'We have the perfect location' Electric Picnic promotor loyal to Laois

Laois is the "perfect location" for Electric Picnic, with local producers also praised by the promotor.

Speaking on a video call ahead of the 2023 festival this weekend, Melvin Benn was asked about doing more to support local producers. 

“We are always looking at it. We already work with Laois Taste and we are always very interested in it,” he said.

His comment comes in the wake of complaints by a Laois Taste member, Ballykilcavan Brewery which is not permitted to sell at the festival despite being based a couple of kilometres from the site. 

He describes the relationship that Electric Picnic has to Laois.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt about our commitment to Laois and to Stradbally Hall, and to Thomas and his family. 

“We think we have the perfect location in Ireland. We’ve grown very substantially over the years in Laois and we have a really amazing working relationship with the local Gardaí, all the fire and medical agencies and obviously with Laois County Council we have a really good relationship.

“It works and we brought in Taste of Laois last year I think for the first time, maybe two years ago, and that was absolutely fantastic. It was really good, we loved working with them, the people are so nice. I bought some chocolate from them myself last year and I probably shouldn’t have eaten quite so much, it was delicious.It’s an opportunity for them to reach that slightly bigger market," he said.

Mr Benn had missed his flight from the UK to attend his annual on-site press conference, due to the UK air traffic control issue.

"I think everybody will enjoy the weekend whether I’m there or not. None of them are coming to see me. I can’t wait to be there. I can see the flags and I’m really cheesed off that I’m not there," he said.

On what he is most looking forward to this weekend, its an "endless list".

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“Everything about the Electric Picnic is to be looked forward to as far as I’m concerned.

“Obviously the major music artists, Billy Eilish has to be pretty high on everybody’s list. I saw Paolo Nutini earlier in the year, that was probably my favourite show of the summer. Fred Again, The Script, the list is endless," Melvin Benn said.

Electric Picnic is sold out with 70,000 festival goers coming to Stradbally. It takes place from Friday to Monday, September 1 to 3.