An impressive line-up of radio professionals will gather to discuss the future of talk radio in Ireland this weekend at the Electric Picnic Festival.
Miriam O’Callaghan from RTE Radio One, Irish Times radio reviewer Mick Heaney, Newstalk’s Caroline Clarke and IBI’s John Purcell will join Joe Duffy on the Leviathan stage at Mindfield Sunday at 5:30pm.
They’ll talk about the biggest radio event of the year due to place the next day – as Pat Kenny and Sean O’Rourke both launch their new mid-morning shows.
Meanwhile a number of radio stations will be in Co. Laois covering the annual event for listeners, including Today FM, Phantom and RTÉ 2fm.
2fm has broadcast live from every one of the 10 events over the last decade, and this year plans to offer 24 hours of live programming, recording over 50 artists on five stages across the weekend in what the station calls the biggest radio production in Ireland, outside of a general election.
Sponsored by Electric Ireland, 2fm’s coverage is a co-production with BBC Northern Ireland. Live from the festival will be presenters Colm Hayes, Rick O’Shea, Dan Hegarty, Dave Fanning, Ruth Scott, Paddy McKenna, Jenny Greene, Cormac Battle and Dave Fanning.
Donal Dineen will also host the Radio Activity stage in the Body and Soul area.
Today FM has been travelling back in time over the last few weekends to celebrate Electric Picnic events of the past, and broadcasting interviews and features with event organisers.
A spokesperson for Today FM told RadioToday.ie: “We are delighted to be the official media partner of Electric Picnic. We are very excited about our own unique chill out Picnic Area, which will feature our Giant Headphones, Giant Radio and Big Yellow Taxi.
“Colm O’Sullivan will be broadcasting from the Big Yellow Taxi on Sunday evening, bringing our listeners interviews, sessions and all things picnic!”
Finally, Phantom FM will be rolling out its Phantom Green area to the festival and has created a Playlist for the event.