Ones to watch

Black Eyed Peas
Just when you thought Black Eyed Peas couldn’t get any better, they go and unleash something as brilliantly bonkers as ‘The Time (Dirty Bit)’ – a song so utterly outrageous it could only come from the Californian electro/hip hop collective. While some may scoff at their headlining credentials, you only need look at their phenomenal Super Bowl halftime show this year for all the proof you need: these guys can get a crowd moving like nobody else. The David Guetta-produced ‘I Gotta Feeling’ has emerged as a signature summer anthem and is just one of many irresistible numbers in the Peas’ arsenal. Bring your dancing shoes because you will be cutting a rug come Friday night.

The Strokes
Fresh from appearing on Ellen DeGeneres’ show (she has a soft spot for Julian and the boys), The Strokes are THE band countless thousands of festival-goers are most looking forward to seeing. Their 2001 debut Is This It was widely regarded by music critics and fans alike as one of the best indie rock albums ever and their fourth LP Angles is the ultimate proof these NYC music and style icons retain their mojo.

Tinie Tempah
The extraordinary Tinie Tempah is busy breaking records and boundaries in British music. His hit single ‘Pass Out’ was the smash hit of 2010. The Ray Ban-wearing rapper has also worked with Swedish House Mafia, Ellie Goulding and Kelly Rowland. Now, the man whose debut album Disc-Overy went straight to No. 1 in October will bring a touch of South London style to Kildare in July. A must-see...

Deadmau5
If you only see one DJ sporting a giant mouse head this year, you best make it Deadmau5. The past 12 months have seen 30 year-old Canadian Joel Thomas Zimmerman enjoy a meteoric rise, playing shows to packed Irish crowds in The Olympia and The O2 along the way. Expect crowd-pleasers such as ‘Sofi Needs A Ladder’ and new track ‘HR 8938 Cephei’ to provide a pulsating soundtrack when Deadmau5 hits Punchestown on Saturday.

Foo Fighters
Is there a band more comfortable in front of thousands of festival-goers than Dave Grohl and friends? Simply put, The Foo Fighters live for this shit. As relevant as ever, latest album Wasting Light has reinforced the Foos’ standing as one of the world’s outstanding rock outfits. Listen up!

The Minutes
Having played an astonishing 11 gigs in three days at last year’s SXSW festival, this Dublin trio aren’t scared of hard work. Further graft paid offf with the release of excellent debut album Marcata, currently riding high in the Irish album charts. Their time is now. Do not miss out on a remarkable Irish phenomenon in the making.

Imelda May
A retro throwback in the best possible way, no summer festival would be complete without the sultry sounds of Ms. May. The impressively-quiffed chart-topping starlet was one of the many top Irish acts who put on her glad rags to stunning effect when she performed for Barack Obama during his visit to Dublin last month. With her infectious rockabilly stylings, the hugely loved Dubliner is unlikely to stop moving until all she surveys is bopping and jiving along with her. And they will...

The Vaccines
Having placed third in BBC’s highly influential Sound of 2011 poll, and appeared on our very own ‘Hot for 2011’ list, London jangle merchants The Vaccines are one of the most talked-about bands of the moment. They recently toured the USA with fellow Oxegen-bound indie kings Arctic Monkeys. What should you expect from The Vaccines when they take to the stage on Saturday? Adrenaline, energy and noise. Lots of wonderful noise...

The National
Legend has is that Matt Berninger is so afraid of crowds he downs a bottle of wine before each performance to ease the nerves. That might go some way towards explaining his stage-diving antics when the band played to an overawed crowd in the Olympia Theatre in 2007. Since then, the love affair between Ireland and The National has continued apace, with the Brooklyn-based quintet making regular appearances on these shores, wowing delighted audiences every time. They’re still as hot as ever...

Pendulum
Hailing from Perth, Australia, the drum ‘n’ bass maestros already have two platinum albums under their belt. Now they are back with Immersion – their most enthralling work to date. Referencing heavy metal, dubstep and house they are a hugely impressive proposition live! Being immersed never felt so good.

BeyoncÉ
Sixteen Grammy Awards, over 75 million worldwide album sales as a solo artist and four multi-platinum LPs – no question about it, the world is Crazy in Love with the remarkable Beyoncé. Michelle Obama has presented her with a Billboard Award. Bono and Stevie Wonder have swooned at her feet in awe. And her Sunday night performance is set to be the icing on this year’s magnificently rich Punchestown cake. The blistering new single, ‘Run The World (Girls)’, is a stunning taster from Lady B’s much-anticipated fourth solo album. The album’s due out this summer and Oxegen fans will be amongst the first to hear her new material performed live. Be there.

Primal scream
One of the authentic rock’n’roll outfits of their generation, Primal Scream have consistently been riding high through the ‘90s and the ‘00s.
These boys have attitude in abundance. You’ll see it in spades at Oxegen, where they perform their landmark, genre-defining album Screamadlica in its enteriety. Scarily the record is 20 years old – but it still sounds as fresh and compelling as ever!

Ryan Sheridan
Monaghan native Ryan Sheridan is one the year’s brightest new Irish talents. Recently completing his first national headline tour and an impressive Late Late Show appearance to boot, he also performed with distinction for President Obama in College Green. He descends on Oxegen this summer with his acclaimed debut album The Day You Live Forever – a top five hit since its release in May – readying him for the big time.

OFWGKTA
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA) have gone from underground sensations to indie rap monsters in just a few months. They’ve even graced the front cover of the US industry bible, Billboard magazine. The alternative hip hop collective from Los Angeles is led by rapper/producer Tyler The Creator, and includes rhymers Hodgy Beats, Earl Sweatshirt and Domo Genesis. The 11-strong hip hop crew’s energy and uncompromising lyrics have seen them compared to Eminem. Their edgy combination of beat and verse makes OFWGKTA an Oxegen must-see.