IT'S NOT all about the music you know. Though the music is throbbing through the vast "picnic" that is Stradbally, from lunchtime until up to 4am tonight and tomorrow night, there's also the comedy, the debate, the food demonstrations, the karaoke, the human rights agenda, the arts exhibitions, the poetry readings and all the fun of the circus to look forward to as well.
But most festival-goers who spoke to The Irish Timesyesterday were looking forward to the bands.
Shaula Conaughton-Deeny (26), from Ballsbridge, Dublin, here with her boyfriend Simon Noone (26) from Greystones, Co Wicklow, was looking forward to My Bloody Valentine, who headline tomorrow in the festival's Electric Arena.
"And also the Congos. They're kind of reggae, from Jamaica. They're playing during the day when everyone is wrecked."
Grace Jones, George Clinton, Franz Ferdinand and the Tindersticks are among the top acts "picnicing" tonight, with the Sex Pistols and My Bloody Valentine among those set to assault ear-drums tomorrow night.
The music starts at 12.30 this afternoon with DJ Kormac on the main stage, finishing at 2am tomorrow on the IMC World Music Stage with Havana Sons.
It starts up again tomorrow at noon with, suitably given the day of the week, the Dublin Gospel Choir and ends at 4am in the Body and Soul area where Orb close this year's proceedings with a 75-minute set.
Among the new events this year will be cookery demonstrations with Rachel Allen starting at 2pm, to be followed by Kevin Thornton, Derry Clarke, Aine Maguire and Denis Cotter today, and Michelin-star winning Dylan McGrath among those wielding their mezzalunas tomorrow afternoon.
The Spoken Word area could be a festival in its own right, with everything from comedy to debatesand poetry readings. Among the highlights will be readings by writers who have contributed to an Amnesty International series celebrating the 60th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights.
At 4pm this evening there will be readings by Hugo Hamilton, Irish Timescolumnist Ann Marie Hourihane, Kevin Barry and Roddy Doyle, while tomorrow evening Claire Keegan, Mark O'Halloran, Glenn Patterson and Booker-prize winner Ann Enright will read. These sessions will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by features editor of The Irish TimesHugh Linehan.
Tomorrow morning, Ryan Tubridy will host a review of the papers "with his good friends Clint Velour And The Camenbert Quartet" in the spoken word area.
There will also be GAA karaoke, where the enthusiastic can attempt to emulate hero of sports commentary Michael Ó Muircheartaigh accompanying footage from GAA matches.
The comedy tent, which has always been a huge draw at the festival, will this evening see Des Bishop headline at 8pm, with Jason Byrne headlining tomorrow at the same time.
And there's so much more . . . including the Arcadia, which will be shooting lasers and flame balls into the air accompanied by DJs; the Lost Vagueness Asylum with such insanities as a casino and recovery lounge "complete with hospital beds" where people can take a rest; the outdoor O2 Blueroom with performers dancing and bending on five-metre poles; and the silent disco where people dance to music on headphones in apparent silence. And for children, there will be puppet shows, arts and crafts, dance workshops and creative writing sessions.