Are you set with your tent and rain boots? The countdown is on! In just a few days, Ireland’s biggest music event, Electric Picnic, will begin in Co Laois. This year, it’s a touch early, running from August 16th to the 18th. Approximately 75,000 individuals are anticipated to throng the fields of Stradbally estate, a whole weekend dedicated to music, comedy, conversation and typical festival merriment. Whether you’re a festival regular or a newbie, here are all the details you’ll need before your visit to EP.
Who’s on the stage?
There are countless artists to name, but the standout performers include Kylie Minogue, Noah Kahan and Calvin Harris. There’s also a comprehensive roster of Irish talent you’ll want to see, including CMAT, Lankum, Kneecap, The Wolfe Tones, and Bambie Thug.
Not just that, fresh faces have recently been confirmed for the event. Irish bands The Saw Doctors and The Mary Wallopers are now scheduled to perform, with the addition of Hermitage Green, Chasing Abbey, Jordan Adetunji, and Odhran Murphy.
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So, when does everything begin and conclude?
It all starts at 4pm on Thursday, August 15th, when early entry ticket holders are permitted onto the campsites.
Passes are no longer available, but last-minute resales might crop up on ticketmaster.ie, so don’t forget to keep checking. The festival kicks off on Thursday evening with a few performances for those who arrive early. One exciting highlight is that the organisers will try to beat the record for the largest ‘Rock the Boat’ dance at the Terminus stage at 8pm. This event is designed to gather funds for Sosad Ireland, a charity focused on mental health and suicide prevention. Aside from the dance, expect an evening filled with 90’s hits, prize giveaways, and fun.
Live performances and a variety of festival activities will continue from Friday through Sunday, both during daylight and after dark. By Monday 1pm, everyone should be packed up, ready to go home, and probably in need of a sizable cup of tea.
The camping experience varies. Gates open for Weekend Camping ticket holders at 9am on Friday, August 16th, and close at 1pm on Monday, August 19th. Staff are on hand 24/7 for camper’s safety. For those willing to splurge more than €1,000, EP’s Boutique campsites offer an exclusive and refined experience with a limited availability. To maintain the safety and provide support, there are 14 AIR (assistance, information and response) hubs positioned across all campsites and the arena, managed by local community groups and charities.
Essentials to pack must include bags for any soiled or wet clothes and rubbish bags for any mess you might make.
Food and drink are aplenty with various food stalls on the site. Hydration won’t be an issue since free water drinking points are situated all over the campsites and the arena next to the toilet blocks. Showers are an amenity provided, but if you prefer a faster solution, baby wipes and dry shampoo could be utilised to stay clean.
In regards to smoking and vaping, it is not allowed in indoor areas like enclosed stages, tents, or marquees. Disposable vapes are banned due to environmental concerns, however refillable ones are acceptable.
And yes, you can indeed charge your phones at the festival.
Mobile phone operator ‘Three’ is set to establish charging stations at the late-night venue and at the Jimi Hendrix and Samuel Beckett campsites. If you’ve got any valuable belongings, try to bring only a few with you. You might want to think about renting a locker or storage box over the weekend at the Jimi Hendrix campsite, as suggested by the event organizers. These come in handy for securing key items, including cash, wallets, identity cards, and cameras. Larger storage boxes can be opted for bulky stuff, like alcohol, to avoid unpleasant surprises of theft at the campsite.
Remember, it’s a cash-free event. Make sure to carry your cards for payments at bars, food outlets, and other concessionaires, or a phone charger in case you use your phone to make payments.
As for reaching the event location, make sure you follow the event signs (‘EP’ signage) and heed the directions of the police (Garda), instead of relying solely on your GPS once you near the event venue. Depending on where you’re starting your journey, if you’re driving or being dropped off, and the type of ticket you hold, you will follow different routes.
Regarding public transport, there are offerings by many bus companies:
– Marathon Coaches will be running hourly shuttles to and from the event from North Wall Quay (bus stop number 7623) between Thursday and Sunday. Return service tickets start at €35 for early bird and €50 for standard tickets.
– TravelMaster will cover 18 counties, offering nationwide return journeys on August 15th and 16th and back on August 19th with a ticket range of €30-€70.
– An all-Ireland return service by Irish Concert Travel would cost €55 per ticket.
– Martleys of Portlaoise provides a shuttle from the Portlaoise train station to Stradbally, with tickets available for purchase at the station.
– Last but not least, Buses to Concerts will be offering return trips from different cities, including Belfast, Lisburn, Banbridge, Newry, Dundalk, Drogheda, and Dublin, with ticket prices starting from €69.64.
If you are traveling by train: Portlaoise is the nearest station to the festival. You can view the train schedule on the Irish Rail website. Shuttle services from the train station to the festival grounds will be available from Martleys of Portlaoise.
Travelling by automobile
From Dublin and North via M7 southbound: Take exit at junction 16 Ballydavis interchange and follow the traffic directions for the event guided by the gardaí on duty, which will lead to assigned parking spaces.
From Limerick and Southwest via M7 northbound: Progress on M7, leave at junction 17, and proceed as per the event traffic signs and guidance from the on-duty gardaí to the marked parking areas.
From Cork and South via M8 northbound: Depart M8 at junction 3 towards Ballacolla and Abbeyleix, then simply yield to the event traffic signs and officers’ instructions.
From Carlow and Southeast via N80: Traverse N80 and N78 to reach Simmons Mills and take the path through the Windy Gap to Stradbally. Make a left turn at Court Square (opposite Dunne’s pub), head on the Timahoe Road, and take a left into the assigned car park.
From N80 West: Journey via Mountmellick towards Portlaoise Town. Make a right at the Fairgreen roundabout to the bypass. Persist to the Mountrath road R445 and turn right. Continue until the Rockdale roundabout, then turn left to the bypass L26964-0. At the roundabout, turn right onto the N77 to the Meelick crossing where both the event traffic from the M7 northbound and Limerick southwest join.
For those with family weekend tickets, early-entry passes, or Sunday tickets: Additional routing information can be found on the event website.
For those ferrying attendees in and out of the event: PUDO (Pick Up and Drop Off) point is available off the N80. Here pedestrians can access the site through the PUDO gate. This same spot has been the location for previous years and can be utilised by parents, friends, taxis and pre-registered minibus coaches.
Access to the campsite via camper van will be open from 4pm on the 15th of August, with the route details available on the EP website.
As for remaining tickets for the impending festival, unfortunately, all have been sold. However, there is an opportunity to keep a lookout for any resale tickets on ticketmaster.ie which are as precious as gold dust. Remember to always purchase your tickets from verified sources.
The age limit at EP is strictly over 18. However, children aged 12 or below may be permitted entry when accompanied by an adult ticket-holder without the need of an extra ticket. The event organisers have advised bringing a colour photocopy of each child’s passport for identification purposes.
The security at the event is quite tight. There is a possibility that you and your bags could be inspected upon entering, during the event or while leaving. Any items that could potentially be used as a weapon or could cause anyone harm will be respectively seized by the authorities under organisers’ directives.
At the campsite, you are allowed to carry up to 48 cans of alcohol per person, along with reusable bottles, water bottles and soft drinks (ensure they are kept sealed and are no more than 500ml in size if you plan on taking them into the arena before the 2am bar closure). Small glass items like perfume bottles (up to 100ml), make-up mirrors, and medication (the festival suggests bringing your prescription or a medical note) are allowed. However, it’s important to note that this is not an exhaustive list and there may be updates, so be sure to check the festival website.
As to what you should carry along, the event organisers suggest bringing bare-essentials. If you forget something, there are on-site services where you can make purchases. Here’s a list of the must-haves: entry ticket and ID, necessary medication, all-weather clothing and comfortable footwear, camping gear such as a sleeping bag and ground mat, an empty reusable bottle, rubbish bags for waste, recycling and any wet or soiled clothing, a power bank for device charging, and some sort of flag or decoration to help identify your tent.
Lastly, the tentative weather forecast can be found on the festival’s official website.
It’s still pretty early, and the weather prediction may fluctuate, but currently, Thursday seems to be cloudy with maximum temperatures of 16 degrees – an ideal situation for those early bird ticket owners planning to set up their tents ahead of time.
Friday is expected to have periods of rain and cloud with the mercury reaching 20 degrees, so remember to pack your rainwear and sunblock. Wouldn’t it truly be an Irish festival without unpredictable meteorological conditions?
Drier climates are anticipated for Saturday and Sunday, which should please those attending the festival.
The usual advice stands: dress warmly, take extra clothing than you believe you’ll require, and always remember to pack your raincoat and water-resistant shoes.