THE SUN shone in Co Laois yesterday giving rise to the hope, usually over experience in this country, that it will stay that way for this year’s Electric Picnic, which kicks off on Friday.
Under dappled sunlight Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club, took to the Salty Dog stage and their upbeat sound was the perfect soundtrack to a summer’s day.
The forecast until Friday is for the sunny weather to continue, but it will become changeable on Saturday and Sunday.
Organiser John Reynolds said he has been listening to three sets of forecasts for the weekend with local farmers telling him it is going to stay dry. “And I don’t argue with farmers.”
Reynolds predicts the festival, now in its seventh year, will be a sellout despite the recession with all but a few thousand tickets to sell. The capacity is 32,500.
“People genuinely look forward to a sense of escapism they will get from the reality of what is happening in Ireland at the moment,” he said.
Jerry Fish believes the festival has an enduring appeal.
“Most people come here because they are record buyers and they love music. I fell in love at Glastonbury and I’m glad that the Electric Picnic has brought Glastonbury to Ireland.”
Roxy Music, Public Image Limited, LCD Soundsystem and Mumford and Sons are among the big acts confirmed, but the biggest potential star is leaving it to the last minute.
Former British prime minister Tony Blair is “better than 50-50” to come on Friday evening or on Saturday where, if he does attend, he will speak at the Mindfield spoken word section, Reynolds believes. Coincidentally, one of his harshest critics, the former Labour MP George Galloway, who had described Mr Blair as a liar and a war criminal, will also be there on Saturday.