Electric Picnic 2024: Sunday round up

Electric Picnic has come a long way since 10,000 people attended its first iteration twenty years ago, with this 2024's event boasting a herd of music lovers 75,000 strong. Big crowds warrant huge fan favourites to entertain them, as global superstars Teddy Swims and Kylie Minogue, as well as evergreen Irish heroes the Wolfe Tones were amongst those rounding up the festivities in Stradbally Hall.

There was plenty for those looking for a more electro-infused boogie for starters, with DJ-du-jour Peggy Gou calling on all of her Berlin club queen experience at the Electric Arena. The Smirnoff Stage proved itself to be a huge hit with picnickers during its inaugural appearance, highlighting some party specialists from at home and abroad, including Swedish maestro DJ Seinfeld - who was no joke.

Peggy Gou at Electric Picnic 2024. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Irish music had a strong showing across the weekend, a trend which continued into the festival's final day. Tallaght native Spider hit all the notes of a future great star, with an incredible stage presence and her brand of sugary-sweet, pop-punky tunes.

CMAT cemented herself as Ireland's rightful queen of pop. It was colossal – and at the centre of it all is Thompson’s roaring, elastic voice that has been likened to the country music foremothers before her (be it Cline to Parton), but truly brooks no comparison. She is a sight to behold – and a rare treat to hear live. Her Electric Arena set may very well be her best performance yet.

Over at the main arena, there was a strong whiff of Fenian spirit as the Wolfe Tones validated their upgrade from the Electric Arena with a crowd of gargantuan proportions. There’s no denying their cross-generational appeal, with a special surprise coming in the form of an appearance from Olympic gold medallist boxer Kellie Harrington, who received one of the best receptions of the weekend.

The Wolfe Tones at Electric Picnic 2024. Copyright Jason Doherty

Fellow Dub and pugilist Damien Dempsey also warrants a mention, as he offered up an typically genuine and impassioned  performance, which included a rousing tribute to Sinéad O'Connor, Christy Dignam, Shane MacGowan and Seamus Begley via a cover of 'A Rainy Night In Soho.'

The strong showings from homegrown heavy-hitters were supplemented by sets from some of the world's biggest stars. Atlanta musician Teddy Swims was, if streaming figures are your metric for measuring an artist's calibre, the 'biggest' at the Picnic this year, with almost 40m people tuning in to the genre-bender each month on Spotify alone. His Electric Arena set was an emotional roller-coaster of unbridled joy and all consuming intensity, leaving punters contemplative, bewildered and gently shattered after a flurry of his unique blend of pop, R&B, soul and country.

Teddy Swims at Electric Picnic 2024. Copyright Jason Doherty.

Aussie Dean Lewis kept his set-up simple: an acoustic guitar, piano, and small band, but filled the stage with his supernova vocals and charming performance presence. The singer-songwriter played an endless stream of belters and viral hits, constantly keeping the audience engaged throughout, even peppering in a cover of Taylor Swift’s 'Cruel Summer'.

Multi-award-winning RAYE served up a trailblazing history of soul, jazz and rock n roll for her Main Stage showing. The Croydon singer brought out the Dublin Gospel Choir to aid in her jaw-dropping meandering vocal codas that punctuated every song, each one grower more intense than the last. The stand-out was 'Genesis', a 7-minute long rollercoaster from heavy rock fever to big-band resplendence.

Then it was time for the woman herself to draw the curtains. Kylie Minogue, was there ever a pop queen whose career is as astonishing and trailblazing? The Aussie icon emerged on stage in a sequin black one-piece in a cloud of smoke left from the 30-second lead-up with red-hot fireworks that could be felt thousands of meters back. It was an astonishing, wildly immaculate performance, replete with pyrotechnics, dancers, jaw-dropping back-up singers and wardrobe changes; only befitting an artist of such pop royalty.

After performing a slew of '80s and '90s hits, Kylie brought out The Blessed Madonna to perform, live for the first time, their new single 'Edge of Saturday' - a dance earworm that proves Kylie is not only one of the most historic pop singers in the world, but she's constantly pushing at the fringes of her ambition and succeeding in spades.

A glittery, glamours and unforgettable way to end another year of sonic enjoyment in Stradbally Hall.