Xpose Rivals Go For A Picnic...

Sadly, there was no animosity between Xpose's former lead anchor and her younger replacement at last weekend's Electric Picnic. We had high hopes for a foxy mud wrestling session between Lorraine Keane and Glenda Gilson in the mucky Strandbally field - but all we got was hugs and kisses. Darn...

Glenda Gilson, Lorraine Keane

When two alpha females in the bitchy world of ShowBiz meet there is usually a stare-down, a tense stand-off, and then they tear the feckin' hair extensions outta each other's heads. Add a muddy festival field and two hot bodies and we thought all our fantasies had come together at once. That's right folks, we are sad pervs.

Glenda Gilson

Yup. Xpose's former leading lady Lorraine Keane bumped into the show's new younger model, Glenda Gilson, at last weekend's Electric Picnic and sadly it was all air kisses, hugs, and all that type o' lark back in the VIP area. We were hoping for blue murder - we even had a tenner on Keane. Well, she's a wilier breed of fox.

Claudine Palmer

Another ShowBizzzy type in the celeb-only area was new momma Claudine Palmer with her lil bro Ronan and not a sign of her fella Robbie Keane anywhere... Apparently he was off playing an important football match or something? Like we care...

Claudine Palmer & brother Ronan Palmer

We were totally digging Claud's sexy Farrah Fawcett look at The Picnic - but didn't she rock that same sorta vibe at last year's Electrical festival? Hmmmmmm, we shall investigate further...

Ryan Tubridy, John Snow, Lorraine Keane, Mark Little

We also bumped into The Late Late Show's new host Ryan Tubridy backstage at the musical camping trip. Our Tubbs was hanging out with John Snow, Lorraine Keane and Mark Little. What? No welly boots Ryan?? The Late Show has changed you.

Ryan Tubridy & Festival Goers

In fairness Mr. Tubridy still managed to mix with the great unwashed (literally!) at Electric Picnic and showed, despite his new conservative TV role, he's still very much down with the kids. God bless him.

Lisa Hannigan

Apart from all the backstage shenanigans there was also the more serious matter of the music. And although we weren't as hyped up about the line-up this year, we still got to witness Mercury Award runner-up Lisa Hannigan in action. Is it just us or does everyone else in Ireland want to marry Lisa Hannigan? She's just so marriageable 'n' stuff...

Imelda May

Other acts worthy of a mention included Imelda May, Madness, Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Chic, The Beach Boy's Brian Wilson, The Flaming Lips, Bell X1, Fionn Regan, Laura Izibor, The Wailers, Royksopp, and quite a few more...

Madness

To be honest we weren't really feeling the usual vibe of excitement and enthusiasm in the build-up to Electric Picnic 2009 that we did in other years. Whether it was the line-up, the recession or the weather - we just don't know...

Kid Creole & The Coconuts

That said, numerous festival goers who spent the whole weekend roughing-it at EP '09 have let us know that in no uncertain terms the more chilled-out mood this year made the experience all that more enjoyable, relaxed and well, chilled. And who are we to argue with that?

Brian Wilson

So there you have it folks, Electric Picnic 2009. Not as glitz and glamorous as previous years but none the less enjoyable. It's like a fricken metaphor for Ireland.

A Young Picnic-er