Live Report: Tinie Tempah champions new Irish talent at Electric Picnic

Tinie Tempah brings out a very mixed crowd. Looking around, there’s no way you could summarise the audience that marches towards the main stage, as it is far too diverse.

Obviously, they do have one trait in common- something they illuminate with a cheer as the London rapper bounds onstage.

Though they welcome him enthusiastically, it’s not just him that they are here to see. This year he’s teamed up with City Stages, who aim to give buskers and emerging artists all over Ireland a chance to perform at venues with a bit more foot traffic than their high street or local pub.

Despite this important role, ultimately he's also here to give a show and the intro to ‘Earthquake’, a song he released alongside Labrinth in 2012 only increases the audience’s fervour.

It’s a great song to start a set, and with the number of people jumping along to it does feel like there might actually be an earthquake up in here.

His backing music is high tempo, electronic and ecstatic, emblematic of the time it was released and very positively received by an audience eager to dance.

Drum and Bass rhythms support intense electronic melodies. His smooth delivery of lyrics over this makes for a rhythm heavy, high energy sound.

After two songs however, he pauses to remind the audience that today’s show isn’t just about him- he wants to shine a light on what he calls some incredible emerging talent.

The first act he brings out is Rian McCauley, an up-and-coming guitarist from Donegal. One girl beside me coos over how nervous he
must be, “the poor dote”.

As if he heard this and wanted to prove a point, Rian immediately shows nerves won’t get in his way as he releases a voice not unlike that of Lewis Capaldi of Dermot Kennedy.

He plays a short stint, but shows he knows what people like by delivering a fantastic cover of ‘Sweater Weather’, which the crowd thoroughly enjoy.

Thanking the audience, he walks off. Like a substitution, on floats Belfast’s Imani Jade, draped in a funky patterned coat.

Though she’s without her usual band (Electric Voodoo) she and the array of brass, backing singers and guitarists have evident chemistry as they deliver two funk-soaked, Aimee Whinehouse-esque songs. Her range is impressive, inspiring cheers as she hits high notes effortlessly.

Tempah returns in between acts, announcing each one with genuine enthusiasm. He and his DJ put crowd work to the front, keeping the hype going for each act that they introduce.
All in all, fans are spoiled with a carousel of emerging talent, a number of names we will likely see soon again.