It's not all about the music. The Electric Picnic festival continues today in Stradbally, where one of the highlights will be a monologue from the son of one of Ireland's most controversial priests.

The budding thespian is Ross Hamilton, the offspring of the controversial union between Fr Michael Cleary and his housekeeper Phyllis Hamilton.

Last seen in award-winning documentary At Home With The Clearys, Hamilton appears in Mike Poblete's The New York Monologues, a series of fast-paced pieces set in post 9/11 New York city.

"I play a homeless guy on the subway. It's a small role and I'm one of a number of other actors appearing but it's building my confidence and getting me used to performing in front of an audience," he told the Sunday Tribune.

First staged at Dublin's International Bar in early summer for a week-long run, it was extended to a month, leading to an invitation to bring it to Electric Picnic.

Hamilton (32) credits his late father with giving him his acting abilities. "There is definitely something in the blood from my dad. I know I'm good at public speaking and that definitely comes from my dad. People have also remarked that when I speak, I have my hands in the air as if I'm preaching so that again has to come from my dad. Maybe I have that same need for attention."

Back with the music, the festival has been an enormous success so far. Last night, combining tracks from his solo career with the hits collection of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson and his band brought a touch of summer to a decidedly grey Co Laois.

Despite his trials with hallucinogenic drugs, the musical genius behind Pet Sounds managed to sing in tune and at time gave signs he might be enjoying himself.

Madness, one of pop's most reliable ensembles, finished the night.

Triggered by opening track 'One Step Beyond', suddenly the sodden fields of Stradbally were awash with middle-aged men doing the Nutty Boys dance to '80s' hits including 'Baggy Trousers' and 'Our House'.

Today, punters can look forward to sets from Fleet Foxes, Florence and The Machine, Oklahoma's Flaming Lips, Irish act Bell X1, and headliners Basement Jaxx.

Despite the watery nature of the ground underfoot at Stradbally, punters seemed to be taking it in their stride.

"The muck hasn't put us off so far. There's a huge difference between Electric Picnic and other festivals. People are way friendlier. I think that's because they don't sell day tickets. People come down for the entire weekend so we're all in it together," said Peter Joyce (18) from Galway.

His friend Mike Mitchell, also 18 and from Galway, added: "And it's not just about music. There's comedy, the arts, you can chill out and watch a film in the cinema tent."

One event they won't be able to see is today's All-Ireland hurling final. Festival promoter John Reynolds said: "Last year we showed one of the matches and it got a little bit raucous in the cinema tent. We had as many complaints as compliments about it so we decided this year not to do it. But there's many pubs in Stradbally showing it who would welcome the custom."