Electric Picnic is back after three long years of silence and we’ve selected 20 acts that you should ensure you see over the course of the weekend.
Friday:
Denise Chaila
Main Stage – 18:00
What better way to open up the Main Stage than with a reading from Psalm 061 by Denise Chaila and the Narolane Family.
KhakiKid
Mindfield: The Word Stage – 18:30
Crumlin’s finest KhakiKid, one of the most promising up-and-coming rappers on the scene today will celebrate the release of his new EP ‘Elevator Music’ with a high energy set at EP.
Girl In Red
Rankin’s Wood – 20:00
Norwegian singer-songwriter and record producer Marie Ulven Ringheim sold out the Olympia Theatre in May thanks to the world-wide success of their debut album ‘If I Could Make It Go Quiet’. With circa billion streams under their belt on Spotify alone, Girl In Red sits comfortably in the top 500 most popular artists in the world today. God only knows why they aren’t playing the main stage.
Little Simz
Rankin’s Wood – 21:15
One of the most important and singular voices in music today. Little Simz’ 4th album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’ was one of the best, if not the best album released in 2021 and it earned the Londoner a Best New Artist Brit Award and slew of Best Album nominations around the world thanks to its incredibly potent mix of cinematic soundscapes and hard-hitting autobiographical lyrics.
Gus Dapperton
Three All for Music Stage – 21:45
Gus Dapperton is famed for his colourful hair, clothes, and videos and is one of the most sought after feature artists in pop today with artists like BENEE, Spill Tab and Anna of The North all keen to work with the New Yorker. This will simply be one of the most fun sets of Electric Picnic.
49th & Main
Mind + Body – 02:00
The Kilkenny dance duo are one of the fastest rising acts in the Irish scene. With almost one million monthly listeners on Spotify, they are primed to go international in the next 18 months thanks to songs like recent single Streetlights. Their live shows are unexpectedly raucous affairs. There’s no better way to finish night one of EP22.
Saturday
Tame Impala
Main Stage – 23:30pm
What better way to spend Saturday night then with Australia’s finest Tame Impala serenading you with tracks like The Less I Know The Better. Let Kevin Parker and friends revisit their classic albums ‘InnerSpeaker’, ‘Lonerism’ and ‘Currents’ and play tracks from their most recent release ‘The Slow Rush’.
Wolf Alice
Electric Arena – 22.30
There’s no better time to catch Wolf Alice. The Londoners are riding on a crest of a wave after being crowned Best Group at this year’s Brit Awards following the huge success of their number one album ‘Blue Weekend’. Since then, NME crowned them Best Festival Headliner of 2022, so, the only question here is; why aren’t Ellie Rowsell and co headlining EP?
Declan McKenna
Electric Arena – 20:00
Glam-rock political agitator Declan McKenna isn’t afraid to speak his mind, as evidenced by him taking aim at FIFA on his breakthrough single Brazil. Since then, he’s gone from strength to strength, his latest album ‘Zeros’ was the perfect glitter-filled distraction from the gloom of lockdown. Don’t miss your chance to see it in its full glory live.
For Those I Love
Rankin’s Wood – 22:30
David Balfe’s eponymous debut album ‘For Those I Love’ was a totem to the power of friendship in the face of grief and went on to win the Choice Music Prize. The power of the emotions contained in this incredible album are palpable in a live setting. For Those I Love live is one of the most cathartic experiences you’re likely to find at any festival.
Orla Gartland
Three All for Music Stage – 20:30
Orla Gartland’s debut album ‘Woman on the Internet’ was one of the finest Irish albums of the last five years and that alone should be reason enough for you to head along to this show. Gartland has recently gone global thanks to the inclusion of Why Am I Like This? on the soundtrack to the Netflix series ‘Heartstopper’ which saw her go viral.
Sorcha Richardson
Mind + Body – 22:15
Dalkey’s finest Sorcha Richardson is having a hell of a year with several of the best Irish singles of the year so far to her name. Her second album ‘Smiling Like An Idiot’ is out later this month so there’s no better time to catch her live.
The Cope
Mind + Body – 00:45
Ex-Otherkin bassist David Anthony Curley and Ireland’s most popular session bassist Joe Furlong – see the live bands of acts such as James Vincent McMorrow and Sorcha Richardson for evidence of his skills – combine as The Cope, but fear not this is about as far from the double bass exploits of Spinal Tap as you can get. The Cope are at the forefront of Ireland’s growing dance scene. Their live debut at Electric Picnic will surely be one of the most memorable sets across the weekend.
Sunday
Arctic Monkeys
Main Stage – 22:30
There’s not a lot of heft on the main stage this year but this is definitely a show not to be missed. We think it’s safe to say that there’ll be a mirror ball.
James Vincent McMorrow
Electric Arena -19:30
The man with the velvet voice. We’ve seen James Vincent McMorrow a few times this year and he is in the form of his life. If you’ve never seen him before this would be a good time to make the plunge.
Joy Crookes
Rankin’s Wood – 18:45
Half-Irish Londoner Joy Crookes will bring her exquisite debut album ‘Skin’ to Stradbally for what promises to be a soul drenched set perfect to set you up for the long night ahead.
CMAT
Rankin’s Wood – 16:15
International teen pop sensation CMAT has had a hell of a rise. Her debut album went straight in at Number 1 in Ireland and she has went on to grace stages at Europe’s biggest festivals as well as opening for the likes of Beck and Declan McKenna along the way. This will be one hell of a show.
Griff
Rankin’s Wood – 17:30
One of UK pop’s shooting stars, Griff mixes her Jamaican and Chinese heritage with her London world view to create on-point modern pop music. It’s no wonder the likes of Sigrid, King Princess, MØ and Honne are lining up to collaborate with her.
Priya Ragu
Three All for Music Stage – 19:30
Tamil-Swiss singer-songwriter Priya Ragu is an R’n’B banger merchant packing rakes of feel good earworm tracks from Good Love 2.0 to Lemon Rice Chicken this will be one of the highlights of Electric Picnic.
Cruel Sister
Mind + Body – 16:45
Fresh from opening for The Wombats in the Olympia Theatre last week, Cruel Sister is one of the most promising Irish acts to emerge in the last year or so. Their debut EP ‘girls my age’ is set for release on September 9th so, now would be a good time to get on this shoegaze train.