Promoter Melvin Benn has suggested that the Electric Picnic festival may have potential for growth beyond its current 75,000 maximum capacity. Benn has stated there is noticeable demand for more tickets as the annual event in Stradbally, Co Laois sells out briskly in spite of a 5,000 increase to its limit compared to last year. However, Benn discounts the chance for the festival’s capacity to ever reach 100,000.
Benn is contemplating a discussion with Laois County Council about potentially increasing attendance numbers, though he says he is presently satisfied with the festival’s size. The council will need to assert whether extra space is available, he said, recognising the community’s past 20 years of support for the festival.
Tickets for the next festival, scheduled for the last August weekend as is tradition, will become available on Wednesday. During a Sunday press conference, Benn revealed that he has engaged in discussions with a possible headliner for the next festival, although he candidly declared that his ideal headliners are likely deceased.
The recent festival experienced grievances from attendees who had nowhere to set up their tents and had to spend considerable time seeking an available spot. Benn explained that directing festivalgoers to overflow camping areas when designated sites are full is standard procedure. He admitted he did not anticipate the earlier arrival of attendees on Friday, which led to earlier camping arrangements and the need for additional camping space.
Over the course of the weekend, a strong MDMA tablet capable of causing severe seizures and long-term health problems was recovered by an on-site HSE drugs team. MDMA is a synthetic psychoactive substance, commonly found in ecstasy pills. The festival site includes a drugs bin provided by the HSE, where attendees can dispose of drugs without repercussions; a nearby off-campus laboratory is used to inspect the surrendered substances.
Professor Eamon Keenan, the HSE’s national clinical head for addiction services, stated that over a hundred samples would likely be willingly given up by the conclusion of the festival. Some festival-goers were uncertain about the substances they possessed and wanted to comprehend their potential dangers, he added.
A pill, sent in for scrutiny, was discovered to have the same potency as 260mg of MDMA, the most potent of its type recovered at the Electric Picnic in a decade.
“This is over double the usual dosage,” stated Professor Keenan. “It can augment blood pressure, body temperature, and can even induce seizures in certain cases. If individuals are situated in a particularly hot setting and they are dancing, this can cause severe damage to the body.”