As the return of Electric Picnic approaches to Stradbally for the first time in three full years, there is a bewildering amount of artists playing the festival this year, and there’s simply too many to cover in one go.
So, this list is what I would tell you to go see if you stopped me in the street or in a field to ask what you should go see. In other words, my top 12 artists to see in order of appearance.
Friday
1.
Fred Again…
Friday, 10pm @ Rankin’s Wood
There’s arguably no electronic producer who has risen so quickly in the ranks of the music scene than Fred Gibson. From being a backroom boy with with Ed Sheeran, George Ezra and Brian Eno to releasing two albums of heartfelt, sample-based collage music with his Actual Life albums to a collaboration list that includes Headie One, Future, Skrillex, FKA Twigs, HAAi Swedish House Mafia, BTS, Baxter Dury, Stormzy, Four Tet and many more.
His recent Boiler Room mix showcased so many tracks both released, and unreleased, meaning there is so much more to come from Fred, but I can tell you after seeing him at Primavera Sound earlier this summer is that his live set draws most from his melodic and euphoric songs from his Actual Life albums.
Saturday
Sunday
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
