30 August 2010 (Music Feature)

Words: John Balfe

It can be quite overwhelming looking at the Electric Picnic lineup and seeing countless bands that you may not have heard staring back at you. We want to make it just that little bit easier for you. John has selected his top ten most anticipated performances for this year's festival. Consider this a helping hand and, if you really want to pay him back, he will be at all of these shows so feel free to buy him a pint to say thanks. Or don't. Whatever.

 

 

AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR

It's been a heady couple of years for the instrumental rock outfit from Belfast. Having released their titular debut album in April of 2009, the quartet has gone on to a Choice Music Prize nomination for Irish album of the year and received multiple plaudits from critics and bloggers worldwide. ASIWYFA have had a busy 2010 of touring, with notable performances in Austin TX at SXSW and multiple dates in Europe supporting Them Crooked Vultures. This is the best hard rock band to come from these shores in a long, long time. Beware: it will get loud.

 

VILLAGERS

What can you say about Conor O'Brien that hasn't been said already? 2010 has been a stellar year for the diminutive Dun Laoghaire man. His debut album Becoming A Jackal is one of the best received Irish releases of the past ten years and this summer has already seen him dazzle crowds at the Glastonbury and Reading festivals. A large-scale North American tour is pencilled in for later in the year; it would seem that the yanks are beginning to take notice of what the Irish and British music journos have been raving about all this time.

Here is our review of Villagers first album Becoming A Jackal.

 

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM

James Murphy and co. make a welcome return to Ireland after an unpronounceable Icelandic volcano laid waste to their last attempt to play here. The dance-punk legends were supposed to play Tripod earlier this summer but were forced to cancel much to everyone's collective disappointment. Murphy told Entertainment.ie a few months ago that this may very well be LCD Soundsystem's last ever tour, so expect a heck of a performance on the main stage. Not to be missed.

Here is our interview with LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy.

 

REDNECK MANIFESTO

Richie Egan is no stranger to Stradbally. The Redneck's band-leader has played the picnic both with them and his other project, award-winning electro outfit Jape. This time he's back to play with the Redneck Manifesto, who released their fourth full length studio album Friendship earlier this year. This band has long held a reputation as being one of the most vibrant live acts in Ireland and look out for them to deliver once more.

Here is our review of Redneck Manifesto's Friendship.

 

THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH

Kristian Matsson, known to most by his moniker The Tallest Man On Earth, isn't really all that tall - he's 5'7". The Swede recently wowed all in attendance with a lavish performance in Whelan's a few months back and he will look to make his mark once on an Irish audience. The word-of-mouth has been travelling far and wide about this guy, look for his audience to swell considerably as his performance develops.

 

JONSI

Jonsi Birgisson made his last appearance at Electric Picnic in 2008 with Sigur Ros. The Icelander seized the opportunity of a break in his day job (the rest of the band took time off to start families) to finally work on the debut solo album that he had long intended. The resulting work, produced with his boyfriend Alex Somers, is an ethereal collection of spooky, textured songs which are a lot more upbeat than his previous work. How will they fare in a live arena though? Well, there's one way to find out...

Here is our interview with Jonsi.

 

FIGHT LIKE APES

There really is no way to describe a Fight Like Apes live performance until you witness it yourself. Whether the band are throwing blunt objects at each other, or if they're playing the entire gig in a wrestling ring (as they did in the Academy last December) one thing is for certain - it's going to be memorable. They released their second album The Body of Christ and the Legs of Tina Turner last Friday and this will be its coming out party. Bring some band-aids.

Here is our interview with Fight Like Apes.

 

JANELLE MONAE

P Diddy's protégé has made quite an impact since her debut album The ArchAndroid hit the shelves earlier this year. It is a kaleidoscopic collection, encompassing numerous different musical styles and directions and is sure to be in a lot of 'Album of the Year' lists come the end of 2010. Even better, Monae is playing a set on a large stage in the evening then, later in the night, an intimate performance on the Body & Soul stage. This is worth seeing if for no other reason than it seems that she is the apparent reincarnation of James Brown.

Here is our review of Janelle Monae's first album The ArchAndroid.

 

CATHY DAVEY

This year saw the release of Davey's third (and perhaps best) album The Nameless and it has hovered around the top of the charts ever since. She is one of the most enchanting live acts in Ireland, as anyone who witnessed her 2008 Electric Picnic performance is sure to testify.

Here is our review of Cathy Davey's The Nameless.

 

RUBBERBANDITS w/ CRYSTAL SWING

How could we not mention this? Crystal Swing have become a fully-fledged phenomenon thanks to their YouTube video for He Drinks Tequila, which shot the unlikely Cork family band into the international spotlight. The trio have appeared before millions on US television thanks to celeb-fan Ellen DeGeneres but their biggest challenge to date will be to see them perform an unlikely duet with Limerick jokers Rubberbandits. Expect The Hucklebuck to be performed ad nauseum. It remains to be seen if this is a good thing.

 

 

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