Music

Electric Picnic 2023 in pictures: From the early arrivals to thousands trying to see the Wolfe Tones

The best of this year’s Electric Picnic festival through the lens of Irish Times photographer Alan Betson

The crowd trying to get into the Wolfe Tones at the Electric Arena stage at Electric Picnic on Sunday. Photograph: Electric Picnic instagram
The crowd trying to get into the Wolfe Tones at the Electric Arena stage at Electric Picnic on Sunday. Photograph: Electric Picnic instagram
Alan Betson's picture
Alan Betson
Mon Sept 04 2023 - 16:38
Brandon Flowers, lead singer with The Killers, performing on the Main Stage on Sunday to close Electric Picnic 2023. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Brandon Flowers, lead singer with The Killers, performing on the Main Stage on Sunday to close Electric Picnic 2023. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Fans of The Script as the band perform on the main stage on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Fans of The Script as the band perform on the main stage on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Danny O’Donoghue, lead singer of The Script, during their performance at Electric Picnic on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Danny O’Donoghue, lead singer of The Script, during their performance at Electric Picnic on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Rick Astley fans Julie Burgess and Ciara Daniel from Tallaght, Dublin, at Electric Picnic on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Rick Astley fans Julie Burgess and Ciara Daniel from Tallaght, Dublin, at Electric Picnic on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Lead singer Davy Carton and the Saw Doctors on the Electric Arena stage on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Lead singer Davy Carton and the Saw Doctors on the Electric Arena stage on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
The Sun goes down on the third day of music at the Electric Picnic. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
The Sun goes down on the third day of music at the Electric Picnic. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Alan Reidy from Kerry and Gretchen Kessler from the US at Electric Picnic on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Alan Reidy from Kerry and Gretchen Kessler from the US at Electric Picnic on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Gavin James performing on the Main Stage on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Gavin James performing on the Main Stage on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Rick Astley fans as he performs on Electric Picnic's Main Stage on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Rick Astley fans as he performs on Electric Picnic's Main Stage on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Rick Astley performing on the Main Stage. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Rick Astley performing on the Main Stage. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Siva McDonald from Galway at Sunday's Luna Boys set at Trailer Park. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Siva McDonald from Galway at Sunday's Luna Boys set at Trailer Park. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Glen Carey from Swords, Co Dublin, and Thomas McNamara from Co Clare at Trailer Park on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Glen Carey from Swords, Co Dublin, and Thomas McNamara from Co Clare at Trailer Park on Sunday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Festivalgoers enjoying a King Kong Company guest set at the Super Average DJ Caravan at Trailer Park. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Festivalgoers enjoying a King Kong Company guest set at the Super Average DJ Caravan at Trailer Park. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Five-month-old Jack and Conor Fitzpatrick with mum Emily and aunt Caroline Fitzpatrick from Monasterevin, Co Kildare, with the nuns from Nun of That Convent at Trailer Park. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Five-month-old Jack and Conor Fitzpatrick with mum Emily and aunt Caroline Fitzpatrick from Monasterevin, Co Kildare, with the nuns from Nun of That Convent at Trailer Park. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Danny O’Reilly of The Coronas gets up close to the fans during their performance at Electric Arena on Saturday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Danny O’Reilly of The Coronas gets up close to the fans during their performance at Electric Arena on Saturday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
DJ and musician Fred Again burns it up on the Main Stage on Saturday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
DJ and musician Fred Again burns it up on the Main Stage on Saturday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
An offer from a fan as Elijah Hewson of the band Inhaler plays the Electric Arena stage on Saturday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
An offer from a fan as Elijah Hewson of the band Inhaler plays the Electric Arena stage on Saturday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Nell Mescal performing on the Three Music Stage on Saturday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Nell Mescal performing on the Three Music Stage on Saturday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Fans sing along to Cian Ducrot on Saturday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Fans sing along to Cian Ducrot on Saturday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Singer Cian Ducrot performing on the Main Stage. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Singer Cian Ducrot performing on the Main Stage. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Abigail Meredith from Ballintubbert, Co Laois, at Electric Picnic on Saturday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Abigail Meredith from Ballintubbert, Co Laois, at Electric Picnic on Saturday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Emma Burke from Co Wicklow enjoying ice-cream as temperatures hit the mid-20s over the Electric Picnic weekend. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Emma Burke from Co Wicklow enjoying ice-cream as temperatures hit the mid-20s over the Electric Picnic weekend. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
John Duck Egg Downey provider of costumes for Getting Married at the Inflatable Church with Sarah Byrne (maid of honour), Louise Byrne (bride), Cathal O’Brien (best man), Stephen Hennessy (groom) from Clare and Cork on the second day of Electric Picnic at Stradbally, Co Laois. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
John Duck Egg Downey provider of costumes for Getting Married at the Inflatable Church with Sarah Byrne (maid of honour), Louise Byrne (bride), Cathal O’Brien (best man), Stephen Hennessy (groom) from Clare and Cork on the second day of Electric Picnic at Stradbally, Co Laois. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Reeta Reggie yoga in full flow on Saturday at Electric Picnic. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Reeta Reggie yoga in full flow on Saturday at Electric Picnic. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Mark and Daniel Sheridan from Raheny, Dublin, relaxing on Saturday afternoon. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Mark and Daniel Sheridan from Raheny, Dublin, relaxing on Saturday afternoon. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Jojo Clune, Claire Farrell, Caolàn Mc Gorman and Zara Beattie from Wicklow, Roscommon and Mayo enjoying a Rise Nordic spa. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Jojo Clune, Claire Farrell, Caolàn Mc Gorman and Zara Beattie from Wicklow, Roscommon and Mayo enjoying a Rise Nordic spa. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Clare Campbell, Mairead Campbell, Michelle Campbell and Caroline Doyle from Longford on day two of Electric Picnic. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Clare Campbell, Mairead Campbell, Michelle Campbell and Caroline Doyle from Longford on day two of Electric Picnic. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Billie Eilish during her headline performance on the Main Stage on Friday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Billie Eilish during her headline performance on the Main Stage on Friday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Hester Chambers and Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg on the Electric Arena stage on Friday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Hester Chambers and Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg on the Electric Arena stage on Friday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Niall Horan fans go wild as he performs on the Main Stage on Friday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Niall Horan fans go wild as he performs on the Main Stage on Friday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Niall Horan performing on the Electric Picnic Main Stage. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Niall Horan performing on the Electric Picnic Main Stage. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Sarah Keane, Ava Lordan, Emma O’Connor and Matilda Prendergast from Cork enjoying the performance of King Kong Company on the Main Stage on the first day of Electric Picnic 2023. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Sarah Keane, Ava Lordan, Emma O’Connor and Matilda Prendergast from Cork enjoying the performance of King Kong Company on the Main Stage on the first day of Electric Picnic 2023. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Festivalgoers arriving on day one of Electric Picnic 2023. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Festivalgoers arriving on day one of Electric Picnic 2023. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Ellen Mullins and Séafra Monks from Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, at their campsite on Friday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Ellen Mullins and Séafra Monks from Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, at their campsite on Friday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Connor Reddan and Dominic Sheridan from Nenagh, Co Tipperary, all set for camping at Electric Picnic. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Connor Reddan and Dominic Sheridan from Nenagh, Co Tipperary, all set for camping at Electric Picnic. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
James Sweeney, Grace McCarthy and Sophie McCarthy from Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, enjoying the sunshine at the Electric Picnic. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
James Sweeney, Grace McCarthy and Sophie McCarthy from Johnstown, Co Kilkenny, enjoying the sunshine at the Electric Picnic. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Lilly O’Gara and Elaine O’Brien arriving at Electric Picnic on Friday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Lilly O’Gara and Elaine O’Brien arriving at Electric Picnic on Friday. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Friends from Wicklow all set up and ready for the first day of music at the Electric Picnic 2023. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Friends from Wicklow all set up and ready for the first day of music at the Electric Picnic 2023. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Electric PicnicLaoisWolfe TonesBillie EilishCian DucrotNiall HoranThe CoronasThe KillersThe Script