Electric Picnic 2023 **No Ticket Sales / Requests ** - It'll be grand

LowOdour

I'd kinda of parked EP after last announcement hoping that ATN would come up with good announcement to help me make my decision.

But it would be a decent weekend if I turned up at Stradbally and saw Idles, Amyl and the sniffers, Young Fathers, Johhny Marr, Murder Capital, Mary Wallopers, Viagra boys (and if nothing else on) Killers, Saw doctors and Unknown Mortal Orchestra

As I've said a few times, last year was really poor and had probably 3 or 4 acts I wanted to see all weekend. So already 2023 looking OK. Kinda hoping ATN doesn't make it too difficult a choice which to go to

Seathrun66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120555930#Comment_120555930

Was thinking exactly the same thing today with all the same acts plus Gurriers, Steve Lacy, Nia Archives, Lightning Seeds and half of Billie Eilish. There’ll also be plenty of stuff at Jerry Fish and the Salty Dog plus a few late main arena announcements. I’m not expecting anything too significant but Siouxsie (already booked for another FR festival) being announced would swing the whole thing for me. There is hope……

LowOdour

Saw the Manchester Psych Fest on the same weekend has Brian Jonestown massacre, Hamish Hawk, Bodega and Benefits on its line up - would take all of those on the EP lineup

Dreamweapon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120557668#Comment_120557668

It should really be named Manchester Indie Fest at this stage, but yeah there are a few at it i'd welcome in Stradbally (Flamingods and MadMadMad are both perfect for festivals).

sydthebeat

lads ive no idea what to make of steve lacy.

ive watched a couple of live performance clips on youtube and i cannot see how that guy could hold a main stage slot. He has the on stage presence of a weird computer nerd who has a huge ego. He constantly stops his music to "interact" with the crowd (moan at them would be a better description)

hes not particularly a good singer nor talented guitarist.

the genre of music he produces / collaborates with is all over the place from techno to jungle to grime to low fi pop.

is his success simply based on tik tok clips ?

Seathrun66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120557668#Comment_120557668

Did this take over from the Liverpool Psych Fest? They used to have great lineups.

Seathrun66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120557766#Comment_120557766

He’s an act I’d not heard of before last month but everything I’ve listened to has been very impressive. I’m getting bits of lots of other artists there - Anderson Paak, Shuggie Otis, Connan Mockasin, Mac DeMarco, Stevie Wonder, etc and it all works really well. A definite for me if I head to EP.

bodhrandude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120557766#Comment_120557766

Is he like Mark Rebillet a bit.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120557905#Comment_120557905

for me rebillet is more talented, but more tighter in his genre exploring.

im giving lacy a go, his recorded music is very good... its his live performances that ive seen clips of that im "not getting". Hes not really a good singer at all, he doesnt really have any stage presence and some of his interactions with the crowd are both forced and condescending.

if hes like that on the main stage at EP i think the crowd would get bored very easily.

endainoz

In all seriousness I do reckon this lineup is a good bit better than last year for me anyway. I still have no ticket and very much doubt I'll be going, but ya never know. The fomo could certainly hit by July or so!

Dreamweapon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120557860#Comment_120557860

Kinda. It's always had good acts but whether they could be classed as Psych is highly questionable, as has being illustrated by the lineups becoming increasingly indie over the years. I don't recall it ever generating the same level of excitement that Liverpool did each year for those psychedelically inclined.

LPF on the other hand was the highlight of my (and many others) year. I went to four of them and loved it. However, they made the right decision in ending when they did.

Stillill42

Nobody shedding any tears in here over the ATN line up announcement? If you took the cream of both festivals, you could put together a half decent weekend. Hard to know what to do. Certainly no winner this year in the larger Irish festival stand off. 6/10s all round.

scruff monkey

I'm sure our next announcement will be just as dick shrivelling

Seathrun66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120570513#Comment_120570513

Plenty of interesting stuff at ATN and it seems that they’ve taken all ages and tastes into consideration. More thoughtful curation than EP.

endainoz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120573771#Comment_120573771

Ah ya know, free flow trumps everything 😄

SachaJ

Was surprised to see a James Murphy DJ set at ATN. Was hoping to see him and the great of the band at some stage this year. Maybe 2024.

Stillill42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120575789#Comment_120575789

He did the dj thing in Stradbally when? Was it 2015? The year before LCD?

Seathrun66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120575833#Comment_120575833

He did the DJ thing solo at EP at least twice, another time time with bandmate Tim Mahoney, once with Despacio and four times with LCD. All between 2005 and 2016, eight appearances in 11 years.

And now he doesn’t even call..,,,

Stillill42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120577381#Comment_120577381

Jaysus. Nile Rodgers levels of love for the emerald Isle.

fourmations

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120570513#Comment_120570513

ATN Lineup is average for my money but i might well go, EP lineup is really grim and ive had enough of it, need a change (although i have tickets and Pink Moon booked) . Beyond the Pale has a really cool lineup and im curious about a nice smaller festival, anyone been to BTP and ATN? (ive not been to either) whats your opinion if you please! cheers

Stillill42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120582496#Comment_120582496

I was at the first 2 ATNs, wasn't there last year. Loads going for it, beautiful site, crowd certainly a bit older, lovely atmosphere, very chilled. I was off site first year but camping seemed pretty chilled aswell, more room, minimal assholes. When you're used to EP (in the good old days), ATN certainly felt thin on the music front. Both years, I had a number of times over the course of the weekend where there was literally nothing on I had any interest in. Didn't matter really 2018, weather was glorious and I was with a crowd and there loads of cool places to relax. 2019, it rained and I felt those parts of the day pretty keenly. Late night at ATN, very little beyond the dance tent.

Like I say, loads thats great about it. Traffic chaos in 2019 aside, I'd say there's not many who've been that wouldn't recommend it.

Seathrun66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120582496#Comment_120582496

@rubick probably in the best position to compare all three.

endainoz

Beyond the pale is still pretty new, but did hear fantastic reports back from it past year. Forest Fest would have a lot going for it too, but from what I gather the site wouldn't be as picturesque as ATN.

Plenty of potential there though. It can be really difficult to get customer loyalty in such a crowded market, goodwill means everything, ATN found that out the hard way but in fairness they did recover well from it. The two years break due to the C+word certainly helped things for my decision anyway!

adam240610

Anyone remember when loyalty tickets starting arriving for people last year? I'm probably going to have to pass my tickets on to someone else

SachaJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120577480#Comment_120577480

He still feels guilty for the cancelling that gig in Tripod over the Icelandic volcano 😂

LowOdour

Really liking what I'm hearing from Chalk - they could be this year's Naked Lungs who were one of my few highlights from last year.

And I had forgotten how many good songs Lightening Seeds have. Bought Dizzy Heights many moons ago from Britannia cd mail order , some decent tracks on it

scruff monkey

Lightning seeds were lost on main stage last time, hopefully in a tent this time.

Seathrun66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120593349#Comment_120593349

Agreed, didn’t work.

rubick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120582496#Comment_120582496

Been to the last two ATNs and the inaugural BTP. Have found both to be really good.

ATN is, I feel, right at that sweet part of the curve where its still new enough that you're still discovering new areas each visit. They've already changed it up a few times in terms of layout, and that seems to be happening again this year with Arcadia being moved to a larger area. Great setting for their Main Stage, that slowly inclining natural amphitheatre and plenty of room. The '2nd' tent is right beside it ('Something Kind of Wonderful') which is of a decent size with a wide variation of acts appearing throughout the day, last year we had the likes of Dry Cleaning and shame, with Honey Dijon banging it out in the early hours. Several other tents to explore of decent size with a a decent variation in musical acts. I feel it's quite a dance-heavy festival though (which is fine in my book) but when you have two areas that are run by Arcadia and AvA non-dance music fans might feel a little aggrieved by lack of late night options. The Bandstand area is great for relaxing and taking in a few comedy acts, David O'Doherty was great last year. Think it's to be Tommy Tiernan this outing and Blindboy is there every year for a good oul chat. Drinks are Diageo so you can get a Guinness but the beer/cider are both Rockshore so caveat emptor there. Hop House was available down in a smaller bar near Curraghmore House itself. Freeflow obviously makes this less of an issue but Security are very definitely strict on the allowance and you will get searched in all bags. All in all it's a great experience, decent food options (inc. Little Dumpling - wow) and no huge dramas in terms of crowd control and no massive distances to traverse between stages. Recommended!

BTP announced a good deal of their line-up early and came out swinging, no farting about with them. As I understand it, the Glendalough Estate was one being looked at by John Reynolds after parting ways with EP as a new festival start-up, and you can see why. It's compact and really not very much to navigate (we timed an 8 minute walk from our tent to the main arena) but almost entirely situated in a forest clearing, with only the campsites/entrance not totally surrounded by trees. There is a large red kite population around the site too and they have talks/walks along the trails if that's your thing. Four or five main stages/tents make up the entire selection but as a its only a 5k capacity outing that's just about right. Only complaint I had from last year (aside from The Comet is Coming unable to attend due to Covid) was the awful soundbleed from 'The Big Romance' stage an Main Stage. The Big Romance is an 'in the round' style dance music area (Four Tet was on there late on the opening night) which was great and all - but it was flat out dance music all day from 11am until close, so if there was an trad or quieter acts on the Main Stage, good luck. Similarly, they had Orbital on the Main Stage Sunday, opposite HAAi on The Big Romance - HAAi's sound was awful and there were about 20 people there so that was a horrendous bit of scheduling. Hopefully that's something they will address this outing. I think BTP has probably the strongest line-up in Ireland this year and we'd be back like a shot this June if they hadn't moved the date back a week. Honestly can't think why they'd deliberately move it to the same weekend as Body & Soul but I just turn up at these things. As it stands if we went we'd be back to Antrim on the Monday after then flying out to Glastonbury on the Tuesday which is pushing it - we had ten days between the two last year. I'd certainly give BTP a shot again and we'll definitely be back the first year we strike out on Glastonbury tickets, which judging by the new ticket system could be next year.

crl84

Body & Soul moved themselves back a weekend (not on the summer solstice this year). BTP stayed the same weekend as last year.