Electric Picnic kept DJ on same stage despite knowing about 'potential overcrowding' in advance
Records reveal that Electric Picnic organizers were aware of potential overcrowding risks hours before a performance by Duke Dumont. Despite having permission to move the act to a larger stage to ensure safety, the organizers kept the performance in a smaller tent.
Why it matters
This raises serious questions about event management accountability and the prioritization of crowd safety at large-scale music festivals.
ELECTRIC PICNIC ORGANISERS knew about “potentially significant overcrowding” hours before a performance by Duke Dumont at the festival this year, records show.
Emails seen by The Journal show that Festival Republic kept the English DJ on the 16,720-capacity Electric Arena stage despite getting permission to move him to the larger, outdoor Main Stage because the company expected huge crowds at his gig.
Organisers were later forced to issue multiple notifications asking festival-goers not to approach the tent where Duke Dumont played as it reached capacity on Saturday night.
Correspondence released under the Freedom of Information Act shows that Festival Republic twice contacted Laois County Council earlier on the Saturday afternoon asking whether they could move Duke Dumont to the Main Stage.
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