Electric Picnic 2025 sneak peak: new attractions and old favourites for the festival's biggest crowd yet

As the Electric Picnic team placed final touches on sets and stages in sunny Stradbally yesterday, media crews were welcomed for an exciting preview of the sold-out festival.

EP 2025 will see a diverse mix of old favourites and new attractions at every corner. The Croí area is one example of such eclectic and unique performances; in its third year at the festivals, Croí hosts music, movement and mindfulness. Croí is also home to Electric Keys, the brand-new piano stage named by festivalgoers through a vote in conjunction with the Electoral Commission.

Electric Keys was christened by pianist and composer Niall Kinsella, who played a special rendition of headline act Hozier's 'Take Me To Church'. Kinsella was later joined by guitarist Noel Hogan (The Cranberries) for an acoustic performance of 'Zombie'.

Hogan later spoke about reuniting with brother Mike to play the band's iconic songs for the first time in eight years on the Main Stage on Sunday, supported by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and a mysterious special guest.

"I'm really excited about it but it's slightly draining in some ways, especially with some of the older songs," Hogan told reporters.

"When we were asked to do it, we were like, 'no, no, we won't.' But the more people we spoke to, we were like, 'people want to hear the songs.'
That's why we decided we would do it, and it's probably the best legacy we can have, is that the songs have lived on far longer than the band."

Moving on to Freetown, EP reminds fans of its undeniable quirkiness. Within the district are some new additions: Northside Rises, a rag-tag group of rebel mechanics inhabiting a rusty fire station who promise an "old skool dirty rave" each night at midnight.

Electric Picnic Press Day 2025. Copyright Patrik Meier/ Hotpress.com

Also new to the grounds is Metro, a brutalist transit hub plastered with dystopian propaganda posters and staffed by stern-faced officers and cheeky railway workers.

At the heart of Metro is a retro outfitted train, which is set to host various creative acts for those who dare to enter.

In the train, reporters chatted with DJ Mark McCabe, who is set to mark the 25th anniversary of his Irish chart topper 'Maniac 2000' on Saturday evening at Electric Arena. McCabe was joined by Doireann Ní Ghlacáin of bilingual podcast How to Gael, which is set to host a live show that she calls "the biggest bilingual party EP's ever seen."

Ní Ghlacáin told Hot Press that "the new frontier of rock and roll is Irish language music and content." She tapped KNEECAP as her top act to watch, along with the Irish language acts playing the Hazelwood/An Chollchoill.

Along with podcast live shows, Mindfield's stages will offer a myriad of poetry, theatre, comedy, debate, dance and more. At the Theatre Tent, the media was treated to a sample of the Irish National Opera's finest ahead of their Sunday presentation of Seven Deadly Sins of Opera.

Tenor Gavan Ring and baritone Gyula Nagy performed 'Au Fond du Temple Saint' from the opera Les Pêcheurs de Perles, accompanied by Mairéad Hurley on piano.

Afterwards, they took a moment to chat with Hot Press about how opera is more rock n' roll than you'd think.

"It's just like rock and punk, just in a different layout," said Nagy, with Hurley adding, "Opera is like a play but to music. If you go to the theatre, you'd still get the story, but it's opera gives you the vocal version. It's deep and intense, it's full of love and drama."

For those who like their hair and makeup just as dazzling as their dramatic theatre, Boots is introducing a brand-new self-service activation in the main arena next to Moonlight Meadows for anyone looking for a quick touch-up.

They'll still be offering makeup and hair styling appointments, along with a lineup of DJs and dance performances.

Boots Ireland marketing director Linda Nolan told Hot Press she's especially excited for Boots' third year at EP.

"The whole vibe around Electric Picnic is just brilliant," Nolan said.

"Everyone loves it. It doesn't matter what the weather's like, everyone still brings it, especially our dancers and stylists. The whole look and feel of our area is really good, really fun and engaging."

If you ask Nolan, Boots is the place to go whether you're looking for a quick touch-up or a full-face look to rival Chappell Roan on the Main Stage.

Speaking of the Main Stage, construction workers are finishing up preparations for headliners to hit the stage. The stage was christened with a special performance by KhakiKid  — featuring his upcoming single 'DON’T TOUCH THE CDJ', which he said he "literally made for this festival" — ahead of his Electric Arena set on Saturday.

The 'Date Nite' rapper chatted with Hot Press afterwards about his favourite EP memories.

"I did my first crowd surf at a 50-capacity stage at EP, and one of the people in my band, SexyTadhg, also did their first crowd surf there and it was incredible," KhakiKid said.

"As a punter, I love having the option to just stumble into the forest and see an act that plays music I've never heard in my life."

He joked that the rain on the forecast this year might be a good thing given his covered stage, saying, "Listen, if you're playing a tent and it's slashing rain, you get blessed. Hopefully it rains just for the set, though, and then I can enjoy the rest of it."

Finally, reporters heard from festival director Melvin Benn about the weekend's homegrown highlights.

"Hozier coming to play the home turf is going to be beyond special," Benn said.

"Adding KNEECAP was a really important statement for us... and Amble and Kingfishr are just going bananas in terms of ticket sales. They're really hot, they're on fire. So, lots of amazing homegrown stuff."

With 80,000 music fans set to descend on EP grounds, Benn said this year will be the festival's largest crowd ever with "an amazing amount of tickets for a country as small as Ireland."

Hot Press asked Benn about sustainability efforts this weekend after the green focus last year.

"It's constant," Benn said, listing biodiesel fuel used in generators, the campaign encouraging punters to take tents home, salvagers invited to re-use abandoned tents and the sold-out eco campsite that has doubled in size since last year.

"There is a continued belief that the sustainable way is the only way. We only have one planet and we have to look after it."

Electric Picnic Press Day 2025. Copyright Patrik Meier/ Hotpress.com

When asked if the festival will stay in Stradbally, Benn replied, "Where else would I want to be?"

"People talk about Stradbally as though it's the centre of the world this weekend, and it's right that they do, because Stradbally is the centre of the world this weekend."

Hot Press will be at "the centre of the world" all weekend for live reports, Chatroom conversations and more.