Electric Picnic 2011

Despite the pessimistic weather forecast, and the constipated, heavy skies, rain mostly stayed away (during the days anyway) at Electric Picnic 2011





Even blue sky made an occasional appearance.





Some of us didn't venture to camp. Even if there was the vague promise of getting some sleep.








After a week of controversial utterances, Sinead O Connor kept the crowd on their toes in fine voice and generously didn't forget her classic
"Nothing compares to U"










The Poetry Divas gave rousing performance poetry in Mindfield, on subjects as wide ranging as broody twenty two years olds, the seductivness of wine, and bored housewives whose kitchen appliances actually speak to them in a reprimanding manner. The lively session ended with an hilarious group performance outlining, with explanatory photographs, the various names by which breasts are known,introducing a range of new (to me anyway) expressions such as your "Brad Pitts" or "windscreen wipers"














Roddy Doyle read "Karoake" an (as yet) unpublished new short story, on the Literary Stage. He brought his middleaged men to life, with crackling dialogue and sharp observations, giving us a reading that would match a one-man play, in which Lester and friends have a night out in a Spanish karaoke bar, even encountering some "Spanish Culchies."













Tura (sp) an Irish speaking Zimbabwean gave us "Damhsa" (dance in Irish language) receiving energetic audience participation for his efforts.















Just caught the end of Irvine Welsh as he was taking questions on the transporting of his infamous "Trainspotting" characters to the screen.















In between all that there was the Rubberbandits (too dark and crowded to take photo) where I arrived in time for their massive You tube hit "Horse Outside" and a pancake stand where a trapeze artist was on hand to put lemon on your pancakes,








and Maria Doyle-Kennedy on the Salty Dog stage.











After all that there's only one place for me.