Dylan Moran, David O’Doherty, Jason Byrne & more;
Terminus is a new area known as ‘Freetown’s Temple of Dance’;
The Salty Dog stage in the woods, aka the ‘marooned pirate ship’;
Mother After Dark is a ‘decadent late-night party destination’;
Mind & Body is an ‘oasis for all the senses’, where you can catch some
intimate performances as well as yoga, hot tubs, saunas etc.;
Mindfield is where all the spoken word and theatre events happen;
The Theatre is the festival’s brand new arts and culture hub, featuring
ballet, opera, cabaret and theatre;
Theatre of Food, where there’ll be food talks and demos;
Trailer Park, aka the ‘eccentric caravan commune’;
Global Green, the festival’s eco village;
Greencrafts, where you’ll be able to craft your own flower crowns, pottery and jewellry;
Trenchtown, the reggae-inspired area in the woods;
Anachronica, the place to go for a late-night bop;
Berlinhaus, the ‘top secret’ underground techno bunker;
The Hazel Wood, the tranquil stage in the woods;
The Jerry Fish Electric Carnival & Fishtown, the carnival stage hosted by the Irish musician;
Transmission, i.e. the rave stage;
Artlot, the open-air exhibition space;
The Lake, where you can go for a refreshing dip (for the love of god, be careful!)
There are also numerous sponsored stages with their own line-ups (check social media for details) - including Casa Bacardi, The Heineken Greener Bar, The Bodega with Bewleys, etc.
DO I NEED TO BRING CASH?
All bars are contactless only, but some food vendors may accept cash. There will be ATMS on site, open from Friday 2pm – 2am, Saturday 11am – 2am and Sunday 11am – 2am - but as you may know, queues can be long so there’s no harm having some cash (kept safely!) on you.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?
Electric Picnic is strictly over 18s, except for under-12s; children over 12 (i.e. age 13 - 17) will not be allowed to attend, even when accompanied by an adult.
There will be phone charging available via Three Charging, in the Main Arena, Late Night Arena and Jimi Hendrix Campsite.
Lockers and Storage Boxes will be available for storing your valuables all weekend in the Jimi Hendrix campsite (a good idea to book these in advance). https://www.universe.com/events/giglocker-electric-picnic-tickets-K0G4RD?_ga=2.82819542.1910703328.1661847945-1773297940.1661422950
You will be able to bring booze from the campsite into the Main Arena only after the bars close at 1am - and limited to 4 cans per person. (There is a limit of 48 cans per person being brought into the campsite, FYI.)
Bags larger than A4 size will not be allowed into the Main Arena.
Have fun and enjoy yourselves!