Jerry Fish looks ahead to Fishtown at Electric Picnic: "We’re just going to have a massive, massive party"

Hot Press has always felt a special cosmic connection with Fishtown and The Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow at Electric Picnic, which in its ringmaster’s own words is “inspired by a love of theatrical tall tales, circus culture and amazing music.”

With less than a week to go ‘til kick-off, Mr. Fish is almost hyper-ventilating with excitement as he tells us what he has instore for Picnickers this year.

“For the first time we’ve got professional wrestling courtesy of the Over The Top crew including Session Moth Martina,” Jerry enthuses. “Do you know her?”

Yes. Real name Karen Glennon, she’s from the Sheriff Street flats and has whipped asses all the way from Dublin to Tokyo where she’s a big star.

“She’s amazing!” Mr. Fish resumes. “Growing up in South London during the ‘70s and ‘80s, the Saturday afternoon wrestling on ITV was massive; people like Mick McManus and Kendo Nagasaki who wore a mask. Even if those names mean nothing to you, you’re going to love it.”

On now to matters musical.

“A few years ago I got quite depressed because all the bands were playing it safe and sounding the same,” Jerry reflects. “I think it was a case of, ‘How am I going to make some money in this business?’ What’s happening now is a reverse of that and it’s so exciting. People are getting together as bands just to have fun. They know that the chances of giving up their day jobs is slim. ‘The charts have gone so, hey, let’s do our own thing.’

Child of Prague. Copyright Maizy Kharrazian/www.hotpress.com

“So, you’ve the likes of Child Of Prague doing really experimental stuff. ‘Is it Talking Heads, is it trad, what’s going on here?’ I love that band. We’ve also got Crayfish with their dirty guitars; BABYRAT who I love; and Leevy – I was in West Cork recently and everyone was talking about them.

“In terms of  putting the lineup together, I’ve always been: ‘Wait and see what everybody else is doing… and do what they’re not doing.’ A couple of years ago I thought, ‘Why isn’t Mik Pyro at the Picnic?’ So we put him on, as we did The Frank & Walters who brought half of Cork with them. They were both fantastic and now the other stages have nicked them from us… which is great! One of the things I love is introducing older bands to a new audience.”

Jerry’s kid-in-a-sweetshop glee ratchets up another gear when he jokingly tells me that: “I’ve been lucky to come across this young cat Jinx Lennon. He was the Sleaford Mods before they were the Sleaford Mods. Were he releasing his first album now, he’d be the most talked about thing in rock ‘n’ roll. Way ahead of his time. I shouldn’t be saying things out of school, but The Mary Wallopers used to bring their notebooks with them when they went to see Jinx. He’s Dundalk’s finest and someone to discover again.

Jinx Lennon Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

“Then there’s Shobsy, an amazing vocalist and a beautiful person; ditto MayKay who’ll be showcasing her new album at the Picnic; and Rowetta from the Happy Mondays, among others, who’s doing a DJ set. An Emotional Fish were very lucky in that we got to tour with the Mondays in ‘90/’91 and witnessed their genius closeup. For obvious reasons, our eyes would be on Rowetta who has the same amazing energy now as she did then.

“We’re just going to have a massive, massive party at the Picnic.”