Whilst the established megastars of Irish and international music graced the main arenas of Electric Picnic 2015 there was also a host of Irish acts playing the festival for the very first time. We caught up with some of these promising new acts as the dust settled on their experience to see how reality lived up to expectation.

Just Mikey

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How did Electric Picnic compare to other festivals that you’ve played?

"We recently opened up for Ryan Sheridan at Flame Festival in Bettystown. That festival was a great atmosphere. But I don't think anything can compare to The Picnic; the vibe really was Electric."

What was your favourite memory from the weekend?

"I think our favourite moment was getting the nod off Hozier. When we were carrying our gear to the gig. He saw the double bass and gave us a smile and a nod. That was pretty cool."

So what’s next?

"Our second Single Cold Streets is on the way. Then back to the studio to record some more material."

 

Neev Kennedy

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Did you enjoy the performance?

"I loved it! Such a relaxed, happy atmosphere. It was great to see people arriving during the set and just chilling out. Brilliant experience."

Did playing Electric Picnic change things for your act?

"Myself and Dave have been lucky enough to have Molly O' Mahony from Mongoose temping as a third member of the band for last couple of months and I suppose playing festivals as a three piece has definitely made me want to look into getting a permanent third member."

So what’s next?

"At the moment we are just trying to get out there and play as much as possible. We are still promoting our debut album "From the Depths" which we released in April, but we have plenty of material for a new EP which we will probably start getting stuck into in the coming months."

 

RichardRichard

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Did you enjoy the performance?

"We couldn't have been happier with the performance. It was a real confidence boost having everyone from Dundalk there to cheer us on and seeing so many new faces in the crowd made it all the better as well."

How did Electric Picnic compare to other festivals you’ve played?

"It was actually surprisingly chilled compared to some other festivals we've played. We went in thinking that because it's Electric Picnic that we'd have to be really on the ball and way ahead of time for everything. But it wasn't that way at all. Everyone working on the Trailer Park stage was really helpful."

So what’s next?

"We're currently putting together music videos for songs on our new double A-Side "The Real One/Circus Song" which you can find on our SoundCloud and Bandcamp very soon. We're practicing for a date or two in the UK at the end of September."

 

Wolves of Youth

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What was your favourite memory from the weekend?

"There was a guy beside us having a full conversation with a tree then all of a sudden he bent down and picked up a random shoe and started talking to it. Then with no warning or heads up started full on kissing the shoe!"

Did playing Electric Picnic change things for your act?

"Electric Picnic has definitely changed things for us. It’s given us more drive to push forward and focus on where we want to be next year. Every gig or festival we play opens up new doors and opportunities that we are always willing to take"

So what’s next?

Our plan is to get back into the studio and record new songs which we are very excited about. Other plans involve playing new venue's around the country to help expand our music and get our name out there more."

 

Shookrah

Shookrah at KnockanStockan 2015 by Abe Tarrush (3)

Did you enjoy the performance?

"I thought it was a lovely affair, it was great being afforded the chance to play the main Body and Soul stage. That's probably the biggest platform we've had to date so we played a bit of new material and it seemed to go down well."

Did playing Electric Picnic change things for your act?

"It opens more doors and signals that we are ready for business, which we are. Its definitely bore some significance in how we're writing songs and approaching the live element. Things are going to getting pretty rowdy from here on."

So what’s next?

"We're nearly finished writing new material. We're going to record into the winter and release something fresh for your listening ears for March/April. We're very excited about this!"

 

Beached Whales

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How did Electric Picnic compare to other festivals that you’ve played?

Before Electric Picnic, our only appearances at festivals were at Vantastival 2014 and 2015. The surreal thing about EP was following our set on Friday we had people stopping us all weekend to congratulate us on our set, to find out the band’s name and details and just to say ‘hi’.

Did playing Electric Picnic change things for your act?

Immediately, it has definitely given us massive confidence in our abilities as performers, the fact that the crowds were so big showed us that we are able to step up our game when opportunities arise.

So what’s next?

We’ve started recording our next 4 or 5 track EP so at the moment we are focusing on everything that goes with the writing and recording process. We plan to have it ready and released by Halloween so we expect to tour as many places in this dear isle as we can. And then that should make us famous. If not famous, filthy rich. Or at the very least we’ll have some craic doing it!

 

Monster Monster

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How did Electric Picnic compare to other festivals that you've played?

We played Canalaphonic but this is the first outdoor festival we've played. Both were completely different and great in their own way.

What was your favourite memory from the weekend?

I'd always wondered what a corndog was, they're always eating them in American movies, so I got one at about 3 in the morning in the Trailer Park and it was pretty goddam unreal

So what’s next?

We're releasing our debut EP on October 23rd in Whelans. Tickets are peanuts at a fiver, and before that playing Cleere's in Kilkenny on October 9th. Can't wait for people to hear the EP, it's killer!

 

Aine Cahill

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Did you enjoy the performance?

Well, I performed 3 times over the course of the weekend. Each performance drew in a bigger crowd. Then on Sunday in The Jerry Fish Electric Side show tent, we filled it towards the end! We didn't expect that at all. I had a brilliant experience performing and I loved every minute on stage!

Did playing Electric Picnic change things for your act?

Before I knew I was playing EP I was a solo act, when myself and Paul Cox my manager found out we’d gotten the gigs we both agreed that getting a band would be the best thing to do. So we did. Spam Turner is their name and it’s the best decision I've ever made, really helped me jazz up my set for the crowd and take it to the next level.

So what’s next?

So we have a gig now on 27th of September in Whelans, then we're in Cork, Galway, Dublin again, so it's gig after gig until Christmas. Then in the New Year I hope to go back to the studio and finish recording my new EP!

 

AE Mak

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Did you enjoy the performance?

We performed twice, the first performance on the My Lovely Ranch stage was enjoyable but I think a little nerve-racking too but then we really enjoyed the performance on the Sunday night in the Oxjam Tent - everyone was making the most of the last night and dancing and singing their hearts out.

How did performing at Electric Picnic compare with your experience of being a punter?

Playing EP this year definitely granted a more tame and sensible time. However, just as much fun was had! Although we missed a lot of acts we were dying to see.

So what’s next?

We're hoping to start recording our debut EP this Autumn and we're getting geared up to make a video that we will release with our first single I Can Feel it in My Bones. We'll also be announcing some gig dates in the near future so stay tuned!