By Jennifer McShane, GCD,
Campus.ie Intern
With the festival season drawing to a close, there is only one way to celebrate the last few days of summer: to attend the legendary festival that is Electric Picnic.
Held once again in the picturesque grounds of Stradbally Estate in Loais, the three day spectacular is on from September 3rd to the 5th and whether your there for the music, comedy or theatre acts or to just plain have fun there is something for everyone at this year?s picnic.
{module Island Banners|xhtml} Forget blankets and wicker baskets because this picnic is a lot more than just a food eating day in the sun? with an array of theatre, art, comedy, spoken word, children's entertainment, holistic healing and green crafts you are sure to be kept occupied for the entire three days.
This year?s line up includes: The Frames (who will be playing for their 20th anniversary), Massive Attack, Gil Scott-Heron, Roxy Music, Left Field, The Horrors, John Lydon, Choice Music Prize Winner Adrian Crowley, Hot Chip, Villagers, Messiah J, Seasick Steve, Fever Ray, the ever popular Imelda May, Swedish pop/dance sensation Robyn, the amazing Mumford and Sons and many more.
Electric Picnic differs from other festivals in Ireland in that the music choice is more eclectic than the other mainstream events, it?s definitely one for the lover of alternative music but some mainstream acts creep in every now and then ? the iconic pop/dance act Robyn being a primary example this year.
Fast becoming the must-see festival of the year (even surpassing Oxegen) there is more choice of events for everyone including: Music, paintball, hair and beauty, comedy gigs and a Hotpress chatroom. There is more emphasis on quality festival services such as food and sleeping arrangements - the camping facilities are among the best in the festival business with a choice of anything from regular camping, to more luxurious beach huts and various tents available to hire. There is generally a more positive and relaxed atmosphere with an emphasis on eco-friendly initiatives too (Note the Greencraft workshops also taking place at the picnic throughout the day).
Electric Picnic began as a one-day event in 2004, before growing to a weekend-long festival within a year. It is rapidly gaining ground on Oxegen as the most popular Irish music festival. (For example the 2008 festival sold out faster than any other event that year).
The Picnic has received widespread international acclaim, being described as "Ireland's version of Glastonbury" and US magazine Billboard describing it as "a magnificent rock n roll circus, an example of everything a festival should be" and Rolling Stone stating it "one of the best festivals we've ever been to". Electric Picnic has sold out months in advance for the last 3 years and the 2008 event was described by The Irish Times as 'the best Electric Picnic yet'.
Be sure to bring your wellies and hope we fare a bit better weather-wise than the Oxegen crowd did, but whatever the weather you?ll be guaranteed a fantastic festival weekend. If you only go to one event this year make it Electric Picnic!
For further information:
www.electricpicnic.ie
If you would like to let us know about news and events in your college you can email collegenews@campus.ie
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