Yes it was a music festival, but when it came to variety - debates, comedy, Tubridy and more - it was a feast
The other Tubridy show
Possibly the most relieved man at Electric Picnic '09 was the new
Late Late Showpresenter Ryan Tubridy.
Fresh from his interview with Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Tubridy hosted a rambunctious afternoon’s discussion with RTÉ’s Mark Little, Channel 4’s Jon Snow and Lorraine Keane, formally of TV3, in the Leviathan tent.
"Was I bricking it? Of course I was!" he said of the Late Latedebut. "It is the biggest job of my life. There was great expectation. My job was to deliver on that and I hope I did. I don't know if I did. It was not for me to say. I was dying to do it. I'm glad it's over and I was happy with how I did last night."
Tubridy teased his Picnic guests, eliciting from Prime Timepresenter Mark Little that he would like to see a general election, and from Lorraine Keane a pregnant pause when she was asked if she wanted to present The Afternoon Show. And the usually unflappable Snow did a Stephen Hawking imitation.
Later, Snow was overwhelmed by autograph hunters and those looking to have their picture taken with him.
"I'm absolutely amazed," he said. "I had no idea people in Ireland watched Channel 4 News, certainly not on that scale. This wouldn't happen in England. If it did, it would only be the blue rinses." Ronan McGreevy
Underwear for rent in Body and Soul
If the Electric Picnic is an annual excursion to Mars, Body and Soul is like hurtling through a secret doorway into Jupiter.
Body and Soul, a festival-within-a-festival, is a refuge where you can take a breather from the main-arena madness.
Some EP-goers who discover this nirvana find they don’t then venture beyond its boundaries for the entire weekend. There may even be a few hardy souls who, a bit like those Japanese troops who kept fighting the second World War long after it had ended, stay under the ancient trees all year long until next year’s Picnic.
This year we found one surprise after another. It’s where the Lucent Dossier extravaganza held court, the fantasy vaudeville circus performing daily shows at 11.30pm and 1.30am. There were also a variety of lively music stages that drew punters all day; and especially late at night as sound systems elsewhere were turned off. This year, BS also hosted a radio station from a hut in a corner, on 104.3 FM.
Then there was the stuff you wouldn’t find anywhere else. We particularly liked the Urban Permaculture corner, where would-be urban gardeners could learn how to grow their own picnic for next year, using even the smallest space.
There were hot tubs where stressed Picnic folk could relax and reboot. Bikinis and towels were available for a small fee (and when supplies ran out, people began renting them instead).
We also liked the eye-catching art installations throughout (Paget Scott's Irish Elkwas particularly fetching). Jim Carroll
Europe? Is it any use at all?
The debate What Has Europe Ever Done For Us?took place on the Leviathan stage. David McWilliams introduced his political cabaret, featuring Martin Territt, director of the EC Ireland, Joe Higgins MEP, Patricia McKenna of the People's Movement, and former rugby international Denis Hickie.
It was always going to be about Lisbon, and it quickly fell into a re-hash of the same old debate. The talk shifted to "what it can do for us" only when a contributor spoke up from the packed pews. But thinking only about ourselves is a "typically Irish" and selfish outlook. . . said Hickie. We'll disagree for now. Leonie Corcoran
By Jupiter, it’s the moon
Though most people were focused on more earthly delights on Friday night, there was a wonderful full moon and beside it the glittering giant planet Jupiter.
The Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin tried to elevate people’s gaze on Friday with an astronomy-themed afternoon to mark the International Year of Astronomy.
It’s 400 years since Galileo demonstrated the wonders of the telescope to merchants from Venice and a new age of observation was born. To mark the anniversary, the Science Gallery had an astronomy- themed event, with contributions from both the Blackrock Observatory in Cork and from broadcaster Leo Enright.
Enright had an original recording of the ferocious power of the Saturn V rockets which sent men into space, and he played it at full volume for the assembled audience. Think of Motörhead, at full volume, in your kitchen. Ronan McGreevy
Roddy Doyle’s toilet humour
“There is nothing quite as exhilarating as going into a Portaloo in the morning and realising the guy who just left it probably slept there,” Roddy Doyle told a crowded Arts Council tent on Saturday.
We might not agree, but trust Roddy to find humour in the dismal.
Sitting comfortably in his wellies (he was camping), he read Animals, his new short story. Main character George looks back to a decade when there wasn't a lot of money but Ireland was on the rise. Now the lost decade looms and Ireland has had its day.
All a man (sorry) can do is have a pint. How depressing. On a brighter note, Paula Spencer could come knocking on your wall soon. All hail. Leonie Corcoran
Tommy Tiernan: big cheers
This was an audience insistent on finding something funny. Tommy Tiernan’s fans turned up en masse and they laughed. A lot.
Tiernan’s strained voice (apparently Hector’s 40th celebrations took their toll on Friday night) expelled its first F-word within 10 seconds and it was all big cheers from there on.
Recession? Big cheer. The dole? Bigger cheer. Potato blight? Still funny. Really?
Things only became strained when Tiernan recommended the joys of not using contraception: "I have kids, five of 'em. I much prefer to have kids than use anything. It's less hassle." REALLY? Cue some overdue awkward shuffling. Leonie Corcoran
