JIM CARROLLon music

The Daily Ticket, outstanding – literally – in its own field

IT'S TIME to return to the shed. As you read this, a team of Ticket writers, production geniuses and photographers will be working on the first of the weekend's Daily Ticketsupplements at the Electric Picnic in Stradbally, Co Laois. Since 2007, the Daily Tickethas been bringing Picnic-goers news, reviews, features, previews, line-up changes, award-winning photos and much more besides, on what's has happened or is due to happen in those 600 acres behind the walls of Stradbally Hall. Naturally, we cover the music – hey, the Picnic is about the music, you know – but we also keep an eye on the arts stuff, food stalls, talks, debates and other chi-chi extras. We also throw in some foreign news, as in news from the outside world, just to remind you that there's other stuff going on too.

As always, the magazine will be distributed free of charge to thousands of festival fans in the campsites and main arena from 10am on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Inspired by the Austin Chronicle's free daily supplement, which they publish during the SXSW music festival in Texas every year, the Daily Tickethas become one of our favourite Ticketevents of the year and not just because we get to gallivant in Co Laois for a weekend. As we saw last year with reader reaction to Conor Pope's food reviews, people do take note of what we recommend and follow it up, which is always gratifying to see. You could say that the Daily Ticketis outstanding in its own field, but we prefer to say that it's definitely the best daily magazine produced in a shed in the middle of an Irish field.

Keep up with events at Electric Picnic at irishtimes.com/topics/ electric-picnic-2011/

Now playing 

Moths Blisters(Self release) The more we hear from Newbridge teen Jack Colleran, the more impressed we are. Superbly pitched electronic beats with oodles of heart and soul. (Body Soul, Sunday)

The Unthanks Here's the Tender Coming(EMI) Rachel and Becky Unthank and their band fire up the room (or main stage) with salty Geordie accents and fantastic, rich folk blues. (Main stage, Sunday)

Black Devil Disco Club Disco Club EP(Rephlex) Deep, classic spooky Italo disco and electro from the peerless Bernard Fevre. (Body Soul, Saturday) Arcade Fire Funeral(Rough Trade) Because we're hoping their return to Stradbally will be every bit as good as that amazing 2005 show. (Main stage, Saturday)

Shit Robot From the Cradle to the Rave(DFA) The finest in infectious house, techno, disco and electro from the Marcus Lambkin one-man show. (Little Big Tent, Friday)

New music

IFAN DAFYDD

Ifan Dafydd does his magic with No Good(a ghostly reworking of the Amy Winehouse tune) and Miranda. Loads of radio love already for the producer from Gilles Peterson and Jamie xx, who dropped No Goodin his BBC Radio One Essential Mixlast weekend.

Twitter.com/ifandatydd

THIS IS LAURA

Fronted by north London based duo Kitty Dalton and Sarah Gavin, This Is Laurakeep it sweet and folky with some sharply pitched nuggets of their own as well as inside-out covers of unlikely songs like Slipknot's Wait and Bleed. Catch them at the Electric Picnic on Sunday at 2pm.

Thisislaura.co.uk

GHOST OUTFIT

Art students Jack Hardman and Mike Benson are the pair behind Ghost Outfit's heavyweight fuzzy sounds which will make you jump. The duo's I Was Good When I Was Youngfrom their Young GhostsEP for Sways Records is one of the year's most boisterous releases.

Facebook. com/ghostoutfit