21 new acts announced for Electric Picnic
What better way to toast a 40th anniversary than amidst the humming horizons of Stradbally. And that is exactly what Debbie Harry and co. plan to do this summer. Newly crowned ‘NME Icons’, BLONDIE will celebrate by unleashing their infectious anthems upon Picnickers for the first time ever! Undeniably one of the most pioneering and influential bands of their time, the supreme punk/new wave advocates will christen their Electric Picnic debut with their glamorous charisma, striking stage persona and stunning vocal vibrancy. So in the words of Ms Harry herself, “you gotta see her, go insane and out of your mind … “
“Nothing Compares” to a performance than that of the mesmerising and uncompromising SINEAD O’CONNOR, as fans from last Electric Picnic outing will testify. Ranked among the most distinctive and controversial singers of the last few decades, Sinead never disappoints on performance and jaw dropping delivery. And with a new studio album ‘The Vishnu Room’- a telling tale of where she is in life today – in the offing, fans can expect even more from Sinead.
Scottish post-rock band MOGWAI, are pumped up and ready to set their newest ‘Rave Tapes’ ablaze on craving ears this Picnic. This will be the quintet’s third time to take to Stradbally and once again aim to transmit their spellbinding, soothing serenades across the land. With a dose of dynamically contrasting, lengthy guitar-based instrumentals, dowsed in heavy distortion effects, Braithwaite and co. will no doubt leave festival goers mellowed and Mog-merised. After all, they never fail to deliver ‘Happy Songs For Happy People’.
Former LCD Soundsystem front man, JAMES MURPHY makes a welcome return to Stradbally following his stomping DJ set back in 2012. Interesting Picnic trivia: Murphy and half of fellow headlining Picnic act OutKast, Andre 3000 collaborated on Gorillaz single ‘Do Ya Thing’. ‘The Long Goodbye: LCD Soundsystem Live at Madison Square Garden’ was recorded at LCD Soundsystem’s final show three years ago and will be released on vinyl next week.
Make sure you pack your milkshakes, Picknicers as R&B Queen KELIS is leaving ‘the yard’ for the rolling fields of Stradbally!Multi-award winning artist Kelis released her first studio album ‘Kaleidoscope’in 1998 and since then has achieved international acclaim for her art, having received a BRIT Award for the Best International Breakthrough Act and an NME Award for Best R&B/Soul Act in 2001. Kelis has just released her 6th studio album ‘Food’ which will certainly give fans something tasty to digest. Armed with a mixed bag of jazz, soul, urban and funk musical influences, she is sure to be a tasty treat for Picnickers this year.
Fans get a second bite of the cherry when the beguiling NENEH CHERRY returns to Ireland to grace the stage this year. With a new sound but still the same explosive talent of latter years that brought us the international smash hits of ‘Buffalo Stance’, ‘Man Child’ and ‘7 Seconds’, she is very much back with a bang in the form of her first solo album in two decades. ’Blank Project’ is produced by electronica wizard Four Tet and featuring British post-rock space-dance duo RocketNumberNine. With a unique funky talent, from punk and jazz to dance, expect to see one of the juiciest and refreshing performances from Cherry, to date.
There’s nothing frightening about Indie rock band THE HORRORS being added to this year’s Picnic line-up. The five-piece stunned crowds at their last Picnic performance when they debuted a previously unheard single ‘Endless Blue’. History was made that day in Stradbally. Will it be repeated? Their new album ‘Luminous’ was released earlier this month.
Having delivered an electrifying performance in 2009, Picnickers will be elated to see the return of DUKE DUMONT. Renowned for his musical versatility, this dazzling DJ and mastermind music producer has remixed a myriad of songs from Lily Allen’s ‘The Fear’to Bat For Lashes ‘Daniel’, but festival goers may know him best for his chart topping single ‘Need You(100%)’ feat. A*M*E, which not only peaked at the top of the UK Singles Chart in April 2013, but was also nominated for Best Dance Recording for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014. Duke Dumont was once more topping the UK singles charts with his new single ‘I Got You’ feat. Jax Jones reaffirming he is one royal Duke!
Dominican Republic-born, Florida-raised artist, George Lewis Jr, AKA TWIN SHADOW, shall showcase his multifaceted, chill-wave creations to Picnic goers this year where he will deliver and ‘Confess’ his current album with his bolder and fuller sounding offerings. Mr Lewis will leave festival fans feeling uplifted enough to take on the world and soar to greater heights with his anthem-synth grooves.
Known to be one of Ireland’s best live acts, HAM SANDWICH really are the best thing since sliced bread. The combination of Niamh Farrell’s powerful yet sweet vocals paired with the contrasting baritone of Podge McNamee makes for perfect ingredients. And it really wouldn’t be a proper picnic basket without the very tasty Ham Sandwich!
This summer, we’re sure there’s no place you’d ‘Rather Be’, than dancing your socks off in Stradbally to the sounds of London-based electronic dance sensation CLEAN BANDIT! Armed with an eclectic mix of instruments from sax to decks, cellos and synth, this fantastic foursome are known for their exciting fusions of electronic and classical sounds and have shot to fame in recent months with their chart topping, smash hit single ‘Rather Be’. With their much anticipated debut album’ New Eyes’due for release at the end of the month, this is an act you won’t want to miss.
Grunge band duo, DRENGE are relatively new on the music scene but already have a UK tour and a ferocious festival line-up tightly tucked under their belt. The siblings garnered attention last year after they were endorsed as an ‘awesome band’ in a resignation letter from a Labour MP! Politics aside, Drenge’s single ‘Bloodsports’ was pinned in Zane Lowe’s top 100 hottest records without a flinch or flicker to their exuberant riffs and vocal displays. Picnickers are in for a head thrashing treat, with deliveries from their self-titled, debut album.
Now here comes a band that will undoubtedly leave Picnic punk-rock fans enthusiastically exhausted! At the ripe age of 18, THE ORWELLS will duly bring a breath of charismatically-chaotic, fresh air to the bill. The spirit of this five-piece, Chicago based band, is captured in their homage paying anthems, retro rock and roll resonances and Spiderman stage antics. Festival goers will without fail be leaving their set saying, “Remember When….”
Oxfordshire band, GLASS ANIMALS, are voyaging up the music vine as a band on the brink, a band who present something mysterious and special, and so the Picnic is set to witness something eccentrically electric this year. Glass Animals’ sound is hard to pinpoint with deliverances that embrace traces of post-guitar band, R&B, indie tones and peculiarly charming lyrics. Their latest track ‘Gooey’, will leave those who witness the four-piece, feeling just that. … In the best possible way of course!
WOLF ALICE began as a solo show fronted by Ellie Roswell, then one became four. With Clash Magazine describing their sounds as the “lovechild of folk and grunge” and BBC crowning the four piece alt rock band as the ‘most blogged about artist in the UK’ they really are a must see act for EP 2014. Their latest release ‘Creature Songs’ is due out later this month.
Following the release of THE DISTRICTS EP in January 2014, these fresh-faced young Pennsylvanian minstrels have already made a name for themselves with their diverse indie-folk/ blues sound. We are watching this space and expecting to see and hear much more of them over the coming months.
Cross continental rock band, UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA are coming to Laois! The American/ New Zealand group released their album ‘II’ last year which was nominated for the 2014 Taite Music Prize in New Zealand. It will be Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s first time at the Picnic, make sure you’re a part of the story.
Don’t be fooled by VANCOUVER SLEEP CLINIC’schilly located, lethargic sounding name; here stands 17 year old, Brisbane born Bettinson, a young man who effortlessly mystifies the mind and warms the cockles of hearts further than the warm setting of Australia. Bettinson’s flawless falsetto vocal acrobatics, synthetic instrumentation and heartfelt lyrics will transport any audience to a tranquil musical paradise.
This is a band we know little about, but their music says it all. Mysterious, electro newbies VAULTS, have emerged from London with a banquet of smouldering sounds and electronic elegances. With a musical presence that will surround and spellbind the senses, Picnickers are without doubt in for a musical delight and will be left hungry for more.
Be prepared to feel tingles in your spine as the young New Orleans blues singer songwriter BENJAMIN BOOKER takes to the stage. Booker’s raspy soulful voice is described as being a “well mixed cocktail of punk folk and new Orleans Blues” A recent performance on the David Letterman show and a handful of dates opening for Jack White reaffirms that this twenty year old’s star is definitely on the ascent. His debut album is scheduled for release after his Picnic performance.
Electro – infused soul singer MOKO makes music you want to sing. Described by NME as “London’s answer to Massive Attack”, the 21 year old soul singer’s presence and performance ‘Count on me’ is something you will not want to miss.
If you haven’t already bought your ticket you have until midnight on the 4th July to book your special €194.00 priced tickets.