Two musical acts will be making their respective Electric Picnic debuts next weekend. Nova Static and James O’Connor with Audrey Trainor will be the first bands from Co Laois to open festivities at the Stradbally Estate, when they perform opening slots on the Cosby Stage and Electric Arena on Friday.
Their good fortune is the result of a campaign set up by Portlaoise-based entertainment journalist Mary Kavanagh and photographer Fintan Kennedy, both “avid supporters” of local music.
The pair decided to start a “Laois Bands for Electric Picnic” crusade in January, and said that organisers Pod Concerts were very receptive to the idea of having a local act open the seventh festival.
A battle of the bands was arranged, with Thomas Cosby (owner of Stradbally Hall) and Declan Forde of Pod Concerts on the judging panel that chose the eventual joint winners.
Brian Scully of Nova Static said his band were “overwhelmed”, and hoped to capitalise on the release of their new EP by winning over new fans at the festival.
The competition was so successful that it will now be run annually, and the campaign has sprouted a music collective, Laois Music Connect, which is currently working on releasing a compilation featuring the county’s finest talent in November.
