Electric Picnic bill unveiled

After months of speculation, the official line-up has been announced for this year’s Electric Picnic, which returns to Stradbally Hall Estate from September 4 to 6.
The headline attractions include the newly reformed Orbital, Flaming Lips, Basement Jaxx, Madness, Klaxons, Bell X1, Fleet Foxes and MGMT who are playing the Picnic as one of only a handful of European summer festival dates.

Also confirmed to make their first ever Irish appearance – it’s only taken ‘em 33 years! – are US disco legends Chic.

There’s real strength in depth with Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Seasick Steve, 2 Many DJs, Lisa Hannigan, Explosions In The Sky, ABC, Damien Dempsey, Alabama 3, Bat For Lashes, Zero 7, Erol Alkan, Roots Manuva, The Sugarhill Gang, Billy Bragg, Lykke Li, Imelda May, Magazine, Echo & The Bunnymen, Moderat, Simian Mobile Disco, Four Tet, Magnetic Man, Noze, Heartbreak, Halfset, Okkervil River, Magnolia Electric Company, Low Anthem, Villagers, Tunng, Jape, Whitest Boy Alive, Micachu & The Shapes, The Walkmen, Dublin Gospel Choir, Quantic Soul Orchestra, Jazzanova and Michael Nyman (who’s bringing a mini-orchestra with him) and audio-visual artist Chris Cunningham also appearing over the three days.

Meanwhile, we’re delighted to announce the return of the Hot Press Chatroom, which in the past has allowed festival-goers to get up close and personal with the likes of Bloc Party, Primal Scream, New Order and Elbow and promises more of the same this year.
Also returning are The Comedy Tent, David McWilliams’ Leviathan, Body & Soul, Thispopbaby’s Palace of Performance, Myth & Discotheque and the Greencrafts area which proved such a big hit in ’08.
Broadening the Picnic out yet further are underground LA performance art troupe Lucent Dossier Experience who’ll be presenting their interactive Water Show (“a 1960s Treehouse Jungle World complete with water stage, rope ladders, unique aerial apparatuses and wild eccentric characters), and Glastonbury favourites Arcadia whose “unique space-aged 360 degree venue complete with robots and junk metal art installations, circus acts, trapeze performers and fire spinners” should give those U2 fellas a run for their money.

Although not in today’s batch of confirmed acts, we wouldn’t be surprised if Morrissey, David Byrne and Brian Wilson are added to the bill over the coming weeks.
Following the pre-Christmas Early Bird offer, tickets go back on general sale on Friday April 17 priced €240 (standard weekend including camping) and €480 (family ticket for two adults and up to four kids under 12 with access to specially designated family campsite). Access to the Campervan Park costs an additional €60.
Note that there are no single day tickets.