3 All For Music stage lights up Electric Picnic

Beneath the 3 All For Music tent, among fresh new artists and innovative sets, Three provided an inclusive space for festival enthusiasts to unify through cutting-edge, exhilarating live music.

Florida musician Q kicked off the weekend as the first performer to take on the 3 All For Music stage. The 21-year-old R&B artist captured the crowd’s fixation from the offset with his brassbound vocals and authoritative stage presence. Weaving through a score of genre-bending tunes, Q fired up the tent with a funk-infused setlist.

Friday witnessed more performances from the daydreamy Australian band Lime Cordiale, dazzling in brightly coloured vintage suits and embracing the 3 All For Music audience with their airy guitars and polished, anthemic songs.

Striking a chord with his intimate vocals, Gus Dapperton lit up the stage before a rowdy and memorable finishing set from Gang of Youths. Breaking new indie rock ground, the Sydney-based band sounded massive, infusing the audience with their high spirits.

In partnership with Three, Limerick collective Narolane (of Narolane Records) opened the 3 All For Music stage on Saturday. Giving the festival audience a few tasters from their forthcoming collaborative EP featuring some of the best new Irish artists, Narolane’s God Knows, Denise Chaila and MuRli brought heat to their midday celebratory set.

Narolane Electric Picnic 2022, Copyright Miguel Ruiz/hotpress.com

Hitting the ground running with opening track ‘Water,’ the trio sent the crowd into thrilling hysterics and even brought on special guests from DJ CeeCee to Sorcha Richardson. Senita joined the trio onstage, bringing her soulful vocals to ‘Glory,’ before Dublin rapper Jafaris joined the Narolane crew for a rousing rendition of ‘Rocks.’

Conveying the group’s appreciation for the buzzing crowd, a lively Chaila expressed that they all felt “blessed to show you what we are,” adding, “Welcome to our manifesto of why we love everyone on stage."

Following stunning sets from UK-based artists CVC and Thomas Headon, Yeule hit the stage to revitalise excitement for the rest of the night. Irish songstress Gemma Dunleavy took over with a performance for all, emblazoning her mark on the festival stage and coasting through a wide-ranging myriad of sounds.

Dubliner Orla Gartland reigned in an impressive crowd for her highly-anticipated show beneath the 3 All For Music tent. “Electric picnic, you absolute f*cking flirt,” the Irish singer-songwriter laughed, before inviting the audience to fire up their emotions for the fury-driven ‘Figure It Out.’ Gartland kept the wrath rolling into ‘I Go Crazy,’ a song she described was about “the time I told a boy I loved him and he didn’t say it back.”

Orla Gartland Electric Picnic 2022, copyright Liam Murphy/hotpress.com

She then switched tunes entirely, reaching a pique level of intimacy with ‘Why Am I Like This?’ and matching her crowd’s consuming energy as she jumped through the air, acoustic guitar slung across her. The Dublin singer switched guitars, moving over to a more electric sound for the rest of her electrifying set. “It’s time to party!” she signalled, answered with a wall-rattling cheer from her crowd.

A memorable moment of her set, Gartland performed an edgy cover of Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ – “I need everyone to know I knew this song before it was cool,” joked the singer – fused with ‘Hit Me With Your Best Shot’ and Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody.’

With back to back performances, Saint Sister and Sleaford Mods ended a momentous night two on the 3 All For Music stage. As an Irish traditional duo, Saint Sister filled the tent with atmospheric folk sounds, gifting the crowd with a live treat in return for braving the rain.

English post-punk twosome Sleaford Mods put on a gallivanting show marked by their daring, gnarly sound, keeping the crowd hanging on until the very last moment.

Going out with a bang for day three, Sunday’s 3 All For Music lineup got rolling in celebratory fashion with Bronagh Gallagher, the Northern Irish singer-songwriter who introduced the audience to her quarantine-penned debut sound.

Irish up-and-comer Kynsy hypnotised the crowd as the second performance of the day, proving her prowess as a multi-talented musician through dark and fuzzy electric instrumentals coupled with her animated vocals.

British singer Hope Tala came out in full force, making magical music and dazzling with memorable tracks like ‘All My Girls Like To Fight.’ British multi-instrumentalist Kamal created a warm aura throughout the tent with his R&B-infused bedroom pop.

Distinctive by her fiery personality and passionate stage presence, Tamil-Swiss singer Priya Ragu stepped up to the 3 All For Music platform with finesse alongside her brother and producer Japhna Gold. Effortlessly cool as she strutted onstage in cutoffs and shades, Ragu lit the flame of her uproarious set, opening with ‘Illuminous.’

Priya Ragu Electric Picnic 2022, Copyright Miguel Ruiz/hotpress.com

Over the background beat of her live band, Pragu opened up about her journey as a musician with the crowd, which began with the twenty-something going from working a monotonous office job to performing, now, at this year’s magnificent Electric Picnic.

In her native Tamil tongue, Ragu performed a heartfelt family-penned track, emphasising the importance of family and culture through her art. She topped off her set with ‘Chicken Lemon Rice,’ encouraging her audience to elevate their energy as she cheered, “You know this song!”

Taking to the stage wordlessly, Dundalk rockers Just Mustard brought about clamorous cheers and chants from their devoted audience and new festival fans alike. Stoic in nature, frontwoman Katie Ball’s enchanting vocals and the five piece’s walled, complex instrumentals made for an indelible performance.

Just Mustard at Electric Picnic. Copyright: Liam Murphy/hotpress.com

Though selective with their words, Just Mustard are simultaneously enthralling to experience and to watch. At one point, guitarist Mete Kalyon steers a violin bow across the body of his guitar. For the explosive closing track ‘Seed,’ the talented guitarist throws his instrument to the ground and drops to the floor, manipulating the pedalboard with enigmatic skill.

The bass was crashing, the drums thunderous and booming, and when David Noonan’s growling voice unleashed into a piercing scream on crowd-favourite ‘Deaf,’ the audience broke into rupturing noise.

As the final artist to bless the 3 All For Music stage, Headliner and hyper-pop American singer Perfume Genius’s performance was decorated with magical moments. At times twistedly beautiful, at others lustrous, the singer was gleaming with self-assured spirit, captivating the crowd with the bewitching beauty of his daring, standout sound.

Connecting this year’s Electric Picnic festival goers with the best new artists in the scene, the debut 3 All For Music stage was the manifestation of Three’s mission to amplify the shared experience of live music. With three days of sensational performances from the best of music’s inspiring new artists, the music showcased beneath the 3 All For Music tent will live long in the memories of anyone lucky enough to be there.

Check out more Hot Press coverage from the 3 All For Music stage at Electric Picnic here, from live reports, photos & more.