This was my second year photographing Electric Picnic, and it was another entirely great experience. The festival is a really nice combination of arts and music--stuff from comedy and political stages to large international acts and local Irish musicians making a start. It’s nice having the chance to take a second run at a festival like this, since after last year I knew the lay of the land and how to balance out the types of stages and acts I was photographing, and the best way to both capture the festival and have a great time in the process.

It was a great weekend and everyone was there for a really good time. We had an expected Irish mix of rain and semi-decent weather, but the crowds were so into the music and the spirit of the event. In addition to my duties as an official festival photographer, I also took some time to do portraits of festival-goers (specific blog post on this coming soon…)

Possibly the biggest and best surprise of the festival was a musician called Benjamin Booker from New Orleans. I had never heard of him before, but was specifically told by the organisers that I needed to check him out. He was incredible--such proper blues/rock and roll, and an amazing life performance.

Other highlights for me were phenomenal performances by St. Vincent, Jungle, Laura Mvula, and Sinead O’Connor. A guilty pleasure was getting to photograph Bonnie Tyler. I was also happy to catch shows from two Unmade in Ireland acts--Carriages and Twin Headed Wolf.

Overall this was a fabulous weekend, and a real pleasure to get to witness and document it. As I wrote on my blog last year, it’s very different for me to be dashing between bands and getting two or three shots I’m excited about per act (rather than touring with a single band for weeks at a time). It’s a challenge and a rush, and I’m honoured to have had the chance to be back at The Picnic.

Electric Picnic, Take Two

Portrait of A Festival

Unmade In Ireland