Manic Street Preachers have hailed Electric Picnic the "best of the summer", as the 2015 festival comes to a close. The Welsh alt-rockers made their comment during their slot at the Co. Laois event last night (6th Sept 2015). Taking place between 4th – 6th Sept 2015, the band’s appearance came on the final day of the boutique music and arts festival.
Photo: Darren McLoughlin.
By Eamon O'Neill On 7th September 2015.
Manic Street Preachers have hailed Electric Picnic the "best of the summer", as the 2015 festival comes to a close. The Welsh alt-rockers made their comment during their slot at the Co. Laois event last night (6th Sept 2015). Taking place between 4th – 6th Sept 2015, the band’s appearance came on the final day of the boutique music and arts festival.
The weekend had already seen a sold-out audience of 51,000 gather to enjoy sets by the likes of soul sensation Sam Smith, dance music pioneers Underworld, and according to band leader Bob Geldof; “the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band ever to come out of this f****n’ country” – the Boomtown Rats.
Taking to the stage just after the sun had set, singer James Dean Bradfield asked; “Are you ready to f****n rock?” before the band launched into a euphoric ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’.
Buoyed by the news that the Welsh national football team had inched closer to qualification for the 2016 European cup, Bradfield and co. turned up the energy levels, with a set that was crammed with some of their best-loved material.
Covering all corners of their careerfrom early singles ‘From Despair To Where’ and ‘Suicide Is Painless (Theme From MASH)’ to newer material including ‘Walk Me To The Bridge’, the band’s set proved among the highlights of the weekend.
It was prior to the closing ‘A Design For Life’ however, that the band let revellers know just how much they were enjoying the show, with both Bradfield and bassist Nicky Wire coming out with praise for the festival. Bradfield said; “Electric Picnic, you’ve been one of the best gigs of the summer”, before Wire added; “Thank you for being the best festival of the whole summer”.
The Manics’ performance came ahead of headliners Florence And The Machine, who were making a return to the event following an appearance in 2009. Surveying an at-capacity crowd, an overjoyed Welch said; “Thanks for having us back”, adding; “It’s great to be back in Ireland”.
Proving to be massively popular with the Irish audience, the star’s ninety-minute set brought the night and the event to a close. An uproarious pairing of ‘You’ve Got The Love’ and ‘Dog Days Are Over’ crowned what had been an amazing weekend of music.
Praising the 2015 event, organiser Melvin Benn meanwhile, hailed it as one of the best yet, singling out Blur’s “twelve out of ten” performance as being among his favourites of the weekend.
Electric Picnic is set to return next year, with early bird tickets going on sale on Fri 11th Sept 2015.
Manic Street Preachers have hailed Electric Picnic the "best of the summer", as the 2015 festival comes to a close. The Welsh alt-rockers made their comment during their slot at the Co. Laois event last night (6th Sept 2015). Taking place between 4th – 6th Sept 2015, the band’s appearance came on the final day of the boutique music and arts festival.
The weekend had already seen a sold-out audience of 51,000 gather to enjoy sets by the likes of soul sensation Sam Smith, dance music pioneers Underworld, and according to band leader Bob Geldof; “the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band ever to come out of this f****n’ country” – the Boomtown Rats.
Taking to the stage just after the sun had set, singer James Dean Bradfield asked; “Are you ready to f****n rock?” before the band launched into a euphoric ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’.
Buoyed by the news that the Welsh national football team had inched closer to qualification for the 2016 European cup, Bradfield and co. turned up the energy levels, with a set that was crammed with some of their best-loved material.
Covering all corners of their careerfrom early singles ‘From Despair To Where’ and ‘Suicide Is Painless (Theme From MASH)’ to newer material including ‘Walk Me To The Bridge’, the band’s set proved among the highlights of the weekend.
It was prior to the closing ‘A Design For Life’ however, that the band let revellers know just how much they were enjoying the show, with both Bradfield and bassist Nicky Wire coming out with praise for the festival. Bradfield said; “Electric Picnic, you’ve been one of the best gigs of the summer”, before Wire added; “Thank you for being the best festival of the whole summer”.
The Manics’ performance came ahead of headliners Florence And The Machine, who were making a return to the event following an appearance in 2009. Surveying an at-capacity crowd, an overjoyed Welch said; “Thanks for having us back”, adding; “It’s great to be back in Ireland”.
Proving to be massively popular with the Irish audience, the star’s ninety-minute set brought the night and the event to a close. An uproarious pairing of ‘You’ve Got The Love’ and ‘Dog Days Are Over’ crowned what had been an amazing weekend of music.
Praising the 2015 event, organiser Melvin Benn meanwhile, hailed it as one of the best yet, singling out Blur’s “twelve out of ten” performance as being among his favourites of the weekend.
Electric Picnic is set to return next year, with early bird tickets going on sale on Fri 11th Sept 2015.
