Live Report: Calvin Harris at Electric Picnic 2024

Flying Scotsman Calvin Harris showed why he’s been a heavyweight in the music industry for the best part of two decades, as he took control of the main stage at Electric Picnic 2024 as Saturday’s headliner.

At this stage in the DJ’s career, it’s probably easier to figure out the artists he hasn’t had chart-topping collaborations with. Florence Welch? Check. Dua Lipa? Check. Rihanna? Check. He's the one they seek out, speaking volumes to his influence and standing in the music industry.

Supplemented by a ballistic light show which illuminated the darkened Stradbally sky, Harris’ showpiece set was a parade of the massive hits from a busy career, each track ripping a wave of radio nostalgia through the audience.

The relatively newer and groovy ‘One Kiss’, featuring the aforementioned Ms. Lipa, got the crowd moving. Older numbers like ‘Blame’ ,‘I Need Your Love’ and ‘We Found Love’ went down well too, with the audience belting out the choruses in unison. Each banger was well-received. Lovelorn and energetic, the formula works. Like any good jockey of disc worth their decks, Harris wasn’t afraid to throw in some remixes of radio topping hits either, the White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army’ and fellow 2024 Picnic alumni Peggy Gou’s ‘It Goes Like’ included. There's a pattern that the decks tech tends to lean on for these sort of shows. Most tunes began as their more recognisable, poppy selves, before shifting into heavy, techno-adjacent drops and outros.

It was a showcase of unapologetic main stage domination. A soundtrack worthy of rounding off, or kicking off, your Electric Picnic Saturday.