Electric Picnic 2008Festival Republic have signed a new partnership deal with Electric Picnic festival which involves buying out Aiken Promotions Interest in the boutique festival.

Electric Picnic is set to return to Stradbally this year on September 4th to 6th and news may come as a matter of concern for some of the followers of the festival who prefer the boutique relaxed atmosphere which EP has cultivated during its short existance.

Festival Republic is Co-owned by Live Nation and Denis Desmond’s Gaiety Investments, for those not in the know Denis Desmonds Gaiety Investments is the parent company of MCD. Visa Vie, Denis owns MCD.

This now means that whilst he doesnt directly own the festival. in a backward way, MCD kind of have managed to purchase their major competitor as far as festivals go.

The positives on this are that Festival Republic are the guys behind Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading. They can run a mean festival and if Glastonbury and Leeds/Reading is anything to go by then the lineups for the festival may contain bigger names going forward.

Finally it has also been announced that lineup and tickets will go onsale simultaneously or close therein with the lineup and tickets to be made available in April.