Live Report: Nile Rodgers and Chic take Electric Picnic on a groovy journey through musical history

Weather forecasts predicted lashing rain to ambush Stradbally on Saturday evening. Murmurs of concern and the rustling of plastic ponchos ripple through the crowd gathering around the main stage at Electric Picnic. But when Nile Rodgers and Chic take the stage, one would think they are blessed by the heavens: the skies directly overhead cleared, with a stunning golden sunset to the west and a breathtaking double rainbow to the east.

Showered in sequins, Nile Rodgers and Chic kick off with a mix of some of the best disco tracks in history: 'Le Freak', 'Everybody Dance', 'Dance, Dance, Dance' and 'I Want Your Love'. The crowd bumped, snapped and hustled as the grounds of Electric Picnic transformed into a dancefloor.

Nile Rodgers and CHIC at Electric Picnic. 30 Aug 2025. Photo: Abigail Ring/hotpress.com

Rodgers' groovy guitar takes the spotlight as backup vocalists Naomi Rodgers and Audrey Martells deliver mesmerising performances with unbelievable talent. Steve Jankowski leads the brass section on trumpet, alongside saxophonists Brandon Wright and Ken Gioffre.

Musicians have come and gone — Nile has been the only permanent member of Chic, though others have toured with the band for upwards of decades — but after nearly half a century of hit-making, they've still got it.

After the first mashup of songs, Rodgers takes a moment to speak to the crowd.

"We have a great history with Electric Picnic," he says, explaining that EP was one of the first gigs Chic played after the band was rebuilt in the late 2000s.

He goes on to explain that while he writes and produces songs for Chic, he also contributes to many other iconic musical acts. Diana Ross, Sister Sledge, Beyonce, Madonna, Daft Punk, Duran Duran and David Bowie are just some of many, many more.

"That, basically, is what we're going to do tonight," he tells the crowd, as covers of the iconic records he helped to create flash across the screen. "We're going to do my life in music!"

The first of this journey through time is Diana Ross's 'I'm Coming Out', mixing seamlessly into 'Upside Down'. Both see brass taking centre stage, in front of mirrorball visuals and washed over with pink light.

They shift into Sister Sledge's 1979 chart topper 'We Are Family', in which Rodgers takes off with a soaring guitar solo.

Nile Rodgers and CHIC at Electric Picnic. 30 Aug 2025. Photo: Abigail Ring/hotpress.com

Throughout their set, Nile Rodgers and Chic take Electric Picnic on a journey through time; a mix of Madonna's 'Material Girl' and 'Like A Virgin', to Bowie's 'Let's Dance', to Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky', to Beyoncé's 'Cuff It'.

At one point, drummer Ralph Rolle gives the crowd a challenge: When he says "Electric Picnic," the crowd is to scream as loud as possible, aiming to hit 100% on his sound meter. "That's how I know that all of you are at maximum funkocity," Rolle tells the crowd.

Well, does EP have maximum funkocity?

"This is the first time this ever happened," Rolle exclaims after the first attempt. "On the first try, you went to 100!"

Yes indeed.

Chic finishes up the set with what Rodgers calls "the theme song of this band": 'Good Times'.

"This is what we stand for," he says to cheers from the crowd. "Peace, love and good times!"

A powerful message that stands true to Electric Picnic. Thanks to Nike Rodgers and Chic, the good times will roll on for the rest of the festival weekend.