Live Report: Basht. heat up Rockshore stage at Electric Picnic

The Rockshore stage may have been one of Electric Picnic’s smaller arenas, but Basht. arrived with the intensity of a band destined for much bigger crowds. Fresh from the release of their debut album Poor Advice, the Dublin indie-rock band delivered a set packed with driving guitars, sing-along choruses and the kind of unfiltered energy that thrives in a festival setting.

By the time the four-piece took to the stage, anticipation was already running high. Having built a loyal following through appearances at festivals including All Together Now and Mutations, Basht. were greeted by loud cheers from fans packed tightly against the barricade.

They wasted no time making an impression. Opening with fan favourite ‘Keira Knightley ’, the band immediately established the set’s tone with this melodic indie rock sound. Blending nostalgic ‘90s guitar textures with a modern edge, the track had the audience singing along from the outset.

Onstage, Basht. looked every bit the part, with baggy jeans, sweat-soaked hair and flying guitar picks added to the sense of controlled chaos as the band hurled themselves through the set. Guitars swung wildly, heads banged in unison, and the crowd responded in kind, surging forward as the energy levels climbed.
Frontman Jack Leavey proved a magnetic presence throughout, his gritty vocals sitting perfectly atop the band’s muscular instrumentals.

The momentum only intensified with ‘Burn’, which transformed the tent into a sea of raised hands and shouted lyrics. As the song built towards its climactic bridge, the crowd erupted, propelled by thunderous drums and electrifying guitar work from Sam Duffy and Rossa Healy.

‘Vain’ marked a noticeable shift in gear, with a darker, heavier and more aggressive tone. Despite still being relatively early in their career, Basht. performed with the confidence and chemistry of a band who have spent years together.

As the set drew to a close, ‘Circadia’ and ‘Wild Horses’ provided a fitting finale, bringing the audience through one final cathartic release before the band departed to rapturous applause.

Electric Picnic has long prided itself on spotlighting Ireland’s next wave of talent, and Basht.’s Rockshore appearance felt like exactly that kind of moment. Loud, passionate and brimming with confidence, the quartet left the stage looking every bit like a band ready to make the leap from festival favourites to one of Irish indie-rock’s most exciting prospects.