Duran Duran closed Electric Picnic on Sunday night (3rd September 2017), with a explosively colourful show that featured all the hits from across their iconic career. Taking place in Stradbally, Co. Laois from 1st – 3rd September, Electric Picnic is Ireland’s largest music and Arts festival.
Duran Duran’s appearance came at the end of the three day event, which had seen The XX close the Friday night, while the likes of Madness and A Tribe Called Quest entertained the masses on Saturday.
However it was the 80s’ icons' Sunday night performance that stole the show at Electric Picnic, with a jam-packed set that featured some of the most famous tracks in pop music history. Taking to the stage with the title track from latest release ‘Paper Gods’ before going on to delve deep into their catalogue, Duran Duran wasted no time in lifting the mood on what had been the event’s sunniest day.
Following a stirring rendition of ‘Girls On Film’ – which Simon Le Bon re-christened “Colleens On Film”, in honour of the Irish maidens in the audience, the singer said; “What an amazing crowd you are. The lovely boys from the band Elbow came up and said; ‘You are going to love this crowd” – in reference to the Manchester act who had appeared earlier in the day.
Making their way through the likes of an understated ‘Come Undone’, an emotive ‘Ordinary World’, and the funky ‘Notorious’, it was with a special version of ‘Save A Prayer’ that the band pulled out all the stops to ensure that this was a headline performance that Electric Picnickers would never forget. Joined on stage by the forty-strong Dublin Gospel Choir, the track was lifted into something altogether heavenly, prompting Le Bon to implore; “Make the stars come out in this Stradbally field tonight”.
Click HERE for eonmusic's Duran Duran gallery from Electric Picnic.
Earlier in the day, the crowd had been treated to the debut Irish gig by the soulful Rag ‘n’ Bone man, Chrissie Hynde’s post-punk fuelled Pretenders, and disco diva Chaka Kahn, whose ‘Ain’t Nobody’ provided one of the festival’s standout sing-along moments. Elbow's Guy Garvey meanwhile, gave special mention to the latter pairing during their rousing set, saying; "I don't mind sharing that I had some early stirring as far as both those women are concerned".
Meanwhile, festival director Melvin Benn has revealed that tickets for next year’s festival will go on sale early this week. This year’s event sold out in record time, and planning for 2018’s EP is well underway. It has also been revealed that there are no plans to expand the capacity of Electric Picnic, which this year saw 55,000 music fans stream through the gates of the Stradbally Estate.
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