Electric Picnic 2022 - Here we go again! - **No Ticket Sales / Requests **

Just have to register them before the picnic each ticket allows 2 under 12s in with an adult

Yep

I think you are asked to register but a lot don't

It could imply that the older demographic (with the cash to spend six days after EP finishes that most kids don't have) aren't rushing out to buy. The energy crisis could also be playing a part and the next few months will see a major reduction in non-essential spending.

A round up of city and town festivals I attended in July, enjoy. :)

I mentioned in this post that some of what I was planning to comment on had changed over the course of Sunday. It’s probably changed again since the festival. As that section was four paragraphs long, and didn’t really go anywhere, I’ve cut it out. Slightly later than planned, a few final comments on the festival and what has been discussed remain.

My first EP was in 2016 so I’ve only known it as a commercial pig. As a result, I have a more positive outlook on the current situation than some of the negative commentators on here. I only made it to Oxygen once, when I worked there in 2010. As I was working, I was only able to wander around the site for two/three hours but even in that short span of time there was plenty of unpleasant things to see. If you limit your view of EP to the Main Arena, Hendrix, and Warhol I can see some justification to the comparisons. However, the comparison was more accurate in 2019. The rearranging of the arena this year created more space and removed many of the problems present in 2019.

I think the litter and waste management issue is also improving. I can remember walking between stages in 2016 on a carpet of discarded plastics cups, that wasn’t the case this year. My view is probably also helped by not having to walk through the middle of any general campsites. My main issue with waste management is that most of the bins had non-recyclable labels on them. This was particularly annoying in the arena and pre-security check area because it’s unlikely that anything non-recyclable is being binned in those areas.

The line-up certainly had less depth this year. In other years I’d have two or three sets of alternate acts to see at any point. This year I probably only had one alternate line-up, but I haven’t looked properly to confirm that. Having said that, I feel the set of acts I did see was the strongest of any of the years I’ve been (I haven’t done a side-by-side comparison to be sure). Most of the acts picked themselves as the obvious choice with any conflicts easily resolved. I also didn’t really look at the Mindfield line-up which would have filled in the sparse early afternoon.

Someone mentioned that they felt EP has lost the eclectic line-up it had in the early years. They must define eclectic differently to me because it seems like the perfect word to describe a line-up including: 100 gecs, Mick Flannery & Susan O’Neill, Khruangbin, Glen’s theatre thing, Pixies, Megan Thee Stallion, Jeff Mills, Kneecap, and CMAT to name a few. I’m sure we could create multiple similar lists.

There was also a comment about early picnics having a golden thread which tied all the acts together. I’ve probably misunderstood the point being made, but is that not still the case? You just have to pick your genre/thread. While I haven’t done this, I reckon you could pick a broad genre (Trad/Folk, Pop, Indie/Rock, Electronic) and fill your day with just that music.

In relation to Terminus, the planning licence limits it to the same hours as the Main Arena stages. While that is up to 2am on the Friday and Saturday nights, I’d assume they stop it at the same time as the main stage to avoid a large surge moving up through the site, cutting across everyone else trying to exit.

Genghis (#5725) and Seathrun66 (#5976) covered most of the rest that I might have commented on. I’m sure anything I’ve missed will come up in the 2023 thread at some point so we can discuss it then. I do have some more comments around the line-up, but they’ll need some research. I won’t be doing that until October when I’m finished with upcoming festival listening.

As a final point, I thought the submissions / observations section of the planning report was interesting:

OOOPS. OLD NEWS, I SEE IT MENTIONED HERE YESTERDAY

alas.... end of an EP era or at least a change...

from Facebook........

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the retirement of our singer and great friend Dave McGuinness from These Charming Men at the end of 2022.Dave would like extend his love and gratitude to all the fans for their support over the last 10 years. Fear not as the show must go on. We are holding auditions for a new lead singer. If you have tons of live vocal experience and can impersonate Morrissey’s vocal and stage persona, you could be the new frontman in These Charming Men! Only serious applicants should apply to info@thesecharmingmen.com

NB Applicants must have live experience and know all the The Smiths back catalogue.

@Stillill42 ...you game? you have hair! thats a shoe in that a lot of us dont have!

Another question on Terminus, maybe it's been answered before. It has essentially replaced the Little Big tent albeit in a different location and a bigger capacity - but the LBT went from around mid day or early afternoon until at least 2 or 3am. Why are the hours for Terminus so different? Freetown seemed like an area of huge potential that was largely wasted in 2019, it sounded like a similar story this year.

@CoffeeImpala, did you cycle there and home?

How did that work out? Route, gear, bike storage, etc....

They definitely need seperate Entry and Exits. I was thinking one in each corner of The Oscar Wilde field. But looking at the layout, it looks too awkward.

Did they have turnstyle type entry points at the entrance? I havent been in there in a few years. I must go back and refresh my memory.

Yes, I cycled the full round trip this year. I think it's best way to get to EP. I'm not really covered by the traffic plan so can pick whatever route I like.

Going to EP I went Celbridge, Clane, Prosperous, Kildare, Kildangan, Vicarstown, and then Stradbally. This route was hillier than I remember it being in 2018. With food breaks and picking up cans in Stradbally I had my tent up six hours after leaving home.

On the way back I went on to the canal at Vicarstown, came off at Monasterevin, R445 to Newbridge, backroads to Sallins and then Ponsonby by Bridge where I got back on the canal. Off the canal at Hazelhatch, as the canal isn't surfaced between there and the 12th lock, and on to Lucan by road. I had few more close passes than I'd like on this route. Usually when you're carrying luggage on the bike drivers give a lot more space when overtaking.

I have new routes picked out for 2023 which I think should be better. I'll need to do a trial run on them once the greenway works are completed either side of Monasterevin.

I had a little difficulty getting my bike into the site in 2019 so I bought a trailer for the bike over lockdown. As it's a bit awkward to walk with the bike and trailer, I locked the bike to a road sign outside the paintball entrance, put the panniers on the trailer, and strolled down to the wristband exchange and on to eco. I then went back for the bike, cycled down the road to the Silver campsite, and walked the bike into Oscar Wilde from there. I had pitched my tent beside a few silver birch to which I locked the bike and trailer.

Fair play to you, I'd say a cold beer tasted nice after that cycle and putting your tent up.

The set gig might be a go'er.

Are they any use?

I see Karma Police are touring later in the year too. I'll definitely hit that one, they look savage from the few clips I've seen.

Interestingly Night and Day Festival not accepting cards or cash at bars only tokens. Confirmed a draught pint is €6 which better than EP

Cash at the food stalls. Tokens will be interesting to see how it works. Have pre-ordered some to avoid any delays in getting drink on day 1