Electric Picnic goes Roxy and Leftfield

Veteran pop stars Roxy Music and 1990s dance act Leftfield are among the acts which will play this year’s Electric Picnic.

The line-up, which was announced at lunchtime, contains the usual eclectic mixture of old and new acts along with acts that span the musical spectrum from rap to folk.

Also confirmed are the newly reformed Public Image Limited (PiL) with lead singer Johnny Lydon - formerly of the Sex Pistols who headlined the festival in 2008 - and Jonsi, the lead singer from Sigur Ros, a band that also headlined in 2008.

Bristol hip hop legends Massive Attack, LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip, who also play Oxegen, are making it a very dance-orientated line-up this year. Other bands with a dance-orientation who will be coming to Stradbally include German electro house duo Booka Shade, Toronto duo Crystal Castles, electronic drone rockers The Big Pink, Mancunian veteran electronic act 808 state and Irish hip hoppers Messiah J and The Expert.

The man known as the “Godfather of rap”, Gil Scott-Heron, will bring a seven-piece band to Stradbally.

Choice music prize award-winner Adrian Crowley, rockabilly singer Imelda May and Villagers, who are creating a big buzz with their imminent debut album, make up the home contingent along with The Frames, who celebrate their 20th anniversary as a band this year; Paul Brady; and Afro-Celt Soundsystem, among others.

Tickets for the festival go on sale this Friday and are priced at €240 each, the same price as last year, and each adult can bring up to two children for free. The festival takes place at Stradbally between September 3rd and 5th.