Chappell Roan emerges from the smoke, like Maleficent emerging from her lair.
The stage is set like a Disney villain’s lair. Dressed in gothic velvet, her face is painted white, her signature drag-esque makeup, long red curls pinned back behind a black fascinator.
“Not overdramatic, I know what I want,” she purrs before the opening of Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl.
It’s not a single, but the crowd around me know every single word.
As she makes her way from Femininomenon to After Midnight, the energy gets more incensed.
Chappell Roan is jumping around the stage, her clandestine opening outfit getting stripped to less, less, less.
She doesn’t even say hello — we don’t need any small talk. She’s got us in the palm of her hand.
On Naked in Manhattan, pop’s most famous lesbian sings of first exploring same-sex attraction — “Could go to hell, but we’ll probably be fine.”
Two girls in front of me sing the words to each other before kissing passionately. The crowd around them cheers
Roan is jumping around the stage, her clandestine opening outfit getting stripped to less, less, less.
On Guilty Pleasure she spins around, drops to her knees, and bends over backwards howling “you give me, guilty, guilty, guilty pleasure”.
She kicks her black knee highs in the air, no move ever seeming to lead to as much a tremble in that all-powerful booming vocal.
It looks like she’s having as much — if not more — fun than those of us crying and sweating as we jump, dance, scream-sing.
For HOT TO GO!, a track Roan for which created her own YMCA-style dance, it feels as though the 80,000 people attending this festival are here in the main arena with their hands over their heads following along. “Ireland always has it,” she quips.
The all-female band (it’s a Femininomenon, get the memo?) match Roan’s energy, at various times dancing and jump along with her.
But there are also quiet moments, like on Coffee, where this heart-on-her-sleeve sapphic superstar leaves the crowd to sing a verse as she seems too choked up to continue.
The bulk of Friday night‘s all-hits, no-filler setlist comes from her one and only album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, but the two new singles, The Giver and Subway, don’t leave us worried for what’s in store.
Sweat is pouring from every pore in this tight crowd, pink cowboy hats waving in the air, fans clacking as we come together in the final moments for Pink Pony Club.
A fan records the performance of Chappell Roan performing on the main stage at Electric Picnic on Friday. Picture: Larry Cummins
“I know you wanted me to stay,” the self-proclaimed Midwest Princess sings, “but I can’t ignore the crazy visions of me in LA…” And thank God she didn’t.
What we’ve all witnessed on Friday night in Stradbally is a pop princess at the height of her powers.
There’s no doubt she should have been headlining this festival — good luck to anyone trying to top this.
Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl
Femininomenon
After Midnight
Naked in Manhattan
Guilty Pleasure
Casual
The Subway
HOT TO GO!
Barracuda (heart cover)
Picture You
Love Me Anyway
The Giver
Red Wine Supernova
Coffee
Good Luck, Babe!
My Kink is Karma
Pink Pony Club
A view of music fans enjoying Chappell Roan performing on the main stage at Electric Picnic on Friday. Picture: Larry Cummins
Laois girls Louise McCarthy, Jessica O’Shaughnessy, and Amy Grady enjoying Chappell Roan performing on the main stage at Electric Picnic on Friday. Picture: Larry Cummins
Young music fans Chloe O’Riordan, Millie Maye, Daniel Rogers, and Ella Murphy enjoying Chappell Roan performing on the main stage at Electric Picnic on Friday. Picture: Larry Cummins