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

The only one I'm sort of interested in is Jamiexx. Assusming he'll do the late slot on Saturday night.

Bonobo seems to have a few gigs in the UK around August so wouldn't mind seeing him if appeared on the lineup. M83 I'd like to see again. Bicep have a few festivals in August so might be a shout for EP.

Glad you enjoyed it and that we agree they'd be a great festival band.

Coach Party were good last night. 15 songs in a 40-45min. set. Yes they're poppy but not too poppy. The Breeders probably the easiest comparison but CP don't slavishly adhere to that sound, unlike many who tread a similar path. Special mention for the support Of All Living Things. They reside somewhere around the apex of shoegaze/dreampop/post-rock. Plus, it's nice to hear an Irish guitar band that isn't peddling post-punk. Ones to watch.

Murder Capital in Vicar Street tonight. Bit of a weird one. I like the new album but it's like 2 different gigs when they switch between songs from the first and second albums. Totally different energy. Have to say, I still love those big, dark anthems from the first album. Their last Vicar Street show was certainly more intense. Anyhow no doubt they have plenty of material to choose from these days.

Ah, I don't agree Seath. Really like some of the new stuff, Ethel, A thousand lives, We had to disappear. I think they have struggled, flying, then lockdown as they were launching into a proper tour, didn't cope too well with everything grinding to a halt I don't think. They've come out the other side in a different place. We'll see how they go but I think you're a bit quick on the trigger with the new album.

I'm the same. I'll have to give it another couple of listens. I've only given it one spin so far.

Right lads. I get it. Thumbs down for the Murder Capital.

You know who's interesting and also playing Workmans soon and hopefully EP

Benefits

Reading and Leeds gave their second announcement.

This is dog rough. With one or two exceptions the line ups this year have been dreadful. Lumpen craic like The Killers and Capaldi alongside a rogues gallery of newish hiphop acts and business-techno djs. This might be my last year at the Pick if they can continue to sell out and put on drab lineups.

When did the change happen? Some exec clocked that most peeps are getting pished in the campsite and it was immaterial who organisers focussed on / spent money on. The campsite pissheads will lap it up regardless?

Very poor, and a lack of young indie and quirky acts lower down the bill. At least EP is shaping up to be much stronger than that.

I agree with most of that and I can deal with the likes of Lewis Capaldi headlining as long as the promoters have got decent alternatives booked. While Megan Thee Stallion & Dermot Kennedy were playing the main stage we had Little Simz, Pixies & Fontaines DC as options. Idles and Amyl & the Sniffers already good acts for me, maybe Rick Astley & Billie Eilish.

A decent choice is all that most of us here want. if you’re privy to the lineup, and without revealing bookings, is there decent indie/hip-hop/heritage stuff for us to look forward to? You’re aware of the music taste of most on here.

Are there stats for the age demographics of EP attendees? I’d dispute the figure of 10% to include all of those over 30. That may be the case in the future but there’s no way that applies to recent Picnics.

The comparison go Glastonbury is very relevant. They cater for all music genres and age demographics. There is no reason for EP not to do the same. The larger population of the UK is not a factor when EP can easily sell 100k-120k tickets at present.

Now Green Man looks a lot more like what I'm after. Loads of decent mid level acts there. While that's not the model that EP want to follow, the type of acts booked there, their profile and price range, should be doable on some scale, no? Think of the months of enjoyable research on that poster!

Edit: Just noticed Les Savy Fav on there. Are they back on the scene? I'd love to see them.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Amyl and young fathers are on EP line up.

primal scream playing IMMA with Noel G the week before so that’s them ruled out.

Beth orton and PBS both playing body and soul so very unlikely to be playing EP.

Leeds and (particularly) Reading have ceded their original crowd to the Downloads of this world and shifted to the TikTok crowd to stay relevant.

Mick Eavis famously announced an approach to encourage a younger demographic in the mid 2000's. As the festival market continues to fracture the big players need to change their approach to stay afloat. But to abandon a successful thematic style is rubbish. That Leeds poster is diabolical when you compare it to MadCool for example.

Think theres a balance to be targetted. As you say Seathrun this 10% statistic is back of a fagpacket craic. Spoofology.

Attendees over the age of 30 make up more like 40% with a big subset of this group in their 40s and above and with families. EP is our equivalent of Glastonbury. To follow a similar change initiative to Reading or (closer to home) Longitude to me is myopic and lazy. They need to try harder.