By the time Bjork walked on stage in Stradbally last night, sporting the most colourful outfit seen all day long, the majority of the 32,500 fans had arrived on site for the Electric Picnic music festival, writes Jim Carroll,in Stradbally
They had snuck out of work early to get here and came through some truly horrendous traffic jams. They had managed to get their tents erected, some with help from members of Scouting Ireland, on hand to assist them with the task.
They had eaten their first organic burger or gourmet burrito of the weekend.
They had probably already had a gawk at the myriad of non-musical sideshows around the site. They may even have had a couple of beverages. They were certainly ready for anything this year's Picnic will throw at them.
What it won't throw at them, thankfully, is mud. For the first time this summer, wellies are not required to enjoy or endure an Irish music festival.
This climatic abnormality probably accounts for the broad smiles and happy vibes around the site. Joe Duffy will not be getting complaints about the conditions from this audience on Monday.
With the big musical tickets yet to come, yesterday allowed festival-goers to sample the various other stages which give the four-year-old Electric Picnic its unique selling points.
Those seeking alternative therapies could head to the Body & Soul arena, where a bevy of reiki and reflexology therapists were busy at work. Others were taking a closer look at Diarmuid Gavin's pod structure, the one which looks like a giant bag of Smarties, or checking out the work of the Irish Seed Savers. Many more flocked to experience The Big Love Inflatable Church, relive childhood visits to Fossett's Circus or puzzle over the madcap art installations at the Next Stage.
Besides Bjork's main stage turn, last night's other musical performers included Hot Chip, Scott Matthews, Manic Street Preachers and Northern Irish band Oppenheimer. There was a full house in the Electric Arena tent for Blur singer Damon Albarn's latest side-project, The Good The Bad & The Queen, featuring former Clash bassist Paul Simonon.
The rest of the weekend will see the likes of Iggy Pop and The Stooges, the Beastie Boys, Erasure, Jarvis Cocker, Sonic Youth and dozens more acts taking the high road to Co Laois.
Someone should let them know that there will be a lot of happy campers waiting to greet them.