Electric Picnic tickets sell out day after lineup announcement

Kendrick Lamar, Massive Attack and NERD to headline three-day festival

The line-up for Electric Picnic 2018 has been announced, with Kendrick Lamar, Massive Attack and NERD among the big names set to perform at Stradbally this year. Video: Ronan McGreevy

All tickets for Electric Picnic 2018 have sold out, a day after the orgnanisers announced Kendrick Lamar, Massive Attack and NERD would headline the festival.

“Electric Picnic can now announce that all weekend tickets for 2018 are now completely sold out, yet again demonstrating the unwavering popularity of Ireland’s favourite music and arts festival,” a spokeswoman said.

Acts such as Dua Lipa, Ben Howard, St Vincent and the Kooks have also been announced for the three-day festival which takes place at Stradbally Hall, Co Laois, from August 31st to September 2nd.

The Electric Picnic has benefited from the improving economy since it reached a nadir of just 22,000 people who turned up in 2012. It has been gaining in capacity and in popularity since then.

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Festival promoter Melvin Benn saidon Thursday he had sold 30,000 of the 52,000 capacity venue before the line-up was announced.

The pop-dominated line-up with hardly a guitar band in evidence is indicative of the retreat of rock from the mainstream music scene. Benn said the line-up reflects the zeitgeist.

“There is a lot of pop around and we want to reflect that fact. It certainly doesn’t dominate the bill, but it is reflective of what is going on at the moment.”

Festival promoter Melvin Benn said he had sold 30,000 of the 52,000 capacity venue before the line-up was announced and the rest of the tickets will go on sale on Saturday.