Electric Picnic: First impressions from a first timer

It's big. Really big. Maybe world class in scope and scale. I didn't expect Electric Picnic to be so broad given it was ostensibly Ireland's second-biggest festival before Oxegen fossilised. The canvas is flooded with a whole lot of colour too. There's enough bits and pieces to keep your head on a swivel: get a massage here, take your picture with giant Timmy Mallet glasses there.

A lot of the outlets have corporate branding – everyone wants a piece of EP. But there’s no time to take it all in, especially if spending quality time outside your tent with that garden furniture you hauled down is a key component to your weekend. And forget about finding anything specific without a map. The woods is laid out for wandering.

Also striking is the mix of ages, featuring everyone from kids in the buggy up. It’s great to see: a solid generational mix is always a good indication of how chill an event will be. And it’s pretty chill so far, but with the tantalising prospect of the impending weekend pulsing below the still-fresh grass. Let’s go.