It is that time of the year again when musos and festival fans pack their tent and wash their wellies for the last big music blowout of the summer. The Electric Picnic now in its eight year will again happen on the grounds of Stradbally Hall in Laois. The big players on the bill this year will be Arcade Fire returning to the site of the now legendary performance in 2005 before the band went onto mainstream success, PJ Harvey plays on Friday on the back of her critically acclaimed Let England Shake album.
Limerick acts will represent at this years festival too. The Rubberbandits will make two appearances at Electric Picnic this weekend. The boys are currently in pre-production for the Channel 4 online ‘Comedy Blaps’ series with BAFTA award winning director, Declan Lowney who has previously worked on Father Ted and Little Britain.
Following on from last year’s late night show where The Rubberbandits rocked the full house playing ‘Horse Outside’ for the first time they are treating audiences to an all guns blazing show at The Electric Arena at 4pm on Saturday. The lovely men commented to Limerick Post that the new show is going to be “fun fun fun by the ton ton ton and a member of the audience will be shot from a cannon.” Later that night the masked duo will tie their horse up to the bows of the Salty Dog, a shipwreck hidden in the woods of Stradbally Hall. From 2am they will perform at the Dirty Rave with drum ‘n’ bass MC Daddy Earl.
Comedian Karl Spain will play the comedy tent and explained to Limerick Post that performing at a music festival is a very different experience from regular gigs. “It is something that you would expect to be a bit of a pain because you are on stage in a tent and a rock band is playing 100 feet away but they are actually lovely gigs and the audience are well up for it. The Electric Picnic has a very cool audience and they chill out during the day and they come in and relax in the comedy tent and it is usually good fun.” Karl performs at the Comedy Tent on Sunday at 5.20pm and has also just got news that he is MC for the Killarney Comedy Central Festival happening over 2 days from Friday September 16.
Dubliner, Ivan St. John has been quietly plying his trade over the last number of years avoiding screechy hyperbole and choosing instead to get on with making an outstanding recording. Alongside the rock solid backing of Limerick men Liam Marley on bass and Ray Murphy on drums Ivan recorded his debut album in Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago. His debut album called Up To Snuff is on release on Nestegg Records. Ivan says, “I’m really looking forward to the gig. I love playing Electric Picnic. It’s great to keep company with some of my favourite bands of the moment. I’m pretty excited about seeing Warpaint and Blonde Redhead.”
Ivan St John plays on The Cosby Stage at 1pm on Sunday but before that the band will perform at a warm-up show in Bourke’s Bar this Thursday September 1.
The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra will again feature in The Mindfield Area on The Leviathan Stage at this year’s Electric Picnic. Set among the trees at Stradbally Hall, the Leviathan Stage will be hosted by economist and broadcaster David McWilliams. Themes for debate this year include ‘I Predict a Riot: Economic Violence and Civil Unrest’ and the past present and future of the music business with Bob Geldof and BP Fallon. All this will be followed by the soothing sounds of The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra.
If you are going to the picnic, have a great time, don’t forget to bring wellies and sunblock and do send Limerick Post a tweet and tell us how much fun you are having.
Send your tweets to @musiclimerick.
