Ireland is the setting for many great things. The picturesque Emerald Isle gave HBO’s Game Of Thrones some of its stunning backdrops, while in the capital of Dublin lies a music scene that sounds just as good as the country looks.
Electric Picnic does an even better job than Game Of Thrones at selling the natural beauty of the country with the green delights of the Stradbally Estate offering a version of Ireland minus those pesky Lannisters. The accompanying music and arts doesn’t do a bad job at convincing you of the cultural delights of Ireland either.
The fact that music is just one component of many other features of this festival is what puts it above the country’s other big name event in Oxegen, which draws around 60,000 people a day.
But Electric Picnic sustains itself not off attendance figures, which the former uses mainstream acts to draw, but from quality programming and organising.
The people of Ireland and Europe agree on this as well. The festival was voted as the Best Medium-Sized event at the European Festival Awards in 2010 and has won the Best Big Festival award at the Irish Festival awards every year since 2007.
It probably doesn’t hurt that they’ve managed to book the likes of Kraftwerk, Royksopp, Nick Cave, Sonic Youth, New Order, Bjork, Arcade Fire, Beastie Boys, The Stooges, Sigur Ros, Chemical Brothers and The Flaming Lips since the festival began in 2004.
Its inaugural year may have only been held on one day but after expanding to three for its second edition it was clear that the organisers had something special in their hands. And with numerous plaudits from media outlets such as Billboard and Rolling Stone as well as an annual turn out of around 32,000 people that something special has become quickly realised the world over.
So take a look at this year’s incredible lineup, book your flights and read on to discover the extra-curricular highlights that you could be experiencing at Electric Picnic.
Lineup
Arguably the three biggest headlining acts on the festival circuit in 2014 will all make a stopover at Ireland’s Electric Picnic. While rumours abound that Portishead are edging closer to finishing the long awaited follow-up to 2008’s Third, theOutkast festival reunion tour will continue here just as Beck’s world tour in support of Morning Phase will make its Irish stopover.
Oxford five-piece Foals will bring their frenetic live show to the event as they continue to bask in the success of 2013’s Holy Fire, while the Pet Shop Boys will draw from their extensive catalogue to remind this audience of what quality pop music really sounds like.
Chic Feat Nile Rodgers will also make up the contingent of legendary acts on this bill as the likes of St.Vincent, Metronomy, Lily Allen and Flume are all expected to draw huge crowds over the course of the event.
Check out the full lineup here.
Where And When
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Electric Picnic will run from the 29th of August to the 31st at the Stradbally Estate, located in the town of Country Laois in the midlands of Ireland.
How To Get There
Getting to Electric Picnic is easy as 1-2-3 once you manage the long haul flight to Dublin.
We’ve made a list of the estimated return airfares from major Australian cities that were available at the time of writing.
Adelaide: One-stop flights start from $2400, while two-stop journeys are valued over $2500.
Brisbane: One-stop flights start from $2600, while two-stop journeys are valued over $2000.
Melbourne: One-stop flights start from $2500, while two-stop journeys are valued over $2300.
Perth: One-stop flights start from $2000, while two-stop journeys are valued over $2500.
Sydney: One-stop flights start from $2600, while two-stop journeys are valued over $2400.
From the Dublin airport there will be bus service running through Bus Eireann to the festival site at 2pm, otherwise you can take an Aircoach from the airport to Dublin’s city centre. From there you can catch a number of different buses to the festival for a return ticket price of €25. For more information just follow this link.
Where To Stay
Camping is the aim of the game here and like most European festivals there are plenty of different options available if you’re willing to fork out the cash.
Bohemia Boutique Camping, Festihut, Hearthworks Tipis and Yurts, Pink Moon Camping, Pod Pads, Yurts and Squrts and Silk Road Tents are some of the companies providing above par camping options for punters.
Standard camping is included in the normal ticket price, however punters can purchase campervan passes and access to the luxury camping grounds if they desire. Hot showers, toilets and security is included in this option.
How To Get Tickets
A full weekend ticket will set you back €194.50 if you purchase now, otherwise the price will jump to €229.50 after July 4th. Sunday tickets are valued at €90 and campervan tickets will cost you the same price.
There are also instalment plans available for those looking to purchase a full weekend pass.
Follow this link through to Ticketmaster to get your tickets!
Insider Tips & Tricks/Things You Shouldn’t Miss
If you’re in-between acts or just disinterested in what’s on offer at a particular time there are plenty of extra-curricular activities to choose from. The Mindfield is a spoken word arena that pledges to “entertain, inform and inflame”. Located amongst the trees of the Stradbury Estate you’ll get everything from readings, to political debate, performance poetry, science experiments, inspiring talks, news quizzes and public conversations.
On the same end of the grounds the Comedy Tent will also host a variety of side-splitting comedy shows.
At Trenchtown the Stradbally Forest becomes a Jamaican stronghold where reggae, dub, ska and dance hall artists spread their ‘One Love’ theme for all to share.
Electric Picnic’s specialty stages get even better than that though. You have to check out the ‘Trailer Park’ stage, which hosts bands in a campervan style platform, while the sea faring ‘Salty Dog’ stage will only submit mandolin bearing and bribe mastering bands onto its decks.
At the Global Green area of the festival punters will find local grub that ranges from a micro bakery to a pedal powered smoothie maker. While in the same location you can participate in ‘Rethink Tank’ sessions if you’re interested in local issues, have a daytime dance session with the area’s own little stage bringing some class A Irish beats, partake in a morning yoga session and get crafty at the create area of the ‘Global Green’.
Speaking of crafts the country’s biggest hands-on craftwork organisation in Ireland in Greencrafts allows festivalgoers to get creative at their workshop sessions. Who needs to buy souvenirs when you can make your own?
For more details head to the official Electric Picnic website.
