The awaited highlight of the Irish summer calendar hits this Friday, as Electric Picnic – the nation’s largest alfresco music festival – kicks off two weeks early in Stradbally, Co Laois and welcomes tens of thousands of eager festival-goers. Despite the typical unpredictability of the Irish weather, the mood remains undeterred, and the attendees remain hopeful for a a bright sun to grace their festivities.
The Irish affinity for summer festivals and open-air gigs is no secret. The season usually starts with the thrill of mega shows from artists like Swift and Springsteen and closes with crowd-pulling extended gigs like Coldplay’s four-day stint at Croke Park. Yet, complaints about steep pricing can’t stop fans from shelling out hundreds of millions of euros on tickets, not to mention additional spends on food, drinks, and merch.
Open-air music festivals have been a tradition in Ireland for over 50 years and their popularity is only growing. The experiential value of ‘in real life’ events, which comes at a price premium, has been proven to be more appealing than material purchases. It’s a positive trend for live music promotors, especially for events like Electric Picnic. What started as a quirky boutique festival has now morphed into a massive extravaganza, while still offering unique experiences like poetry recitals and Reiki massages. Regardless of its claims of individuality and sustainability, the festival is run by a pragmatic global corporation that prioritises profit.
As visitors flock to Stradbally this weekend, they are looking forward to an exhilarating experience, a chance to let loose, and create lifetime memories. Others might critique tales of excess and indulgence. However, it’s noteworthy that the majority of today’s festival attendees, in their twenties, tend to be more reserved and less sexually active compared to earlier generations. On a perfect day, with the sun out, good music and happy faces all around, there’s no place better than a vibrant Irish field.