Jim Carroll on music
Despite the extras, music is still king at Electric Picnic
This summer saw the two biggest festivals in the country celebrate seven years on the go.
Both Oxegen and Electric Picnic kicked off in 2004 and have experienced many ups and downs since then.
While there has already been a lot of analysis of how Oxegen has developed, it’s timely to look at Electric Picnic for signs of the seven-year itch now that the masses have left Stradbally for another year.
Aside from 2009’s change in ownership, which saw Live Nation’s Festival Republic come on board, Electric Picnic’s biggest transformation has been a rejigging and rebranding as a “music and arts” festival. Given the huge competition for headliners – and the fact that many Picnic targets have completed their summer tours before early September – the festival had little choice but to embrace the arts.
While there’s annual grumbling from many about the lack of heavyweight names and the emphasis on non-musical fare, it’s plain to see that the arts and family-friendly additions have worked. After all, even though the festival itself didn’t sell out, the family tickets sold out in advance again this year.
Yet there is a sense that some of the arts programming is superfluous to requirements. There was little attention paid to the theatre shows at the Picnic, for example, until a brouhaha broke out in the week of the festival about cancellations. Similarly, a lot of events in the Mindfield area seemed poorly attended last weekend compared with previous years.
By contrast, Electric Picnic had a fantastic musical year with festival-goers wowing over Janelle Monáe, Villagers, Fever Ray, The National, PiL and many others. When all is said and done, the music remains the biggest attraction.
New Music
IDIOT GLEE
Twentysomething Kentucky musician and former Mormon James Friley's lush mix of doo-wop, folk and pop is about to start appearing on a lot of radars thanks to his All Packed Upsingle. myspace.com/idiotglee
KID KARATE
Dublin two-piece Kevin Breen and Steven Gannon make jagged, punky dance music that will make you want to throw yourself around a venue with abandon. Debut EP Heartis coming soon, and you can catch them at Hard Working Class Heroes in Dublin next month. myspace.com/kidkaratemusic
ALICE GOLD
Expect to see Ms Gold and her exotic backstory involving Winnebagos and road-trips on every Tip for 2011 list in the coming months. Debut single Orbiter, for Pure Groove, is a slam-dunk helping of Ladyhawke-like power-pop. myspace.com/alicegoldmusic
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