PICTURES: Laois music acts battle for chance to perform at Electric Picnic

Talented young people battled it out for a chance to perform at this year's Electric Picnic during the semi finals of the Youth Work Ireland Laois competition. Teenagers aged 14 to 17 got the chance to showcase their talents on Wednesday, July 30 while young people aged 17 to 24 got their chance on Thursday, July 31. The shortlisted winners from both nights will now go forward to the spectacular Grand Final which will take place on Friday, August 15 from 7pm-10pm at the Dunamaise Arts Theatre, Portlaoise. The acts through to the final include Saoirse Talty (Clare), Maryann (Carlow), Kendal Moody (Wicklow), Awfully Human (Carlow), The Controversy (Portlaoise), Dance on Stage School (Mountmellick), Cathy (Tyrone), Java Light (Abbeyleix), Copa (Westmeath), Half Left (Durrow), The Great Escape (Cobh) and Rhys Scully (Kildare). One of the most thrilling aspects of Electric Youth is the prize – a chance for the winners and runners up to perform a once-in-a-lifetime gig on the Hazelwood stage at Electric Picnic.

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