We could find a very witty way of announcing the Comedy Tent at Electric Picnic but we will leave the punchlines to the experts who are sure to bring a smile to even the most committed of curmudgeons! The very best of top-class comics from Ireland and beyond will send the sound of laughter reverberating through the rolling plains of Stradbally with a truly diverse range of styles and voices, ready to enthrall and entertain across the sold-out festival weekend.
With a BAFTA under her arm for her series This Way Up, it’s only right we roll out the red carpet for comedy queen Aisling Bea (it’s definitely not on her rider.) The multi-talented star brings her sharp, straight-shooting style of stand-up to the stage – in the words of The Guardian, it’ll be “a ridiculous, furious treat” not to be missed! Meanwhile, returning to Electric Picnic for their only Irish festival show of the year are Foil Arms and Hog; it’ll be belly laughs from the get-go. Doom-dah!
The fierce, funny and heartfelt Russell Kane is a thrilling reminder of what comedy can be. The frenetic pace never lets up and his show at Electric Picnic will be as verbose and hyperactive as ever. Also gracing the stage will be Live At The Apollo star and host of hit podcast Have A Word Adam Rowe, whose laid back, brutally honest stand-up and gloriously unpredictable nature will leave the audience begging for more.
Declared as a “modern day king of comedy” by the Belfast Telegraph Shane Todd makes a welcome return to Electric Picnic following last year’s barnstorming set while the mean, lean, comedy killing machine that is Neil Delamere is also rearing to go. No TV camera could accurately measure the lightning-speed of Delamere’s wit – so you should really witness it for yourself!
The disarmingly honest Diona Doherty is currently on the crest of wave that she’s surfing all the way to Electric Picnic. Be sure to bag a seat at her set – because this may be your only chance to catch her in action; her debut play Bridesmaids which she recently wrote and directed has completely sold-out in theatres all over Ireland.
Edgy and rather ruthless, Gearoid Farrelly will offer up his intelligent reflective comedy that has wowed audiences both here in Ireland and the UK, while the wickedly funny Emma Doran promises a performance that shows exactly why she is one of the most exciting emerging talents on the Irish comedy scene. This self-proclaimed chancer has her finger on the pulse and a dry, sarcastic delivery that is set to be a sure-fire hit!
Soon embarking on his own national tour Loud and Colleary and so most likely set to lose the moniker of Ireland’s Best Kept Comedy Secret is John Colleary – make sure you catch him before everyone else does for those ‘I’m-in-the-know’ bragging rights! With his delightfully off-kilter trademark humour, Tony Cantwell is sure to bring the house down, while the confident, exquisitely-crafted and (most importantly) funny comedy of Ross Browne is also on the bill.
As ever, there’s a whole host of experienced stalwarts from the comedy circuit who have been handpicked to perform at Electric Picnic including Father Ted gurrier priest Joe Rooney, the sardonic author and journalist Colm O’Regan, comedy’s hardest working act Danny O’Brien, king of the one liners Paul Marsh, safe pair of hands Eric Lalor, motormouth millennial Anna Clifford, Cork’s hilarious Sinead Quinlan, Offaly good Midlander Edwin Sammon, the odd yet gently fey Killian Sundermann, Cork quick wit Shane Clifford and one of the most talked about comics in the country right now Shane Daniel Byrne will all keep the witty badinage and laughter flowing over the weekend.
Making their Comedy Tent debuts and continuing Electric Picnic’s commitment to new and emerging talent are Ania Magliano, Canadian-based Irish comic Amy Walsh, Stephen Mullan, Joe Dowling, Emily Ashmore, teacher-turned-stand-up Aideen McQueen, comedy magician Jack Wise, Comedy Store regular Peter Flannagan, outrageous cabaret/burlesque duo the Wild Geeze and odd as they come Mark Maloney!
A stellar comedy circus like this needs a top-class ringmaster to keep it all moving along. And who better than the criminally underrated Karl Spain to fill that role as MC for the entire weekend? The Electric Picnic Comedy Tent opens at 1.30pm on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd September.
