So, as previously stated, the official launch of the Electric Picnic 2009 takes place tonight, with the entertainment.ie crew Twittering announcements as they happen, 'cause we're just that dedicated to our work.
As with any of these things, there was always going to be a certain amount of rumours about who will be announced to play at this year's festival, and an array of very different names have been flying around like wildfire today. And it's always easier to speculate once the Oxegen line up has been confirmed. Prominent music blogger Nialler9 even compiled a list of possibilities…
The biggest names to feature were Morrissey, Madness and Brian Wilson (previously mentioned by The Irish Times' Jim Carroll), Fleetwood Mac, David Byrne and Kraftwerk. Morrissey seems likely, as he's just released an album. Madness are already playing a UK tour this summer, while Brian Wilson will be in Europe this July. Kraftwerk are already playing Bestival on the Isle of Wight this September, and if added to Electric Picnic's line up would go quite a way to selling out the festival.
Bell X1 gave the game away last Thursday by announcing to their Vicar St crowd that they would play the Stradbally festival, while Nialler9 has marked Moderat, Wavemachines and Micachu and the Shapes as "confirmed," even though nothing is officially official at this stage.
Another likelihood is Bat For Lashes, who just released her album Two Suns, but has yet to announced any Irish tour dates. Natasha Khan seems like perfect Electric Picnic material, having played the festival two years back.
Nialler9's full list is below, and if even half of those bands make the list, it'll be happy days in Stradbally this September:
Morrissey
MGMT
Basement Jaxx
Fleet Foxes
Moderat - Confirmed
Wavemachines - Confirmed
Micachu and the Shapes - Confirmed
Flaming Lips
Madness
Orbital
Fleet Foxes
Bon Iver
Brian Wilson
David Byrne
Diplo
Explosions in the Sky
Fleetwood Mac
Kraftwerk
Magnetic Man (Benga & Skream)
Bell X1
Department of Eagles
Okkervil River
Friendly Fires
Bat for Lashes