The organiser of a sober festival in Cork has promised to make sure people “have a boogie and connect with others, minus the hangover”. 

Ecstatic Picnic takes place this Sunday, November 12th, in Gaia, Cork City. 

Organiser Naoise Galvin told Lunchtime Live the sober festival is “bridging the world of wellness with rave culture”. 

“It's a space for people to have a boogie, connect with others, minus the hangover,” she said. 

“I loved the feeling of dancing and going out – I didn’t love the hangover the next day.” 

“Music and movement and sound are really powerful – when we consciously move, we create lot of freedom in the mind and body.” 

'It's different from your normal dance'

Natalie, also known as DJ Natmac, is playing at Ecstatic Picnic and said she chooses tracks that “uplift and give a euphoric state”. 

“It's a little bit different from your normal dance,” she said. “It’s tunes that people connect with.” 

She explained many people get the same feeling they get in sober raves as when they’re drinking, but with healthier outcomes. 

“A lot of people talk to us after about raving and that euphoria and the feeling they would get in clubs like Ibiza, except now the feeling lasts way longer. 

“The feeling lasts for days after, and there’s no hangover – people just feel good and it’s a great time.” 

Sober events

There has been a rise in events advertised specifically as sober in recent years, including the Healing Spirit Festival in Cavan. 

Paul Walsh is the founder of sober rave Club Loosen in the Complex Art House, and formed the group based on his own sober experiences in clubs. 

“I moved to Berlin in 2015 and I was going to Berghain, the biggest nightclub in the world,” he explained. 

“For the first 15 minutes I noticed I was quite in my shell, but there was a whole group of people around me dancing. 

"I know a lot of them were on substances but I suppose I knew I was there to dance, and even if I'm a little constricted, I made myself start that process."

'Good energy'

Despite his anxiety being in a club sober, Mr Walsh pushed through and danced.

“The good energy from the night before was still in me, I was not hungover, and I cruised into the next day,” he said. 

“I realised you can party like this. 

“The experience of going to a room of everyone on the same energy of not going on a substance to loosen inhibitions with the whole room on that same energy, really expressing itself, is a good time.” 

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