Electric Picnic:It's not just the limited capacity that makes the Electric Picnic a "boutique" festival.
Apart from the music, there's an impressive array of top-class attractions, esoteric and otherwise, to keep pretty much everyone happy. Among these are comedy shows, cabaret revues, art and craft workshops, debates, holistic treatment centres, kiddies' events and plenty of random lunacy. No doubt many punters are attracted as much by these fringe shows as by the main musical events.
Some new draws are lined up for this year's festival. Traditionalists will no doubt be pleased to stumble across the Village Hall, which will host daily barn dances and trad sessions, all in an attempt to recreate the laid-back community atmosphere of small-town Ireland. Another nostalgic addition to the 2007 line-up is Fossett's Circus (which, animal lovers will be pleased/dismayed to hear, is "human-only"). Elsewhere, past Picnic favourites return. These are the highlights . . .
International Comedy Club Stage
One of the most popular side attractions over the last few years has been the comedy stage. This year it will once more be hosted by fraternal funnymen Des and Aidan Bishop. Saturday's line-up will include David McSavage, Colin Murphy and Neil Delamere, while Sunday will see performances by Jason Byrne, Maeve Higgins and Tommy Tiernan.
Lost Vagueness
Those looking for unbridled madness (or a really cheap wedding) should make straight for the Lost Vagueness area. By entering your name in a lottery, you could win a full-scale, full-lunacy marriage ceremony at the Chapel of Love (left). Runners-up also have the chance to get hitched at the mass wedding, which takes place on Sunday. After midnight, newlyweds and others alike can check out twisted cabaret performances at the suddenly- transformed chapel.
Miss Moon's Portrait Parlour
A boutique festival calls for a little bit of dressing up. Miss Moon's Portrait Parlour offers festival-goers a bespoke makeover service, with a choice of themes including Heroes & Starlets and Arabian Nights. You then have your photograph taken and, after a brief wait in Miss Moon's chichi chamber, you have your portrait delivered on a 1940s-style postcard. The only drawback is that you have to give the clothes back afterwards. Drag.
Leviathan
Punters overdosing on hedonism can alternatively stimulate their brains at the Leviathan think tank, a political debate forum that will be hosted for the second year by economist David McWilliams. The main debates will happen at 6pm each day and will see Paddy Cullivan & White Cholera arguing over climate change (today), the death of "romantic Ireland" (tomorrow) and politically-engaged rock stars (Sunday).
Body & Soul
If debate sounds too taxing, then you may wish to check out the Body & Soul village, which will surely be home to Europe's highest concentration of hippies over the next few days. Expect organic food, massage workshops, art installations and yoga sessions, all soundtracked by ambient electronica. The organisers promise you will leave with "an open heart and a skip in your step" - don't waste it by heading off to hear the Jesus and Mary Chain's set.
