Highlights of the intriguing programme in the Leviathan: Political Cabaret tent include a Changing Times Podcast conversation between former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese and broadcaster Mary Kennedy. There’s speed debating with Salon du Chat, the moving and quietly revolutionary Human Library, while Miriam O’Callaghan hosts her annual Picnic Brunch with special guests including Rory O’Neill, writer Vicki Notaro and comedian Colm O’Regan. The Leviathan Political Cabarets include The Big Housing Debate with Rory Hearne and James Kavanagh. Africa Rising is hosted by legendary BBC journalist and broadcaster Fergal Keane. And New-ish to the Parish, hosted by Jennifer O’Connell, looks back at 20 years of new Europeans in Ireland, presented in partnership with the European Parliament and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Ghosts in the Machine: Will AI Kill Culture? is hosted by Catherine Sanz. Paddy Cullivan presents his political satire: I Can’t Believe It’s Not Ireland. Republic of Ireland footballing hero Niall Quinn tackles Oscar Traynor in Garrison Games, while the History Ireland Hedge School looks at the legacy of Ireland’s Civil War deaths. There’s also a season of stirring Irish music documentaries: North Circular (2022), While You Live, Shine (2018) and Love Yourself Today (2021) explored and celebrated in a talk with their makers hosted by Derek O’Connor.
MindField Goes Presidential at Electric Picnic 2024! 🗣️🎪
The line-up for Electric Picnic’s MindField spoken word arena has just been announced with an inspiring, engaging and entertaining programme of spoken word, interviews, debate, talks, poetry, podcasts and more. Experience the exhilaration of tough questions, inspiring answers, heated debate, hearty laughs, provocative ideas, heart-breaking poetry, compelling podcasts, magnificent speeches, soaring literature and the beauty of an Teanga Gaeilge and much, much more all set in the beautiful parkland of Stradbally Hall with top class food and drink experiences – a true feast for all the senses.
The Manifesto stage will host fascinating, moving conversations and transformative readings. Celebrated actor Robert Sheehan shares insights from his new book Playing Dead about meditation, his life and the world, with fellow actor and standup comedian, Dylan Moran. Poets Jan Brierton and Stephen James Smith share moments of transcendence. Dublin Old School creator, Emmet Kirwan returns with a tour-de-force of his distinctive performances ahead of the return of his show next month. Master of comic-tragic cringe, Peter McGann creates Liam Nugent’s Safe Space. Twice Booker-nominated Donal Ryan shares the language and spirit of rural Ireland in a talk about his dark, witty and technically daring portrait of small-town life in his new novel The Spinning Heart. Elaine Farrell and Leanne McCormick talk girls gone wild in their show Bad Bridget: Crime, Mayhem and the Lives of Irish Emigrant Women. From Paris comes the brand-new storytelling and music event: Le Craic with performances by some very special guests. Niamh Mulvey, Maggie Armstrong and Sarah Gilmartin talk new Irish writing with book reviewer Niamh Donnelley. While Sinead Crowley, Vanessa O’Loughlin and Amanda Cassidy talk Irish crime fiction with Cormac Kinsella. In Writing Wrongs, female Traveller writers talk about how barriers are being breached by force of the written word, including Anne Marie Quilligan, Helena Power and Emma Ward, with Lois Kapila.
The Ah, Hear! Podcast Stage once again brings some of Ireland’s most popular podcasts, across a range of genres, together in one place. In fact, no fewer than four of the country’s most popular top ten podcasts with millions of weekly listeners between them, covering history, politics, sport, lifestyle, culture and comedy. National treasure, Laura Whitmore and husband Iain Stirling explore their true crime obsession with their BBC hit podcast Murder They Wrote. Bang in the middle of an extraordinary US election campaign, Jarlath Regan presents his vital Irishman in America podcast with special guest Marion McKeone. Writer and podcaster Blindboy Boatclub is in the hot seat himself as he talks to Dermot Whelan on his new Mind Full podcast about meditation, stress and otters. In comedy, there’s Cork lads gone foreign, I’m Grand Mam and You Must Be Jokin’ with Eric Lalor and Willa White. The best-in-class history podcast, Three Castles Burning returns with Donal Fallon talking to Brian Warfield of the Wolfe Tones about the ballad boom and much more. The Black and Irish Podcast looks at modern Ireland. The Echo Chamber has guest Zak Hania from Gaza and current affairs covered by The Group Chat with Richard Chambers and Zara King, in addition to The Irish Times Politics Podcast. Sports is on and off mic with Off the Ball. Huge hit lifestyle shows include Left on Read with Julie Haynes and Brenda Dennehy, Under the Influencer with Lauren Whelan and Miriam Mullins, Mamia and Me by Aldi with Jen Hogan, How to Gael with Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, Louise Cantillon and Síomha Ní Ruairc, Any News? with Brendan Courtney and David O’Reilly and finally the Laois Today Quizcast with local media favourites.
Science Week in partnership with Science Foundation Ireland presents: Distillation: A Luke Casserly, Abbey Theatre, and Solas Nua Production, created and performed by Luke Casserly. For Peat’s Sake?: A panel discussion following the performance of Distillation on the current state of the peatlands in Ireland with artist Luke Casserly, Dr Catherine Farrell from Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water and Ruth Freeman from Science Foundation Ireland. And Bright Club, a variety night for lateral minds, where researchers become comedians for one show!
The Word returns to Mindfield again this year with a jam packed, stuffed- to -the – gills line up of Hip Hoppers, Show Stoppers, Jaw Droppers, Eye Poppers, Punk Rockers, Rock Punkers, Berlin Funkers, Champion Céilí Bands, Spoken Word Dab Hands, Trad Heads, Beat Poets, Rappers, Rockers, Funny Feckers, Head Wreckers, Dreamers, Schemers, Skamm Artists and Zombies. The most eclectic and busiest little stage of the picnic brings you a collection of top drawer National and International acts. Glastonbury favourite Polar Bear is flying in from The U.K. to spellbind us with his spoken word set, the Unbelievable Jon Kenny will be showing us another side of his talents with his poetry and prose, top spoken word artists such as Juno, the Lymph Nodes, Jimbo and Anna D will have us on the edge of our seats while John Cummins will be shackalacking and weaving wonderfully wise words as will The Poet Geoff, Jan Brierton, David Hynes, Rachel Lally, Emmet O’Brien, Heavy Kevvy and The Glow in the Dark Sharks to name but a few of the biggest collection of spoken word artists to grace any stage ever in Ireland. Pure Power Punksters from London The Ringards will rock you socks off on Friday night, alongside Ireland’s Indie rock favourites Adore and the big bold soundscapes of Big Love, to the wind down chill out sounds of I.U.S. and a bit of early jazz and Americana from The Harry Fennell Band. Rapper Azerty flies in from Luxembourg to blow our minds on Saturday night after Sick Sister remind us of their misspent youth with their folk rock electronic sound. Beat Club will be bringing a unique show of fully improvised, make it up on the spot displays of serious musicianship, while The Skamm will be giving Marty Mulligan a heart attack with their power packed, post punk performance.
Flying in from Australia is award-winning folk artist Earnest Aines who takes to the stage alongside “The future of Irish folk” Lorraine Nash. And joining us from Hamburg and Berlin are The Angels of Libra, this 10-piece band of funksters will blow you away with their big brass sound.
Sunday’s trad sessions will feature the All-Ireland Champion Céilí Band from Mayo, The Piper’s Cross Band, playing alongside one of the longest running trad bands in the country Shaskeen as they celebrate over 50 years on the road. Some One’s Sons will be bringing back the ballads, Briars will have us up on our feet, while Ruaile Buaile will be manically trad rocking the roof off the place. Zombie will be paying a beautiful and heartfelt tribute to The Cranberries and the Cronin boys will send us all home sweating.
Our talented Gaels are ever increasing as An Puball Gaeilge runs to midnight gach oíche with brilliant talks, theatre, podcasts and music, all as Gaeilge in the Irish language. Artists and shows include: Glan do Phláta, TG Lurgan Karaoke na Gaeilge, Seisiún na mBan le Gemma Cox, Rioghna Carrick, Isibeal, Larabell & Filíocht ó & Róis, TG Leathar, Phorn Droch-Lip-Léite (Badly-Dubbed Porn), Dall, Eric de Buitléir, Conor Connolly, Ronan O’Flatherty & Pádraig Ó Dubhghaill, Callum Agnew, Emma Ní Fhíoruisce, Pearse Mc Loughlin, Colmcille, The Railwayboys, Francis McIlduff, Ciara Maguire & Brendy Quinn, Supercéilí, Na ShanVans, Tinteáin, Ceathrar Sráid Mharlborough, Feart, Brother, Barry Lyons agus Cairde, Ócadún, Tonnta, Burnchurch agus Cleamairí Fhine Gall.