A popular presence on the Irish music scene since the mid 1980s, the Saw Doctors are on the Electric Picnic lineup for the third year running this year.
They’ve a prime time slot in the Electric Arena tonight (Friday) when they take to the stage at 9pm, following on from last year’s Saturday tea-time slot on Main Stage. The previous year they were on Sunday in the Electric Arena, drawing a huge crowd in their own right, though it was overshadowed by the masses that showed up for the Wolfe Tones.
All in, it has helped give the iconic group a new lease of life as they approach the 40th anniversary of them coming together.
“Electric Picnic is fantastic for us in that we get to play in front of loads of people who might not normally come to a Saw Doctors gig,” said Leo Moran this week on the LoveLaois Podcast.
“So it’s like a shop window for us. We have a huge percentage of young people following us in Ireland, and I think our appearances at Electric Picnic are one of the major reasons for that.
“It’s really good for us because when you have young people in an audience, you have that little bit of extra energy that you don’t get with people. So it’s been very good for us.
(Last year) ticked all the boxes,” he added. “Everybody was in good humour (and) when you get good weather anyway, you’re starting off a very high platform.
“And then the production of the stage and all the screens and all the excitement on site, when you add all that into the equation, you have all the elements to make it exciting and good fun.”
Their Electric Picnic set, at an hour, is less than half of what they usually play for, which brings both challenges – and its own benefits.
“We’re only playing a relatively short set as a festival, which we, you know, it’s probably less than half of what we normally play. So it’s kind of jam-packed of energy.
“It’s kind of equally enjoyable. It’s awful short, though. It feels really short for us.
“Normally we play for two and a quarter hours. That’s what feels like the right amount of time for us. Now, maybe that feels like a long time for the audience, but that’s what we’re used to and that’s what satisfies us.
“Last year we were up on the big stage and playing to, you know, our biggest crowd in a long, long time. And it felt really relaxed for some reason.
“But we’ve a great, we set up our our own stage dimensions the same way everywhere. OK, so we’re from each other no matter what stage we’re on. OK.
“Well, that that that makes it comfortable for us. The stage is like being at home. And then we’ve a great crew.
“The lads set the stage up really for us. The lads doing sound are fantastic. You’re always, you’re always comfortable from the very start.
“And when you have all those things going your way, you can relax. And then when we relax like that, we really enjoyed it.”
We also hear from Leo Moran of the Saw Doctors, who will be playing Electric Picnic for the third year running.
After a Main Stage appearance last year, they move to a prime time Friday night slot in the Electric Arena this year. On the go for almost 40 years, he chats about how Electric Picnic has opened them up to a whole new generation of young fans.
You can listen to the latest episode in full on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
The Saw Doctors play the Electric Arena from 9-10pm on Friday night.
Electric Picnic coverage is brought to you in association with Ramsbottom’s Portlaoise
Electric Picnic coverage is brought to you in association with Ramsbottom’s PortlaoiseSEE ALSO – From boyband to boardroom – The unstoppable journey of Damien Bowe
