First up on my musical agenda was the Dublin Gospel Choir who were performing on the Main Stage. This was my first time seeing them and I wasn't sure of what to expect or even if they would fit in on such a large stage with such a varied audience but I had heard good feedback on them from a group of festival goers who had been fortunate enough to catch them at Electric Picnic 2012. My curiosity got the better of me and I'm glad it did.
A lot of Dublin Gospel Choir's performance was a little clichéd in parts, but their technical abilities were outstanding and several of their lead vocalists really knew how to belt out the high notes. Their hour long performance was upbeat and lively and was a great act to start off the day, especially for those who were feeling the fatigue of the last two days.
With so much to do at Electric Picnic, evening time came in a little faster than expected and I made my way to watch the final half hour of Jacques Renault at the #CasaBacardi stage.
Jacques originally trained as a violist in Chicago before turning to dance music where he established his place in the club scene. His music had a very distinct sound and he certainly held the ability to gage his audience in his fantastic mix of house music. The crowd were still dancing their end-of-festival blues away as I left to explore some more of the evening's happenings.
The pioneer of Electroclash that is Felix Da Housecat made his way on stage for the final performance at the #CasaBacardi stage.
He used his eccentric stage presents to get the crowd moving. Hitting on everything from ambient sounds and electroclash to house. He ultimately received one of the warmer receptions of Sunday night.
After a quick check of the timetable, I made a dash over to check out the Arctic Monkeys. Arctic Monkeys are a powerful and accomplished band and this certainly shows in their music. Their easy to sing along to vocals and catchy riffs make them a perfect festival band. They throw some older Monkeys classics into their set, notably "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" and "R U Mine". Alex Turner proved himself as a great frontman and put together a great show.
With the night's festivities coming to a close, it was back to the festival's camping site for some winding down before an early return journey back home.
Electric Picnic 2013 was massively successful for the tenth consecutive year and the festival outdid itself in terms of attendance and headline artists. Whether it's music, comedy, art, literature or even just for some festival fun, this festival has a little something for everyone.
Electric Picnic 2014 will certainly be a must-go for me.
Review by: Sarah Holden
