The Cranberries' Noel and Mike Hogan discuss EP reunion performance in Hot Press interview

When the Electric Picnic 2025 lineup was first released, The Cranberries founding members Noel and Mike Hogan were to be accompanied by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and an unnamed "very special guest."

Fans had questions. Chiefly, what vocalist could possibly fill Dolores O'Riordan's legendary shoes?

The Hogans had not performed any of The Cranberries' iconic discography since Dolores passed away eight years ago. In a 2019 interview with Hot Press, Noel asserted they could not perform with another female vocalist: "It can’t be The Cranberries without Dolores," he said.

The guest vocalist turned out to be Irish singer Dermot Kennedy, a longtime friend of the Hogans. Kennedy did not try to be a Dolores replacement; he put his own spin on the vocals for what was an unforgettable EP main stage set on Sunday. Read the Hot Press live report of the set here.

The Hogans spoke about the performance with Hot Press after the fact.

"Initially, it was only meant to be the orchestra and us, there was no vocalist," Noel revealed. "But we felt that that might get a little tired after a few songs."

He explained that they decided to go "completely the other way" and seek out a vocalist — not a woman, he stressed — which led them to Kennedy.

"Through a friend of a friend, we contacted Dermot," Noel explained. "I didn't really think he'd do it, to be honest. But two days later, he writes back, 'yeah, I'd love to do it'."

Mike added that there were only two days of practice with Kennedy prior to the show.

"The first day was Friday, we just went through songs with Dermot and got all that stuff together first," Mike explained. "The orchestra came in on the Saturday and had few hours with him, and that was it."

Though Dermot was anxious in the lead-up, Noel said the feeling after the show was something between relief and joy.

"We knew at rehearsals over the last couple of days that he could do it, but we were trying to tell him to hold back at rehearsals and not burn out because he has his own thing going on all week before he met us."

Kennedy had been rehearsing for his upcoming A Promised Return tour.

"He had been singing for five or six days already. But today, he just went for it and he did such a great job. He nailed it, didn't he?"

Not only did Dermot perform at his best, he was proudly authentic. As Noel put it, "He made it his own. You'd still know it's Dermot Kennedy singing those songs."

Kennedy wasn't the only one who needed to be persuaded to perform. While Noel had gone off with his solo career, Mike was "semi-retired."

"I was just enjoying life, you know. Until Noel calls me about this, pulling me back in," Mike admitted. "I said no at first. And then, my wife and my kids were on to me then, going, 'Oh, you have to do it.' So I rang him then and said, 'Yeah, sure, I'll give it a go."

And the Electric Picnic crowds — of all ages — are beyond glad they did.

"We always get surprised by the different age groups that come to the shows over the years, and even going back the last time we played," Mike added. "So it's great to see that at EP."

As interviewer Stuart Clark put it, "I suspect there's somebody up there who was very proud this afternoon."

"It's a great legacy for the band," Noel concluded. "That even though it's not Dolores singing, her songs have still lived on. And to get the kind of reaction we did? It's a special thing."

‘Linger’ @EPfestival. Thank you so much for having me @The_Cranberries X pic.twitter.com/6ZM08iU3HP

— Dermot Kennedy (@DermotKennedy) September 1, 2025