Well hello, Lucy C has returned 🙂 I’m bringing you another hot drop on The Ebow Edit – and trust me, this one’s giving festival main character energy. Between Electric Picnic chaos and AI being the moment, there’s A LOT to spill.
So grab your iced oat vanilla latte, throw on a bucket hat, and let’s dive into the trends shaping culture, comms, and your brand.
Electric Picnic = Small Biz Playground
Okay, so Electric Picnic isn’t just a festival. It’s a whole ecosystem of vibes, glitter, and people who actually want to stumble across cool, random things. Whether you’re a small or big business, government or private, and you’re not thinking about it? Babes, you’re missing out.
Here’s why:
Content Goldmine
Everyone is snapping, TikToking, and posting the most random (but aesthetic) moments. If your brand space looks cute, weird, or interactive = FREE promo.
Pro tip: think glitter stations, quirky photo ops, or a setup so scroll-stopping that people have to tag you.
Why it matters for your brand:
When people share your brand on socials, it acts as word-of-mouth on steroids.
You don’t just get eyeballs, you get trusted eyeballs – because their friends already believe in what they post. UGC is sticky, authentic, and way more convincing than a billboard. If you design your space with social media sharing in mind, you’re essentially building a free ad campaign powered by your audience.
IRL Is Back (and Thriving)
Festivals are peak “yes” energy. People are saying yes to free samples, yes to weird convos, yes to glitter in places it shouldn’t be, because why not?!
Brands that hit it OFF:
- Red Bull handed out free bucket hats upon entry to their sponsored stage.
- Lipton Ice Tea served peach + lemon ice tea samples (free hydration = happy tears).
- Kash Beauty + Boots rolled up with glam vans for makeovers, because no one wants to walk around the festival looking like a three year old did their hair and makeup – no thank you.
- FM104 asked campers their biggest icks, fave acts and top food vendors (The infamous Big Blue Bus pizza gets a 100/10 from myself)
Why it matters for your brand:
IRL activations give your audience a memory, not just a message.
When people meet you in person, they attach feelings to your brand: fun, helpful, exciting. That emotional connection outlasts a 15-second ad. If you’re looking for long-term loyalty (not just one-time sales or a one-hit wonder), these face-to-face moments are your jackpot.
Brand Awareness (Without the Cringe)
Festivals create memes that can last a lifetime. If your brand creates a cool or funny moment, people will share it, rave about it, and even bring it up with friends years and years later!
Ideas:
- A cozy chill zone
- A glitter/tattoo station
- “Spin the Wheel” giveaways
- A QR code surprise (playlist? discount? secret meme stash?)
Why it matters for your brand:
Awareness campaigns at festivals can feel salesy very quickly – but if you build an experience instead of a sales pitch, your brand feels cool, not corporate. That kind of social currency travels fast: people don’t just remember your logo, they associate you with good vibes, and that gets shared in group chats, Insta stories, and “you had to be there” convos.
Niche > Main Stage
You don’t need to headline the Heineken Stage. Sponsor a charging point, set up a wellness tent, or collab on an artsy corner. Small spaces = deeper vibes. EP is all about showcasing the small, weird and wonderful brands and acts as well as the well-known ones, it’s the perfect opportunity to stand out and be different.
Why it matters for your brand:
Big brands dominate main stages, but small brands thrive in niches.
Smaller activations let you connect with your people – the ones most likely to follow, buy, and stay loyal. You don’t need mass exposure, you need the right exposure. It’s quality engagement that leads to actual conversions.
We LOVE Sustainability
EP-goers are eco-conscious. If you’re local, handmade, or sustainable – this place is for you. Compostable cups? Irish-made goodies? Ethical sourcing? BIG YES.
Why it matters for your brand:
Sustainability isn’t a “nice-to-have” at festivals, it’s an identity marker.
When you show your eco values authentically, festival goers see themselves in your brand. That means they’re more likely to choose you over competitors who don’t align with their lifestyle and values. Plus, we need to mind our humble abode that is Mother Earth.
Freebies & Exclusives (aka Currency of Festivals)
Free samples, festival-only merch, or QR codes with cheeky discounts = winning.
Why it matters for your brand:
Freebies aren’t just throwaway items – they’re memory triggers.
When someone wears your bucket hat six months later, they remember where they got it. Exclusivity also drives urgency: festival-only drops create FOMO, which fuels follows, sign-ups, and purchases now (not “someday”).
Don’t Stop at the Weekend
Festival’s over? Well the marketing certainly is not. Follow up with recap vids, thank-you posts, or discounts for “festival friends.” That’s how you turn good vibes into loyal customers.
Why it matters for your brand:
Events give you a first impression, but follow-up builds the relationship.
By engaging after the festival, you extend the lifecycle of your campaign, deepen connections, and nudge new fans closer to becoming paying customers. Think of it as the afterparty – that’s where the real bonds happen.
AI Glow-Up: ChatGPT-5 is Here
Okay, switching gears. While we’re talking about future-proofing your brand – AI is cooking. ChatGPT-5 is live and it’s not just a nerdy upgrade. It’s basically your new creative BFF.
Seriously Human Tone
No more robotic vibes. GPT-5 gets nuance, sarcasm, even Gen Z humour (yes, it now speaks Gen Z lingo and understands “slay but make it B2B”). Perfect for ads, captions, or subject lines that actually land.
Why it matters for your brand:
If you’re the marketing manager, social media exec and PPC expert for your brand, it can help give you a foundation you can then build from, so you can save time and focus on the high pay off parts.
Need help figuring out how AI can best support your marketing? We can help with copy and tone of voice to make sure you’re using the right AI prompts appropriately.
It’s Visual Now
Upload a product shot or campaign poster and GPT-5 can give feedback, reframe copy, or pitch new angles. It’s context-aware – meaning AI is now vibing with both text and visuals.
Why it matters for your brand:
This means faster campaign ideation with less back-and-forth.
Designers, copywriters, and marketers can collaborate with AI to push creative further, faster. With real ideas coming from the experts, GPT-5 can provide a helping hand with the foundations.
Final Thoughts From Yours Truly
Electric Picnic is your main character moment. ChatGPT-5 is your new creative sidekick. Put them together? You’ve got IRL engagement and digital innovation covered.
So whether you’re slaying skincare, snacks, or strategy – the rules are simple:
Show up.
Make it memorable.
Keep the vibes alive post-event.
Catch you on the flip
Glossary of Terms
- Festival main character energy – living life as if you are the protagonist of your own story, i.e. the main character and everyone else around you are side characters.
- UGC – User-generated content.
- FYP – For You Page on TikTok.
- FOMO – Fear of missing out.
- IRL – In real life.
- Peak “yes” energy – peak: maximum greatness, peak yes energy: yes to everything.
- EP – Electric Picnic.
- Slay but make it B2B – Greatly impress or amuse, but in a business-like professional way.