Photograph By Carrrie Davenport
We're on board with the new regime. Fridays were always a little flawed - traffic and bad organisation meant the average punter often missed the acts they wanted to see. So if they're slashing the bill on a Friday to save money to lower ticket prices - well, it makes sense. We want this festival to flourish, by any means. So while a very loud My Bloody Valentine and a very silly Fatboy Slim, neither adjective meant as a criticism by the way, ease us in on (half) day one, it's Saturday before E.P properly kicks off.
First of all - a couple of general observations. It's noticeably busier than recent times, which is great to see. It's also slightly younger and a tiny bit more hectic. Not exactly the festival hungry army of drunken teens many expected (and dreaded), but enough for us to notice a slight change in....vibe. No biggie. Second of all, the main stage is in a different spot. But other than that, this festival is gloriously intact. Body & Soul is as random as ever, new stages springing up left right and (off) centre. Mindfields and Theatre of Food remain well capable of eating up a surprising amount of time. We're spoilt for choice with gourmet food - choosing between, say that legendary pie shop and the Indian next door. It seems worse than any band clash. The comedy stage has Eoin McLove from Father Ted as an opener and Mr. Motivator has us star jumping en masse next door. Even the clouds are behaving.
Oh, and the music. Halves are the first act we see, a little lost at 12.45pm, without the required darkness. Ocean Colour Scene open with 'The Riverboat Song' and end with 'The Day We Caught The Train' - probably the most recognisable opener/closer pairing we'll hear all weekend. Retro fun. The Duckworth Lewis Method are a lot less throwaway than their concept (cricket songs) suggests - when Neil Hannon's involved, the songs are always solid. They're main stage gathering is dwarfed by that of Ellie Goulding however - she generates the first big reaction of the day. Not often you see the pop act currently top of the charts playing Electric Picnic, after all.
First of all - a couple of general observations. It's noticeably busier than recent times, which is great to see. It's also slightly younger and a tiny bit more hectic. Not exactly the festival hungry army of drunken teens many expected (and dreaded), but enough for us to notice a slight change in....vibe. No biggie. Second of all, the main stage is in a different spot. But other than that, this festival is gloriously intact. Body & Soul is as random as ever, new stages springing up left right and (off) centre. Mindfields and Theatre of Food remain well capable of eating up a surprising amount of time. We're spoilt for choice with gourmet food - choosing between, say that legendary pie shop and the Indian next door. It seems worse than any band clash. The comedy stage has Eoin McLove from Father Ted as an opener and Mr. Motivator has us star jumping en masse next door. Even the clouds are behaving.
Oh, and the music. Halves are the first act we see, a little lost at 12.45pm, without the required darkness. Ocean Colour Scene open with 'The Riverboat Song' and end with 'The Day We Caught The Train' - probably the most recognisable opener/closer pairing we'll hear all weekend. Retro fun. The Duckworth Lewis Method are a lot less throwaway than their concept (cricket songs) suggests - when Neil Hannon's involved, the songs are always solid. They're main stage gathering is dwarfed by that of Ellie Goulding however - she generates the first big reaction of the day. Not often you see the pop act currently top of the charts playing Electric Picnic, after all.
Live at Electric Picnic.Photograph By Carrrie Davenport
Across the way at the Electric Arena and Little Green Cars have created a massive buzz of their own. They're brave types, burying those hooks among more than a little indulgence. Indulgence is what we expect from Bjork though, the Icelandic princess expected to warp our minds with every note. She's in the form of her life tonight. Despite her wearing an inflatable dress with a giant Christmas decoration on her head while dancing like a malfunctioning Thom Yorke, it's that voice that stands out. A 14 piece, all female choir make for quite the spectacle, especially when they down tools and join her for a rave. With just two musicians onstage, it's quite a minimal sound - ranging from subtle Icelandic folk to bass driven techno - the likes of 'Hunter' and 'Hyperballad' reworked while 'Army of Me' is upgraded to monstrosity. A jawdropper from start to finish, Bjork-2013 up there with the greatest EP performances ever. Which is really, really saying something.
Live at Electric Picnic.Photograph By Carrrie Davenport
Poor Two Door Cinema Club - there's no following that. They're on top form all the same, finally getting to show off their light show at an Irish festival. New song 'The Changing of the Seasons' works a treat live, as does a slight reworking of 'Something Good Can Work'. All those old favourites still sound great - especially as Alex Trimble has developed into one of the most assured, confident and entertaining frontmen playing festivals this summer. They seem genuinely touched by the reaction (and the crowd - the biggest of the day), which, given all Two Door have done in the last couple of years, really says something. They nailed it.
Disclosure, playing as live as they can and armed with an incredible arsenal of proper hits for a band so new and so young - they're the perfect conclusion. In fact, it's been quite the hat trick of bands on the main stage tonight. Which begins to make up for the relatively weak bills offered elsewhere. ATL spent most of the day wandering about the various arenas, struggling to get really excited. Again, perhaps money was being saved in order to give this wonderful festival another ten years. All things considered, we're happy enough with that.
Disclosure, playing as live as they can and armed with an incredible arsenal of proper hits for a band so new and so young - they're the perfect conclusion. In fact, it's been quite the hat trick of bands on the main stage tonight. Which begins to make up for the relatively weak bills offered elsewhere. ATL spent most of the day wandering about the various arenas, struggling to get really excited. Again, perhaps money was being saved in order to give this wonderful festival another ten years. All things considered, we're happy enough with that.
