Mindfield, the creative think tank of Electric Picnic, has announced a programme of events linked by the common theme of Africa: The Rising Continent for this year's festival.

The centrepiece this year will be a series of interactive debates called Fergal Keane Talks Africa, which will focus on the past, present and future of the continent and its people hosted by Keane and Ugandan publisher Andrew Mwenda.

The Leviathan debates, helmed by David McWilliams, return once more and will respond to the threats to human rights defenders in Africa and beyond, exploring how surveillance technologies have become a new weapon of war.

Technology’s positive potential is also explored with two new elements to MindField: CoderDojo, the open source, global movement of free computer coding clubs for young people sets up shop and Kevin Godley, of pioneering music video duo Godley and Crème, will demonstrate his groundbreaking musical platform Whole World Band with live performances beamed in from around the world with Rodney Orpheus and Nigerian-Irish rapper, Simi Crowns.

The Word Stage, hosted by the inimitable Marty Mulligan from Mullingar features a wealth of poetry, slam and musical talent including: Canadian poet and rapper, C R Avery, The Brownbread Mixtape, Dublin’s Underground Beat, Cúirt Literary Festival Showcase, The Monday Echo, Milk and Cookies, The Whitehouse Poets, Lingo Spoken Word Festival Showcase, Storymap, Come Here to me, Olaf Tyaransen, The Mary Coughlan Band, Ka Tet, Ska’s Good Gravy, Cronin, Mojo Gogo, Sinead White, David Donoghue and Clive Barnes as well as many others.

The Theatre Stage programmed by Dublin Theatre Festival’s Willie White, presents a series of festival-fit performances from some of Ireland’s most exciting artists including productions from Opera Theatre Company, performing opera from the movies; Gúna Nua, Dylan Coburn Gray, ANU Productions, Emmet Kirwan (Sarah and Steve) and Ian Lloyd Anderson (Love/Hate) and Devious Theatre Company.

An Puball Gaeilge has its biggest ever programme of wild Irish language events including Hector Ó hEochagáin hosting 70s porn karaoke; Rónán Mac Aodh Bhuí’s Caiberet Craiceáilte; Manchán Magan and Aindrias de Staic; as well as music, poetry, theatre debate, burlesque, standup comedy and food – all in the medium of ár teanga náisiúnta.

At this rate you could go to Electric Picnic, not see one band and still be damn well entertained.