Two weeks to go! Electric Picnic, the highlight of the summer festival season for many, is only a couple of short weeks away and with so many bands confirmed to be appearing, deciding who to say can occasionally be a little overwhelming. That's where we come in! Between now and the festival we're going to try to introduce you to some of the acts scheduled to play in Stradbally at the start of September, so you'll be more clued in and able to impress your pals with obscure music recommendations. There really is an incredible patchwork of acts on the line-up, covering almost every musical genre imaginable, so believe us when we say it; there really is something for everyone.
Rarely Seen Above Ground
Kilkenny-man Jeremy Hickey is no stranger to Electric Picnic. The drummer/vocalist first made an appearance in Stradbally in 2008 and since that time has released two critically-acclaimed albums and bagged a Choice Music Prize nomination for his debut album Organic Sampler. Listed by The Irish Times as one of the 50 best Irish acts of the moment, Jeremy Hickey AKA RSAG is definitely one you can't afford to miss at Electric Picnic.
The Drums
Odds are you've come across The Drums already. Their first (self-titled) album gathered all sorts of rave reviews and sufficient hype that many media outlets labeled them as 'the sound of 2010'. Well, it's 2011 now and the band are releasing their second album Portamento on the very same day that the will be taking to the stage at Electric Picnic. Can it be as good as their first? Well, we've heard it and it's a doozy. Lead singer Johnny Pierce spoke to John about the new album and here's what he had to say.
And So I Watch You From Afar
Owners of one of the most breathtaking live acts in Ireland today, And So I Watch You From Afar are coming back to Electric Picnic for the second year running. Riding the success of their second LP Gangs, the Belfast noise-merchants are sure to be one of the most enjoyable and, yes, loudest acts at the entire festival.
The Chemical Brothers
It's hard to believe it but The Chemical Brothers have been together for twenty years now. The duo from London are one of the true pioneers of the big beat electro which was at the forefront of British popular music in the late 90's and early 2000's. While 2010's Further may not have had the same impact as some of their earlier releases, The Chemical Brothers are still as good as live act as they ever were.
Warpaint
There won't be many bands playing Electric Picnic this year who will have enjoyed more positive word-of-mouth so far in 2011 than Warpaint. Since their debut album The Fool hit record stores in October of last year the LA group have increased their profile considerably. An outstanding performance of their song Undertow on Jools Holland opened many eyes to just how much potential Warpaint have. This will be one of the more anticipated perfroamces at Electric Picnic this year.
