No Fish out of water Jerry is a true champion of diversity
English-born entertainer uses his Electric Sideshow to preach unity
Roll up, roll up! Music lovers making the annual pilgrimage to Stradbally are in for a treat next weekend should they choose to venture to the deeper darker corners of the Electric Picnic.
So says the ringmaster of the Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow, who once again sets up to lure festival goers off the beaten path at this year’s picnic.
Returning for the sixth year running, Jerry Fish’s majestic, magnificent and at moments chilling Electric sideshow promises to deliver all manner of musical pleasures and awes.
Fish spoke to The Beat about his ever growing pet project.
“I really do believe that festivals are the last bastion of community,” he said.
“What we try to do at the Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow is show a different side of Ireland; not the Pope, not the cottage with the thatched roof, not the shootings and stabbings you hear about on the news. “I guess we see ourselves as something of an antidote to the corporate money obsessed society that we live in – it’s pure entertainment, laughter and good rock
‘n’ roll.
Fish and the Electric Sideshow preach unity through diversity, lessons he learned soon after moving to Ireland as a youngster.
“I grew up in Dublin in the 80’s having come from South London and was really drawn to the punk and new romantic scenes that were very much alive here.
“There were also a lot of really exciting things happening in the gay community back then too – I’m very lucky to still have friends like Panti and Veda from that time.
“All those scenes existed side by side and have mixed together down through the years and we want to celebrate that mix of culture.
“Unity through diversity is our motto.”
The Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow idea was born soon after Jerry’s very first Picnic.
Invited down by a then little known artist by the name of Damien Rice, who had sang on Jerry Fish and The Mudbug Club’s first album, he fell in love with the atmosphere and the ethos of the festival.
Though he was originally told by organisers that he wasn’t a good fit, he found a home at The Salty Dog stage, which he soon made his own.
After successes at The Salty Dog, Fish was eventually afforded his very own corner of Electric Picnic – The Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow.
“It’s pure tenacity really,” he said, when asked how his idea became a reality.
“You will get something if you really want it, the important thing is not to give up, sticking to your guns and going for it regardless.”
Fish is involved at all stages of the creative process, right down to the erecting and painting of the sets and stages.
By the time this year’s festival kicks off, he will have spent two weeks in a tent on site.
“I’m actually in the process of painting two big screens for a stage we have down there this year,” he said.
“I don’t think people realise how involved in the physical build I am, I spend two weeks down at the Picnic before it all kicks off.
“It’s something I have always enjoyed doing, I used to work in the building trade so I’m quite good with my hands.
“It’s a great way to get away from things, to dream and to write.
“I was a beach bum for years too so I’m used to sleeping in a tent!”
The main focus of Fish’s at The Picnic is the curation of music at his stages.
He hand picks the bands and acts who perform over the weekend while carefully avoiding what he likes to call ‘blands’.
“There are so many bands who just release really bland music, I call them blands at the moment,” he laughed.
“Their music doesn’t seem real to me, you know a lot of it seems to be song after song about fake love affairs.
“That’s why unearthing new talent is such a thrill for me.”
Jerry Fish is of course best known as the frontman of An Emotional Fish and Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club.
His current guise as ringleader to the madhouse that is the Electric Sideshow is built on a career as a songwriter and performer.
“I love music and I hate music,” he said. “I still write and record a lot but releasing music is something I find quite difficult.
“Having had the experience of working with a major label when records were selling means that I have some perspective on what’s happening in music now.
“I’m not a fan of Spotify at all, I think it’s great for the consumer it doesn’t really benefit the artist.
“I’m very cautious now about releasing material now, I’ll pick and choose very carefully, like many other artists.”
Expect to hear an eclectic mix of Fish’s own recordings alongside a variety of sounds from new and established artists at his stages this year.
lfull Festival line-up as well as further information on the Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow can be found over at Electricpicnic.ie.