Mindfield

Mindfield @ Electric Picnic 2010

MindfieldThe lineup for Mindfield at this year’s Electric Picnic has been announced – expect political debate, theatre, poetry, interviews & loads more. 


The lineup for Mindfield at this year’s Electric Picnic has been announced – expect political debate, theatre, poetry, interviews & loads more.

MindField, presented in association with RTÉ Radio One, is great meeting of minds and voices celebrating the art of conversation, debate and performance with subject matter that ranges from comic books to literature to the politics of the Middle East and all points in between. Essentially, MindField is a three day, seven venue conversation for the nation that will inform, inspire and entertain.

This year,the MindField arena at Electric Picnic has again expanded to seven elegantly decorated tented venues in the midst of parkland trees behind the main stage at Electric Picnic.

LEVIATHAN: POLITICAL CABARET
Leviathan once again brings the best of interactive debate in politics and current affairs – with satirical twist – with host, David McWilliams. We start the day with chat and fun in the company of some of the Picnic’s stars who will feature in Ryan Tubridy’s Picnic Brunch and the MindField News Quiz. There’s a real treat for comic and graphic novels fans as the Godfather of British comics, Pat Mills (2000 AD) joins Guardian cartoonist, Steve Bell for the Big Comic Chat.

Themes this year include Online Politics with Twitterer-in-chief, Dan Boyle; The Middle East with political activist, former MP and Celebrity Big Brother star, George Galloway and ex-Fox News commentator Rachel Marsden; and Ireland in 2020 with Minister for Communications, Eamon Ryan among others. Legendary Mr. Nice, Howard Marks teams up with  Peter Hook and Wham manager Simon Napier-Bell and novelist and music fan Irvine Welsh.

New to the Leviathan tent this year is the exciting addition of History Ireland’s Hedge Schools hosted by Tommy Graham with a debate on the life and legacy of The Great O’Neill with special guest, actor Stephen Rea; and Eamon Delaney, T Ryle Dwyer and Eunan Ó Halpin; and a discussion with George Galloway the justification for Irish Neutrality together with Minister Conor Lenihan, Hiram Morgan and Ciaran Brady.

ARTS COUNCIL LITERARY STAGE
The Arts Council Literary Stage brings the best of Irish and international writers together to share their work in readings, talks and debates. We also have special guest appearances from festival artists, to be announced. Last year Florence Welsh from Florence and the Machine, Patrick Bergin, Mundy and Julie Feeney all featured reading from their favourite work.

We are thrilled to welcome Waterboys front man Mike Scott to read from his memoirs; Princeton University professor Paul Muldoon with Philip King as well as Roddy Doyle, Kevin Barry, Irvine Welsh, Charlie Connelly, Mike McCormack, Dermot Bolger, Leanne O’Sullivan, Mary O’Malley, Gerry Smyth, Pat Boran, Rita Ann Higgins, Carlo Gebler, Louis de Paor and Ronan Browne, Paul Murray, Chris Binchy, Claire Kilroy, . Novelist Julian Gough will take part in an incendiary debate about Irish literature with fellow writers and critics. Writer and columnist John Waters performs a music and spoken word show with Johnny Duhan. Fergus Cronin and Dermot Diamond present The Science of Flann O’Brien and Declan Burke hosts a discussion on crime novels with Arlene Hunt, Declan Lynch and Gene Kerrigan.

We are also delighted to host RTE Radio One Drivetime’s Savvy Women bringing insights from some of Ireland’s foremost Irish female voices – Kathy Sheridan, Justine Mccarthy, Sara Burke and Tara Buckley.

THE WORD: POETRY AND SLAM
The Word stage returns with the best of Irish, British and international poets and slam artists including world slam champions and a stomping band and some lyrical magic later in the evening, inclusing: The Pig Executive ( Poetry, Prose, Fiction), The Cuirt Literary Festival Slam Showcase, Poetry Ireland Presents, The Glor Sessions ( Dublins hottest literary night live), Foil Arms and Hog, The Poetry Divas, The Gonzo Cabaret Club , The Big Smoke Writers Workshop, Poetry Smackdown, Olaf Tyaransen, The Poetry Chicks, Stinging Fly Publications , The Book Club Boutique, The Aftermath, Brendan Hickey, Raven, Cah 44, Dave Lordan, Elaine Feeney, Saskia Burns, Brendan Murphy, Karl Parkinson, Stephen J Smith, Colm Keegan,Salena Godden, Mikey Mikey, Connor Kelly, Ross Brunton, Sophie Coyle, Glen Mc Mahon, Emmet Scanlon, Colm Lynch, Dave Payton plus more to be announced

THE SALON
New this year, The Salon provides a chilled out space for unique events like the counter-intuitive storytelling and games of Chaos Thaoghaire, Salon du Chat’s speed debating and inspiring talk from the Anti-Room blog.

SCIENCE GALLERY
Trinity College Dublin’s groundbreaking Science Gallery brings a host of fascinating and inspirational interactive experiments, talks and demonstrations based around the Biorhythm theme exploring in fun ways how music affects the human body and human behaviour as well as the intriguing Ignite! format which brings fascinating talks on all kinds of esoteric subjects to an interactive slide show.

AN PUBALL GAEILGE
An Puball Gaeilge hosted by Kila’s Rossa O Snodaigh blends all kinds of entertainment and mischief in the Irish language. Expect debates, pub quizzes, GAA commentary karaoke and much more fun and frolics as Gaeilge. Manchan Magan returns with a new drama. Ronan Mac Aodha Bhui will host the Cabaret Craicealta. There’s Cork based MC Bubba Shakespeare. Music from The Dirty 9’s, Henrietta Game; poet Louis de Paor; and Galway-based theatre and puppet company Fibin bring live art installations, puppet peep-show, and other performances. Winner of TG4s Glas Vegas, Sibeal Davitt will get the whole tent toe tapping with her Sexy Sean Nos act. And actor, comedian and Edinburgh Festival-award winner, Aindreas de Staic returns.

THEATRE STAGE
Now in its 3rd year the Theatre Stage promises to deliver yet another weekend packed with  new and exciting theatrical delights mixed with a smidge of mayhem. Expect drama, Obama, comedy, improv, DIY theatre, puppets, and theatre live where we will attempt to make a play in under an hour. With something for everyone including the kids we look forward to transporting you beyond the forth wall.

Acts so far include: Split Gin present Andy Warhol’s Nothing Special; Choke Comedy Improv; Obama Mia!; Wildebeest Theatre presents The Real World; Moonfish theatre present The Secret Garden; Play Go Theatre Company present The Gruffalo Story; NUIG Players present The Last Days of Judas Iscariot; MOUTH PIECE Productions present Not I by Samuel Beckett. There’s also a dramatisation of Trevor White’s book about founding The Dubliner magazine at the height of the boom.

The Hot Press Chat Room returns to Electric Picnic for another year of up-close-and personal public interviews… Already confirmed to appear in the Chat Room this year are Imelda May and Stars, with many, many more to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Acts to receive the Hot Press Chat Room treatment in previous years have included Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, The Sugarhill Gang, Elbow, Seasick Steve, Lykke Li, Alabama 3, Zero 7, The XX, Richmond Fontaine, James Blunt, The Frames, Tommy Tiernan, Gang of Four, Damien Dempsey, Gemma Hayes, Mundy, The Duckworth Lewis Method, The Walkmen and many more!

Fans are invited to sit in and get comfortable in The Hot Press Chat Room, as the stars of the Picnic drop by each day to discuss all kinds of everything, and answer questions from the floor. See www.hotpress.com for updates in the run-up to Electric Picnic…

www.electricpicnic.ie

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