Electric Picnic line-up announced

As predicted last month in Hot Press, Roxy Music, Public Image Ltd. and The Frames have all been confirmed for slots at the Electric Picnic, which returns to Stradbally Hall from September 3 to 5.

Playing together for the first time in five years, Roxy Music seem to have been engerised by their leader Bryan Ferry guesting on the new Groove Armada album, Black Light. With Ferry joined in the current line-up by original ‘70s members Phil Manzanera and Andy Mackay, expect a generous smattering of classics like ‘Virginia Plain’, ‘Pyjamarama’, ‘Street Life’ and ‘(Do The) Strand’.

Reconvened last year by John Lydon, Public Image Ltd. received rave reviews for their comeback shows in the Brixton Academy, and are about to embark on an American tour, which will bankroll the new album they’re planning to release in the autumn.

As for The Frames, their Electric Picnic appearance is the centerpiece of Glen & Co.’s 20th birthday celebrations.

Joining them on the Stradbally Hall line-up are Massive Attack, LCD Soundsystem, Leftfield, The National, Modest Mouse, Mumford & Sons, Seasick Steve, Hot Chip, Gil Scott-Heron, Fever Ray, Jonsi (Sigur Ros), Fat Freddy’s Drop, The Waterboys, Bad Lieutenant, Crystal Castles, Afro Celt Soundsystem, Booka Shade, The Horrors, Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77, Steve Earle, Beach House, The Big Pink, Low Anthem, Mr. Scruff, Paul Brady, Monotonix, Liquid Liquid, Here We Go Magic, Field Music, Cymande, Dublin Gospel Choir, Messiah J & The Expert, Caribou, Adrian Crowley, Villagers, Redneck Manifesto, New Pornographers, Breakastra & Chali 2NA, Memory Tapes, Steve Mason and more to be added. As opening salvos go, it’s damn impressive!

Off course, the Picnic is as much about the fringe events as it is the music, with comedy, the Body & Soul arena, the Arts Trail, Mindfield Spoken Word, a circus, Lucent Dossier Theatre, Greencrafts and Global Green & Discovery all part of the mix.

Weekend camping tickets priced €240 are available now.