The line-up for the 2024 edition of the Electric Picnic Arts and Music Festival was announced yesterday.
After months of waiting, there is plenty to dissect from the announcement – which we will go through below:
1 – Finally, an announcement
After what felt like an eternity of a wait, fans of Electric Picnic were finally put out of their misery on Friday when the line up was announced.
This year’s festival will take place from August 16-18, two weeks earlier than usual, though an announcement on the line up was more than a month behind what it would be previously.
Though last year’s line up announcement was in December, it was between March 2 and 23 in each of the previous seven years.
An analysis of the last nine years shows the dates that the first line-up announcement was made each time.
- 2023 – December 5
- 2022 – March 9
- 2020 – March 11
- 2019 – March 13
- 2018 – March 15
- 2017 – March 23
- 2016 – March 2
- 2015 – March 4
April 26 was the date this year – but at least we finally have it.
2 – Why was there a delay?
It is unclear why we had to wait so long for an announcement this year.
Electric Picnic organisers always maintained the festival would go ahead and that was the line they stuck too when fans began to panic that it would not.
The longer the wait went on, the more speculation grew that something was wrong.
Accommodation for up to 900 people fleeing the war in Ukraine is currently being provided for on the site of Electric Picnic and some pointed that this may be the issue.
The contract for that is up in mid-June and even if that was extended, the part of the site where those people are currently living is not used as part of the festival anyway.
Farmers in the area originally complained that the earlier date would clash with their harvest but Festival Republic maintained a solution to that would be found.
So maybe the sourcing of acts proved the issue? Nevertheless, we have a line up now.
3 – Music is subjective
The reaction online, as it so typically is to most things these days, was probably more negative than positive – depending of course where you looked.
The comment sections on Twitter were streams of negativity but how many of those would actually go to the festival anyway is unquantifiable.
LaoisToday ran a poll on Instagram and on last viewing, 48% thought the line up was ‘good’, 38% said ‘mediocre’ and 14% said it was ‘bad’.
The thing with music is that whether you enjoy something or not is subjective. There is no such thing as something being ‘bad’ or ‘good’.
Personally, I really like it. There are at least 15 acts on the list that I will try to see.
But Electric Picnic is, and always will be, about much more than the music. The craic, range of people you meet and the accessibility of it all right here in Laois make it something truly special.
4 – The Headliners
As in previous years, EP have confirmed the six acts that will headline the Main Stage across the three days.
As was widely predicted, Noah Kahan and his hit song ‘Stick Season’ will be on Friday with Scottish singer Gerry Cinnamon returning to stage for the first time since 2019.
Speaking of 2019, that was the last time that Kodaline appeared and they are back on Saturday along with one of the most exciting acts of the weekend.
Calvin Harris, a Scottish DJ, singer, songwriter, and record producer, who has songs with the likes of Ne-yo, Rihanna and Ellie Goulding, will put on a show on Saturday evening.
Sunday’s headliners include Raye with her hit song ‘Escapism’ and then we’ll all be ‘Spinning Around’ when Australian Kylie Minnogue closes the festival.
Last year’s headliners were Billie Eilish, Fred Again, Paolo Nutini, Niall Horan, The Killers and The Script.
Is this year better than last? That is a matter of opinion because music, as I say, is subjective.
5 – The Wolfe Tones
After the incredible numbers who turned up to watch The Wolfe Tones last year in the Electric Arena, it was inevitable that the lads would return.
Joe Duffy on RTE Radio One said during the week that nobody would turn up to see them – and was left with egg on his face when thousands did.
And as a result, organisers have confirmed that they will be on the Main Stage this year.
I can’t wait to read about and listen to all of the condescending views on why we shouldn’t be listening to the Wolfe Tones. All of the tutting and eye rolling from certain quarters will be enjoyable!
6 – What are the hidden gems?
Outside of the obvious, there are plenty of other acts that have been confirmed that are worth a look.
Faithless, Kasabian, Peggy Gou, Teddy Swims and Tom Grennan all have a collection of songs that casual music listeners will know.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor, made famous again thanks to the hit film Saltburn, will be there with Murder On The Dancefloor.
Dean Lewis, The Waterboys, Darren Kiely, Jazzy and Ryan McMullan will all draw crowds.
While controversial Irish rap group Kneecap, who last came in 2022 and have songs like ‘Get Your Brits Out’, will also be of interest.
7 – Can we expect more?
Usually, you would say yes. Ordinarily, we’d get another announcement in the middle of the summer but nothing about this year has been the norm.
It also doesn’t say anywhere on the poster that more acts are to follow.
But the number of acts so far is thinner than other years so you’d have to imagine more will be added before August.
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