festival hopes MCD boss hopeful Electric Picnic will go ahead this summer with additional acts booked

Denis Desmond, the boss of MCD, is optimistic the Electric Picnic and Longitude music festivals will go ahead this summer.

"There is no reason other than logistics around the roll-out of the vaccines here why this summer cannot happen," he said.

"I am hugely optimistic and I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be back this summer staging concerts."

Mr Desmond said additional acts have been booked for the 70,000-capacity Electric Picnic this September with plans to announce the full line-up around St Patrick's Day.

The 4pc of unsold tickets will be put on sale then, with 96pc of those who bought tickets for last year's cancelled event having held on to them.

It was scheduled to include The Chemical Brothers, Lewis Capaldi, Snow Patrol and Picture This.

The Covid-19 pandemic has shut down the live music business around the world since March last year.

Asked when music fans can expect MCD concerts again, Mr Desmond said: "We have to get back this summer," but ruled out stadium gigs.

"I don't see any major acts touring this year," he said.

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