Electric Picnic: Blur confirmed as headliners for Stradbally

Blur have been confirmed as one of the headline acts for this year's Electric Picnic.

The former Britpop stalwarts have just released their first original album as a foursome since 1999.

The Magic Whip has been both a critical and commercial success to date. It has gone straight to No.1 in both the Irish and British charts. Last week The Magic Whip outsold the five albums below it combined.

Also announced today for the festival in Stradbally is singer Sam Smith who in just three years has won both Brit and Grammy awards and has had No.1 singles in both the UKand US.

Grace Jones, Interpol, James Murphy of LCD Sounds system and FKA Twigs are also among the several dozen acts announced for the festival.

Irish folk supergroup Printers Clips, led by Bell X1's Paul Noonan, Choice award winners The Riptide Movement and Derry-born singer-songwriter Soak are among the Irish acts who have been added to the bill.

The festival’s capacity is likely to be increased to 47,000 this year.

It will mark an expansion of almost 50 per cent since the 2013 event when the capacity was 32,000.

Florence and the Machine and the dance act Underworld were already confirmed along with Manic Street Preachers, Róisín Murphy, Tame Impala, Hot Chip, Belle & Sebastian and Chvrches.

Prices for the festival, which takes place at Stradbally Hall, Co Laois, from September 4th to 6th are priced the same as last year from €154.50 if you can prove you have been to three or more picnics to €194.50 if you have never been before.

At the launch of the festival, promoter Melvin Benn said pre-sales were "very strong" and those who had bought early-bird tickets before the line-up was announced were "well in the five figures".

“This is Ireland’s festival now. It has a huge amount of interest from more and more people. I’m convinced we will sell out. It is very well-priced,” he said.