It’s getting close to the big event, with it only being just over a week away (seriously, that close?). Some tickets are already sold out, with Family, Campervan and Sunday tickets no longer available. Get in there, while there’s still time!

One of the best things about the Picnic is the variety of other events that are going on around the site, and we’ve just received details of the Mindfield  stage, and thought we’d share. David McWilliams, Mary O’Rourke, Sunday Assembly and Jim Carroll and the banter team. See the details below.

LEVIATHAN STAGE-

At the heart of MindField is the Leviathan tent where economist, author and broadcaster DAVID MCWILLIAMS will host three special LEVIATHAN: POLITICAL CABARET events with panels of eminent international and Irish journalists, academics, politicians and commentators looking at the state of the nation and where Ireland will be when the Electric Picnic celebrates its 20^th! With musical satire and comedy slideshows from PADDY CULLIVAN (The Late Late Show House Band) and special guests.

The Dáil and Seanad may be on their holidays but the ELECTRIC PICNIC PARLIAMENT will be in session, ably chaired by the Honourable MARY O’ROURKE, inviting special guest speakers to make short proposals on how to improve Ireland before they’re voted on for inclusion in the EPP Manifesto.

Direct from The Nave at St. Paul’s Road, London we celebrate the Seventh Say in style with the SUNDAY ASSEMBLY featuring SANDERSON JONES and special guest speakers: “part foot-stomping show; part atheist church”.

The people behind the ground breaking OTHER VOICES television series, PHILIP KING and DYLAN HASKINS will be in conversation with some of their featured artists, exploring their work and discussing with music industry figures the state of the music business today including BP FALLON, BRONAGH GALLAGHER, and CLEM BURKE(Blondie).

Musician and songwriter BRESSIE will be in conversation with Secret Millionaire JIM BREEN to discuss his campaign for mental health – ‘It’s OK Not to Feel OK’.

THE ELECTRIC PICNIC BRUNCH hosted by RTÉ’s MIRIAM O’CALLAGHAN takes a jaundiced look at the Sunday papers and reviews the festival in the company of some of Stradbally’s most tired and emotional.

In this, the year of ‘The Gathering’ editor of History Ireland, TOMMY GRAHAM convenes his HISTORY IRELAND HEDGE SCHOOLS with his lively panel of experts will explore both the catastrophic and celebratory aspects of the emigration and return experience. ‘The Great Famine: a series of unfortunate events or genocide?’ features MEREDITH MEAGHER (Notre Dame), CONNOR MCNAMARA (Notre Dame), JOHN WATERS (The Irish Times), and PETER GRAY (Queen’s, Belfast); while ‘JFK in Ireland: style or substance?’ features MICHAEL KENNEDY (RIA, Documents on Irish Foreign Policy), DONAL FALLON (Come Here To Me), and CAROLE HOLOHAN (UCD).

SALON DU CHAT reprises their unique ‘speed-debating’ salon of gourmet conversation chosen from a menu of provocative menu options. Engage in intense dialogue with complete strangers, make new friends and influence people.

The hugely popular BANTER public talks series will present a special edition on the state of Irish talk radio with MIRIAM O’CALLAGHAN (RTÉ), JOHN PURCELL (KCLR, IBI, Newstalk), MICK HEANEY (The Irish Times) and CAROLINE CLARKE (Newstalk), hosted by The Irish Times’ JIM CARROLL.

THE CACA MILIS CABARET brings its rambunctious ‘postmodern vaudeville’ blend of music, dance, spoken word, circus clownery and classic cabaret.