Since its debut in 2004, Electric Picnic has grown from a one-day boutique gathering into Ireland’s most beloved three-day festival. Along the way, it’s hosted some of the most iconic line-ups in Irish festival history. Blending global stars, emerging voices and unforgettable cultural moments.
As Electric Picnic 2025 prepares to open its gates, we look back at the standout editions that shaped Stradbally’s legend and share the stages we love to get lost in when the big headliners fade into the night.
Electric Picnic 2004: The Beginning
Electric Picnic’s story starts here. Back in 2004, it was just a one-day boutique festival — small, experimental, and unlike anything else on Ireland’s music calendar. The line-up reflected that spirit of discovery: 2 Many DJs, Groove Armada, Jurassic 5, Super Furry Animals, Mylo, Soulwax, and David Kitt.
It was eclectic, adventurous and proudly left-of-centre. Where other festivals leaned on stadium rock or mainstream pop, Electric Picnic built its reputation on curiosity and creativity. Looking back now, you can see the DNA of everything that followed. A festival that dared to be different, and in doing so, found its place at the heart of Irish music culture.
Electric Picnic 2005 – Indie Fire and Electronic Icons
Only a year after its modest launch, Electric Picnic announced itself as a serious player on the festival map. The line-up was a daring mix: Arcade Fire in their breakthrough era, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Kraftwerk, The Flaming Lips, Röyksopp, and The Human League. It was eclectic, intelligent, and ambitious. It was undeniable proof that EP was carving out a very different identity from the mainstream summer circuits.
Electric Picnic 2016 – Electronic & Alternative Rock Royalty
By the mid-2010s, Electric Picnic was the jewel in Ireland’s festival crown. The 2016 line-up read like a who’s who of alternative greatness: LCD Soundsystem, Lana Del Rey, The Chemical Brothers, New Order, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. It was a year that felt both nostalgic and forward-looking, mixing acts that defined past decades with those shaping new ones.
Electric Picnic 2018 – Kendrick Meets The Prodigy
This was the year Electric Picnic went global. Kendrick Lamar, fresh from his Pulitzer Prize win, headlined alongside Massive Attack, The Prodigy, and N.E.R.D., with rising stars like Dua Lipa and George Ezra lighting up the main stage. It was a thrilling clash of rap, electronic, and pop. It was an edition that showcased EP’s fearless range.
Electric Picnic 2022 – The Comeback
After two years of cancellations during the pandemic, Electric Picnic returned with a vengeance in 2022. The atmosphere was electric, the release palpable. Headliners Arctic Monkeys, Tame Impala, Megan Thee Stallion, Dermot Kennedy, and Snow Patrol turned Stradbally into a three-day celebration of resilience, reunion and sheer joy. This was the comeback year, and fans who had waited three years to dance in those fields made it one of the most emotional Picnics of all time.
Electric Picnic 2024 – 20 Years of Electric Picnic
Electric Picnic’s 20th birthday was always going to be a milestone, and the festival delivered. Calvin Harris, Kylie Minogue, Raye, Noah Kahan, Gerry Cinnamon, and Kodaline led the celebrations, creating a weekend that leaned into big, euphoric, crowd-pleasing moments. It was less about edge and more about anniversary spectacle — a reminder of just how far the festival had come since its experimental one-day debut.
Electric Picnic 2025 – Irish Talent in the Spotlight with Kneecap, Hozier & Inhaler
This year, tickets disappeared in just fifteen minutes, a clear sign of Electric Picnic’s unstoppable momentum. The line-up reflects the festival’s multi-dimensional identity with Hozier returning for a headline homecoming, joined by Sam Fender, Kings of Leon, Chappell Roan, Fatboy Slim, and Becky Hill.
What makes 2025 particularly special is the strength of the Irish contingent. Inhaler, Jazzy, Kneecap, and many more underline just how vibrant the homegrown scene is right now. As outlined in our Homegrown Artists Guide, these Irish acts are central to the line up, proving that Stradbally continues to champion homegrown music as much as global names.
With disco legends Nile Rodgers and Chic joining the bill, the weekend is set to balance global icons with the best of Ireland’s own talent.
Areas We Loved Over the Years at The Record Hub
Electric Picnic has never been defined by its main stage alone. What makes Stradbally so special are the hidden corners and late-night gems that have grown alongside the festival itself. Just as the line ups tell the story of Electric Picnic through the years, these stages carry their own history and identity.
The Salty Dog
The Salty Dog was introduced in the late 2000s and quickly became legendary. A pirate ship marooned in the woods, it is a place where chaos reigns and nights blur into dawn. It has always been the natural home for acts that thrive on grit and energy.
Croí
Croí is one of the festival’s more recent additions and it captures how Electric Picnic has grown into a more inclusive and community minded event. It is not about big names or packed crowds but about connection and discovery. Over the years it has become a space for reflection and creativity, proving that the festival has as much heart as it does spectacle.
Survivor Stage
The Survivor Stage is where nostalgia takes over. Dedicated to tribute acts, it is the place for unapologetic singalongs and guilty pleasures. Year after year it has allowed festival goers to relive the soundtrack of their youth, showing that some songs never lose their magic.
Mother After Dark
Mother After Dark signalled an important cultural shift at Electric Picnic. Dublin’s queer club collective brought late-night magic to Stradbally with DJs, drag and dancefloor euphoria. It has since become one of the most anticipated after-hours destinations and a powerful symbol of the festival’s diversity and inclusivity.
Fishtown
Fishtown is Electric Picnic at its most colourful and surreal. Over the years it has grown into a maze of art, music and performance, where you never quite know what you will stumble upon. It embodies the experimental spirit of the festival and reminds us that discovery is just as exciting as the headliners.
Trailer Park
Trailer Park is the stage that captures Electric Picnic’s sense of fun better than almost anywhere else. A carnival of caravans transformed into micro venues, it has become a magnet for surprise sets, street party energy and endless photo moments. It remains one of the most playful spaces in Stradbally and continues to evolve every year.
Keep Up to Date on Electric Picnic News with The Record Hub
Two decades on, Electric Picnic 2025 continues to reinvent itself while staying true to its eclectic soul. From the indie explosion of 2005 to Hozier’s headline homecoming in 2025, every year tells its own story. What makes the festival truly unique is not just the big names; it’s the smaller stages, the hidden moments and the sense of discovery that keeps fans coming back to Stradbally year after year.
Keep up to date with The Record Hub for the latest Electric Picnic news, exclusive artist features, and updates that bring the spirit of Stradbally to you all year round.
