Electric Picnic

The music is brilliant, the festival food is out of this world.
The other 30,000 people there with you are hit or miss.
This was my second year going to EP, and the boyf and I opted for the quiet camping area. This is nearly utopia, the place where people use their tents for sleeping and only sleeping. There are no offsite parties. There are no speakers. The DUMP-​DUMP-​DUMP of the techno area (a.k.a. the Rave in the Woods) carries no matter where you’re sleeping, but by the second night you can sleep through it (earplugs help). And the port-​a-​loos are calm and have loo roll almost all the time.
This year something went wrong with the reusable Eco-​Cups, though, which disappeared after Friday night to be replaced by single-​use plastic cups. By Sunday not an inch of ground was unstrewn with shards, and that took away from the atmosphere.
The neighbourhoods are great. Body and Soul in the middle caters to the real hippie inside you, with a tipi sauna, Natasha’s raw foods, massage and reiki, a constant fire and most importantly the Chai Chapel (spiritual chocolate chai experiences await in bright yellow and red painted clay mugs, take them home with you for a deposit of only 2 euro). Mindfields eases your literary side, with readings, the Science Gallery and the Bridgestone Awards. Right next to Mindfields you have your Velvet luxury loos (the best place for a, ahem, long visit), comedy tent, and the bike-​powered shower and showeraoke. The Village gives you the farmers’ market, inflatable church (for fake weddings), and cinema tent. Trenchtown, just outside the walls, lulls you to reggae heaven.
The permanent fixtures include an animal-​free family-​run circus, tranny granny bingo sponsored by Amnesty, and a ferris wheel. Don’t forget the Dublin Gospel Choir on Sunday morning!
Electric Picnic is where Ireland FINALLY gets all the crazy world food that people deserve to experience every day, and the UK actually gets. Caribbean delicacies like chow chow and goat curry, billions of burritos, gourmet ice cream, ostrich burgers (delish), Pieminister pies, and all the grease you could ask for in a thousand other ways: classic burgers, fish & chips, Indian food trucks. Plus all those raw hippy foods in the Body & Soul area, and fresh lovely pizzas next to Amnesty, and real honest restaurant fare (pasta, steaks, fish…) from Rathmullan House.
The promos mean you’ll never leave without swag. Bring loo roll, earplugs, hand sanitizer and a poncho and pair of wellies, plus a bit of cash for the food stands and face painting. Also, hiring a car from the right place can cost just about the same as taking a bus there. Going there and leaving there on your own schedule = priceless.
All in all: go for the music, stay for the choc chai.

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
Two words of advice to Electric Picnic virgins: GO THERE!
Really. Just do it. You owe it to yourself.
Be sure to pack your wellies and lots of warm (and waterproof!) clothes and you will be fine and dandy. You will also have the BEST time of your life, camping out under the stars and listening to awesome bands such as the Madness, Basement Jaxx, Fleet Foxes, Flaming Lips, Brian Wilson, 2 Many DJs, and well, you get my drift.
If awesome music ain’t your scene then try the comedy tent, or the very very cool silent disco, or chill the hell out in the Body and Soul section (hmmm massages, chai tea and some very cool sculptures and art installations).
Electric Picnic is a feast for the senses, a brilliant 3 day festival set in the middle of an old estate in County Laois. It has so much to offer audiences of all ages and all musical leanings.
My only criticism is it isn’t long enough. 3 days of pure, unadulterated heaven… ah if only that could go on forever! Anyway mark it in your diaries now — early September– see you there next year ;-)