Electric Picnic fans to attempt biggest ever Rock the Boat for Laois charity

The Electric Picnic Banter Facebook group has pulled out all the stops to bring what could be the most memorable moment of the 2024 festival, exclusively for Early Entry ticketholders.

They have enlisted the backing of Electric Picnic, to attempt a new Guinness World Record for the biggest ever Rock The Boat dance.

A favourite of every traditional Irish wedding, the 1970s song gets everybody on the floor sitting down in human chains as they rock over and back to the music, a 1970s hit by The Hues Corporation. 

The record has been broken repeatedly in Ireland in recent years, in Leitrim, then Galway and most recently when 1,888 participants in Derry got rocking the boat in Shipquay Street view on Youtube.

Electric Picnic is urging its Early Entry festival goers to stop by and take part, in the Terminus arena from 8pm to 10pm on Thursday night, August 15.

"Kick off your Electric Picnic weekend early! Come along and Rock The Boat in Terminus on Thursday, 15th August at 8pm.

"The EP Banter Group is hosting the BIGGEST Rock The Boat event, in support of @sosadlaois. There’ll be 90’s throwback tunes, prizes and guaranteed great craic! Head over to the @epbanter to learn more about this fantastic event! See you there!," they say.

SOSAD Laois has an office in Portlaoise where they provide free professional counselling for people experiencing suicide or self-harm ideation or mental health problems.

Electric Picnic Banter group which has some 40,000 members, announced the challenge on Thursday, July 25.

"The wait is finally over. We are delighted to announce we will be attempting to smash the current world record for RTB at Electric Picnic on Thursday night in Terminus at 8pm. We are so excited to do this all we need is you," page administator Dave Caffrey announced. 

Electric Picnic 2024 music and arts festival takes place from Thursday, August 15 to Monday, August 19 this year, with headliners Kylie, Calvin Harris, Noah Kahan, Gerry Cinnamon and much more. Tickets for the 75,000 capacity festival in the Stradbally Hall estate are sold out.