The promoter of the Electric Picnic says he is ‘hugely optimistic’ that the festival will go ahead this year.
For the first time since it began in 2004, the Electric Picnic did not happen in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, MCD’s Dermot Desmond says that he believes that if the vaccination programme has advanced at a sufficient pace, the festival will return to Stradbally Hall.
He told the Irish Examiner: “There is no reason other than logistics around the rollout of the vaccines here why this summer cannot happen.
“I am hugely optimistic, and I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be back this summer staging concerts.”
Mr Desmond also confirmed that a new line-up is set to be released around St Patrick’s Day.
Snow Patrol, The Chemical Brothers, Picture This and Lewis Capaldi were all set to headline the festival last year before it was cancelled.
Mr Desmond said that the new line-up includes a combination of bands who were down to play last year and some new acts.
He also said that just 4% of the 70,000 tickets that were sold for the 2020 edition were returned by those who bought them – with the vast majority of people holding onto their tickets.
While he also does not envisage festival goers being required to prove they had been vaccinated prior to entry.
He said: “I don’t see us doing that. The vaccination of the elderly and those with underlying health conditions will protect the hospitals and the healthcare system.”
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