Punk legends The Sex Pistols are among the headline acts confirmed today for this year’s Electric Picnic music festival.
The three-day event in Stradbally Estate, Co Laois, featuring more than 180 acts at the end of August will be the first time the band play in Ireland.
Promoter John Reynolds revealed he was thrilled to have secured their imminent appearance the night before last year's festival was due to kick off.
"The Sex Pistols have never played Ireland. I think there will be a huge irony when they play God Save the Queen to 32,000 Irish fans — that should be worth the price alone," he said.
Irish indie icons My Bloody Valentine are also set to create a stir after organisers confirmed one of the few rare shows they are performing this year will be at Electric Picnic.
It will be the first time in 17 years the band behind Loveless — one of the 1990s most critically-acclaimed and influential indie rock albums — have played on home soil.
Also confirmed are Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros, Goldfrapp, Faust, Tindersticks, New Young Pony Club, Christy Moore, Wilco, Duffy, Underworld, CSS, Sinead O'Connor, The Roots and The Waterboys.
The newly reformed That Petrol Emotion will also be making an exclusive Irish appearance while Conor Oberst (aka Bright Eyes) plays a solo show and Candi Staton promises some feel-good soul.
Weekend tickets, including camping, from August 29 to 31 inclusive cost €240 with family camping tickets — for two adults and up to four children (under 12) — available at €480.
Tickets go on sale from 9am on Friday although fans who attended in previous years, and who are registered on the Electric Picnic website, will be allowed to buy tickets from 6pm tomorrow.
Organisers have promised yet another first for the festival with a new Jazz and World Music Stage catering for the more adventurous and enquiring musical tastes.
The International Comedy Club Stage returns with both new talent and established acts on the world comedy circuit while the Body and Soul Village will provide worn-out revellers with some spiritual healing.
Holistic therapies, yoga, green workshops, tipis and log fires, ambient bean bag lounging and gardens will be on offer complete with soothing chill-out soundtracks.
Undernourished minds can head for the expanded Spoken Word area with renowned poets, theatre and debates including an exploration of 1960s counter-culture hosted by economist and broadcaster David McWilliams. World renowned Lucent Dossier Vaudeville Cirque are among the highlights of the performance art line up.
Foodies can salivate over the Michelin all star culinary cast including Rachel Allen, Dylan McGrath, Kevin Thornton and Derry Clarke who will demonstrating their skills in a purpose built kitchen tent.
Reynolds said the eclectic line-up promised value for money in a packed festival named by American music magazine Billboard as one of the top five in the world.
LINE-UP SO FAR: Sex Pistols, Sigur Ros, Grinderman, Franz Ferdinand, George Clinton & The P-Funk Allstars, My Bloody Valentine, Goldfrapp, Christy Moore, Wilco, The Gossip, Duffy, Underworld, Tinariwen, CSS, Tindersticks, New Young Pony Club, Josh Ritter, Lisa Hannigan, Cathy Davey, That Petrol Emotion, The Breeders, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Sinead O'Connor, The Waterboys, The Roots, Kila, Micah P Hinson, Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), Hayseed Dixie, Candi Staton, Juana Molina, Turin Brakes, Faust, Midnight Juggernauts, Tartit, Hadouken!, Silver Apples, Mark Geary, Teitur, Blitzen Trapper, Absentee, Balanescu Quartet, Lou Rhodes, Adrian Crowley, One Day International, The Yard Dogs, Tobias Froberg, Boss Volenti, Dawn Landes, Constantines, Yacht, Lionheart Brothers, Large Mound, Emmy the Great, Foals, Kormac & the BSQ Band, Jape, Noisettes, Dublin Gospel Choir... plus many more to be announced.
PA