Hot Press Chat Room Line-Up Announced

Returning to Stradbally for its fifth year, the Hot Press Chatroom allows fans to watch as top Picnic acts are grilled by HP interrogators, fans ask pertinent questions of their own and there’s usually time for a bit of autograph signing.

And, on occasions acoustic sets, with Damien Dempsey, Josh Ritter, The Frames, and Stephen Fretwell all bringing guitars with them in previous years. The Hot Press Chatroom is located in the Minefield. Lots more acts to be announced over the coming days but here is the initial line up

Nokia's Ovi.com takes the hassle out of losing your phone!

On Nokia's ovi.com website you can back up your contacts for free so losing your phone isn't the big deal it used to be. Check out ovi.com before you hit the festival to back up your contacts, as well as old mobile photos and videos - so even if you lose your phone you won't lose all your personal stuff.

Check out the Nokia Music Store for some great tracks to get you in the festival spirit, and don't forget to share your Electric Picnic photos and Videos with friends on Ovi Share after you've had a great weekend at Electric Picnic!
Go to www.ovi.com. Your life. Connected.

Calling All Tree Huggers!

Come and see a sacred fire being lit, a unique planting of a grove of native Irish trees - Oak, Ash, Yew, Holly, Rowan, Hawthorn, Hazel, all considered sacred in ancient Ireland. There is also a fund raising auction for the Woodland league, whereby the trees to be planted will be sponsored through bidding. A wish for each tree will go out to the four corners of Mother Earth for healing and hope for the future, radiated by the fire pit in the centre.

The trees are the guardians of the Earth. We are the guardians of the trees. It's time to take guardianship of our environment back into the community. It's time to embrace our trees, and encourage community tree planting to take responsibility for the effects of Climate Change into our own hands.

The tree auction will take place at artist wood sculptor Andrew St.Ledgers stall on Saturday at 7 pm in the Green crafts area, and the tree ceremony will happen at a site to be selected, on Sunday at 7pm.

2009 Will Be Captured In The First Ever User-Generated Book!

This year's Electric Picnic will be featuring in Festival Annual 09, the first ever user-generated book on the UK & Irish festival season, documenting the summer through photos and stories. The Festival Annual team will be on site snapping away, if they ask you to strike a pose, smile and then check-out the online galleries from Monday to see the results. You can also upload and tag your own festival pics - the best ones will be printed in the book.

Along with every photograph submitted having the chance to be published, anybody who tags themselves will get an automatic name-check in the book, as does anyone who uploads a photo. Want to get your review published, simply tweet #FA and enter the chance to get your views in print.

Check the galleries + WIN a pair of festival tickets at: http://www.MySpace.com/FestivalAnnual

Special Offer For Our Electric Picnic Friends

PRE-ORDER NOW & GET 25% OFF (the RRP of £25)
USE PROMO CODE: ELECTRIC

To pre-order your copy, go to: http://www.festivalannual.com/shop/

Stradbelly Laughs just got bigger with Tommy Tiernan topping the bill

August 6th 2009

The irrepressible TOMMY TIERNAN will be taking centre stage at this year’s Electric Picnic’s Stradbelly Laughs. Ireland’s best loved and most controversial comic will be making his only Irish festival performance this year on the Stradbally stage. The world’s greatest Improv Troupe- STEVE FROST IMPROV ALL STARS will also now be providing laughs at Electric Picnic which takes place on 4th, 5th, 6th September in Stradbally Hall, Co. Laois. Find out more about the comedy line-up

Get yourself Festival Fit @ EP 2009

August 1st 2009

It's another festival first from Electric Picnic with the introduction of not one but THREE ways to get you festival fit this September with - Bootcamp Ireland, Jane Shortall's Cardio Dance Tribute to the King of Pop Michael Jackson and Outdoor Yoga, all providing special innovative classes just for picnickers. Read on about getting yourself Festival Fit!

New additions to Electric Picnic - including Mercury Prize nominated Florence and the Machine

July 23rd 2009

The latest additions to this years Electric Picnic line-up is brimming with the most talked about acts of 2009, including including the breakthrough star FLORENCE & THE MACHINE ? who was today (yesterday) nominated on the shortlist for the Mercury music prize and is already the bookies favourite to win, Senegalese superstar BAABA MAAL, cricket pop fanciers Duckworth- Lewis Method, singer-songwriter MICK FLANNER, soul diva LAURA IZIBOR, epic duo THE BIG PINK, and NIGHTMARES ON WAX SOUNDSYTEM and many more. Find out more about the new additions!.

Diplo, Dinosaur Jr, Neko Case, Dan Deacon Ensemble, Major Lazer, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and Buraka Som Sistema join the line up

July 17th 2009

Things are about to go psychedelic for Electric Picnic fans with some new additions to an already heady line up. Godfathers of grunge, DINOSAUR JR confirm that they will be bringing their earsplitting fury to the grassy fields of Stradbally Hall on 4th, 5th, 6th September. Among the other acts just announced are alt-country superstar NEKO CASE and partystarters extraordinaire DAN DEACON ENSEMBLE and 80s disco sensation KID CREOLE AND THE COCONUTS, as well as a host of hotly tipped international and Irish indie acts AND a veritable invasion of DIPLO's Mad Decent acts. Find out more about the new additions!.

Stradbelly Laughs line-up announced for Electric Picnic!

An integral part of the Electric Picnic experience has been the comedy stage and this years' line-up promises to be the most innovative, exciting and energetic to date. The Stradbelly Laughs comedy stage features no less than three different 'Perrier' award winners and the best of established and rising stars on the circuit, with acts from afar afield as Canada, Australia, USA, UK and of course Ireland. Find out more about the Comedy line-up at Stradbally this year.

MindField @ Electric Picnic 2009

The human mind is a lethal weapon which can be deployed to obliterate prejudice, ignorance and hate with inspiration, enlightenment and empathy.

This year, MindField which is set out over 6 stages is Electric Picnic's must-go zone to engage with the finest minds of our generation in incendiary debate and conversation on literature and poetry; science and human nature; politics and economics; theatre and music; photography and satire ? even some as Gaeilge. Find out more about MindField.

BRIAN WILSON, ROYKSOPP, AMADOU & MARIAM and more added to Electric Picnic bill

The legendary BRIAN WILSON will be bringing a taste of Californian sunshine to Electric Picnic, Stradbally Hall, Co. Laois when he performs some of the best known anthems in the history of pop - Wouldn't it Be Nice, Surfing USA, California Girls, I Get Around, Barbara Ann, Good Vibrations - the list is endless. Wilson will be accompanied with his renowned backing band, who Sir Paul McCartney called - the best touring band in the world - and his set will cover all the hits of his 40 year career.

Dubbed the "Mozart of Rock" Brian Wilson co-wrote, arranged, produced and performed over two dozen Top 40 hits with The Beach Boys. He is one of popular music?s most deeply revered figures, the main creative force behind some of the most cherished recordings in music history and certain to be a highlight of Electric Picnic '09.

Norwegian summer bliss providers, ROYSKOPP play their first Irish show in four years to perform tracks from brand new studio album, Junior. This album is being hailed by critics as a return to form following their landmark 2001 debut album Melody AM. Svein Berge and Torbjorn Brundtland are renowned for putting on an impressive live show and whipping up a party atmosphere with their infectious enthusiasm. Expect pure electro-pop pleasure.

Following their triple award success at this years' Grammy Awards, AMADOU & MARIAM make a triumphant return to Electric Picnic. Picnickers have now another chance to see the Malian superstars perform their spectacular afro pop blues since their 2006 Main Stage performance.

The greatest living exponents of Jamaica's reggae tradition, THE WAILERS, will be making their debut at Electric Picnic. Formed in Kingston, Jamaica in 1963, together with Bob Marley, the Wailers have sold in excess of 250 million albums worldwide. The pioneers of roots rock reggae, The Wailers recorded such groundbreaking reggae songs as "One Love", "Exodus", "No Woman, No Cry", "Stir it Up" and "Get Up, Stand Up" Their sunshine inducing set will be one not to miss at Electric Picnic this year.

Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter FIONN REGAN will perform this year at the Picnic. Regan's debut, The End of History, received international critical praise including shortlist for the Mercury Prize '07 and nominations for two Meteors and Choice Music Prize, and this will be a chance to hear his forthcoming second album, which will be released before Electric Picnic.

Another outstanding Irish artist, MUNDY, whose fourth studio album, Strawberry Blood, has proven to be his most accomplished to date. With a recent sold out tour, including 3 nights in Whelans, the magic and energy of a Mundy gig is not to be missed.

Also newly announced are JAMES MURPHY & PAT MAHONEY from LCD Soundsystem who will be bringing their Special Disco Version DJ set - as the name suggests there is very much an emphasis on the pair's love of '70s disco and all it has influenced since then, as heard on their Fabric mix CD last year. Those who remember LCD Soundsystem's blistering main stage live set at Electric Picnic in 2007 will know that this latest project is sure to produce an amazing atmosphere in the tent they play.

Electro-pop group A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS had a number of chart hits in the 1980s including "Wishing (if I had a photograph of you)" and "I Ran", and they play their first ever Irish show when they come to Stradbally. As well-known by some for their bizarrely teased haircuts as their hit singles A Flock of Seagulls will follow on from previous act as Human League, Pet Shop Boys and Erasure in proving there?s nowhere better to be for ?80s nostalgia than Electric Picnic!

Better known as Arcade Fire's string section, BELL ORCHESTRE play their first ever Irish show at Electric Picnic this year. The six-piece instrumental band from Montreal performed with Arcade Fire's at their legendary Electric Picnic back in 2005, and have just released their new album As Seen Through Windows on Arts & Crafts.

Swedish export THE FIELD, will be bringing his electronic wizardry to Stradbally Hall. The Field's aka Axel Willner, debut LP "From Here to Sublime" hit it big with indie and electronic audiences alike and received rapturous reviews across the board. The Field are set to release a brand new album, Yesterday & Today.

New York anti-folk hero JEFFREY LEWIS will also play EP09, having just released his fifth album on the legendary Rough Trade label. Recent tours of Ireland have slowly built a solid following for Jeffrey across every city he has played in. His unique mixture of acoustic punk and humourous lyrics is perfect festival fodder.

Destined to be one of the breakthrough artists of 2009, MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS will perform their agitated blend of stirring synth-pop. Her debut single Obsessions, released on London's Neon Gold label has caused a huge stir in the UK and has proved that this London-based singer-songwriter far outshines any other of the big acts tipped for this year.

Mainman Willy Vlautin and his Portland band, RICHMOND FONTAINE, have been making sublime alt-country that conjures images of Brokeback-style mountains and sleepy small-town bars since 1994. The band will be showcasing tracks from their most recent album, Thirteen Cities, which is receiving rave reviews.

TICKET INFO: Weekend Tickets are EUR240 / Family Camping Ticket is EUR480 for 2 adults & up to 4 kids under 12 with access to designated Family Campsite. There are no single day tickets.

Above ticket prices include booking fee & VAT and usual outlets, www.ticketmaster.ie / Credit Card Hotline: Ph 0818 719300 Republic of Ireland / 0870 2434455 UK/Northern Ireland. Phone / internet bookings are subject to 12.5% service charges. Agents fee is EUR2.50.

POD & Festival Republic present Electric Picnic 2009 - Music & Arts Festival, 4th, 5th and 6th September 2009, Stradbally Hall, Co. Laois

Tickets on sale, Friday 17th April at 9am

The time has come to reveal the line up for Electric Picnic 2009 at Pod today Wednesday 15th April. Well known festival characters toasted the occasion with afternoon tea at The Mad Hatters Tea Party alongside the impressive Dragon from BYE (Bin Your Empties) intricately made from the recycled drink cans of last year's revelers.  Model Lisa Cummins was on hand to brighten up proceedings!

With a host of musical acts, performance art, spoken word, green area, the ever popular Electric Picnic is sure to amuse, entertain, engross and thoroughly engage the mind, body and soul.

Since dance behemoths ORBITAL announced late last year they were reforming this summer, their massive Irish fanbase has awaited and speculated if and when there would be an Irish show - the wait is finally over and it's confirmed to take place at Electric Picnic.  One of the biggest and most iconic electronic acts of all time, Orbital made a host of hugely influential albums in the 15 years until they split in 2004 and their legendary live shows are not to be missed.

Famed for their live performances which include furry animals, aliens, santas, streamers, laser beams and singer Wayne Coyne crowd surfing in a giant bubble, American indie gods FLAMING LIPS will make a very welcome return to Electric Picnic. These festival favourites will be debuting tracks from their brand new album which is due for release in June.

BASEMENT JAXX play their first show in Ireland in three years, since they headlined Electric Picnic in 2006, when they bring their fabulous carnival of ass-shaking dance to Stradbally.  They release a brand new album in June, so this will be fans' first chance to hear brand new tracks live alongside classics such as 'Where's Your Head At?' 'Rendez-Vous? and 'Red Alert'.

2 tone/ska legends MADNESS celebrate 30 years since the release of their debut album 'One Step Beyond' with their first appearance at Electric Picnic.  Suggs, Chas, Chrissy Boy and the rest of the Nutty Boys spent more time in the UK singles top 10 in the 1980s than any other act - this show will feature all the hits of their career.

Without doubt the worldwide breakthrough act of 2008, electronic rockers MGMT will play Electric Picnic as one of only a handful of performances in Europe this year.  On the back of massive radio hits ?Time to Pretend, Kids and Electric Feel; MGMTs debut album 'Ornacular Spectacular' recently went triple platinum in Ireland and this appearance will confirm their rapid elevation to superstar status.

Another American indie act who has made a major breakthrough over the last 12 months;  FLEET FOXES' eponymous debut album has won widespread critical acclaim, like MGMT appearing in just about every critic's top 10 albums of 2008.  These baroque, harmonic rockers' live show has to be seen/heard to be believed as any of the lucky few to get their hands on tickets for their Dublin show last Autumn will attest.  Also visiting the festival for the first time, are Mercury prize winners KLAXONS, who release their hotly anticipated second album this year.

Having recently hit the top of the Irish charts with their brilliant fourth album 'Blue Lights on the Runway', BELL X1 will make their overdue Electric Picnic debut.   The Kildare band continue to go from strength to strength and this show will surely confirm their growing status and popularity.  Another act with a massive Irish following; Mexican guitar virtuosos RODRIGO Y GABRIELA will play their first show in Ireland since 2007 with what will also be their first time playing Electric Picnic.  For their bands of fervent fans, this will be a first opportunity to hear their new album - which is released the week of the festival.

It wouldn't be Electric Picnic without a trip down memory lane, disco's greatest band CHIC make the first ever Irish appearance of their 33-year career. Famed for disco anthems such as Le Freak, Good Times, and Everybody Dance; Chic were inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the legacy of their music has been acknowledged  sources as broad as Blondie's Debbie Harry, Grandmaster Flash and The Smiths' Johnny Marr. Still led by Nile Rodgers, the 10-piece band maintain its status as the ultimate feelgood party band.

Other acts include one man blues phenomenon, SEASICK STEVE;  Belgian mash-up kings 2 MANY DJs who will be playing EP for the first time in three years, honey-voiced songstresss LISA HANNIGAN, US instrumental post-rockers EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY; '80s synth-pop combo ABC; Dublin's modern trad hero DAMIEN DEMPSEY; the only band who can be described as country techno rockers -  ALABAMA 3; acclaimed multi-instrumental singer / songwriter Natasha Khan aka BAT FOR LASHES; Grammy-nominated London chill/downtempo band ZERO 7 who too will release a long-awaited new album this summer; producer, remixer, DJ and all around whizz kid EROL ALKAN; quality hiphop from ROOTS MANUVA and pioneers THE SUGARHILL GANG, political folk punk rocker BILLY BRAGG; enjoy the catchy pop confections of Swedish rising superstar LYKKE LI; the soulful rockabilly of the Liberties' award-winning IMELDA MAY.

Electric Picnic has always been a festival to tip its hat to history and 2009 is no different. Liverpool's ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN celebrate the 25th anniversary of their landmark 'Ocean Rain' album with a 'greatest hits' set including the highlights of that record; seminal post-punkers MAGAZINE come to Stradbally play their first Irish shows ever; while Brooklyn veteran all-girl 4 piece E.S.G will show how they produced the grooves and tunes that led from punk to hiphop in their early '80s heyday.

For the more electronically-inclined punter, Electric Picnic 2009 will feature the first ever performance in Ireland of MODERAT - the new live project of German electro acts Modeselektor and Apparat, the return of the stomping live show of SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO who are set to release one of thee albums of this year in early summer, Radiohead's favourite electronic act FOUR TET, the first Irish appearance of dubstep maestros SKREAM & BENGA's MAGNETIC MAN live show, Parisian hyperactive duo NOZE, Italo disco from HEARTBREAK, the introspective electronic wall of sound of Dublin's HALFSET and last but most certainly not least, Electric Picnic welcomes a major coup in a rare audiovisual performance by producer CHRIS CUNNINGHAM whose videos for everyone from The Aphex Twin to Madonna need no introduction.  This is one of a handful of festivals Chris Cunningham will play across the globe this summer.  Chris Cunningham Live is a 55 minute performance, combining original and remixed music and film. It features remixed, unreleased and brand new videos and music, dynamically edited together into a new live piece spread over 3 screens.

For those more fond  of acoustic guitar-based sounds, EP welcomes cult Americana acts OKKERVIL RIVER, MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC COMPANY, LOW ANTHEM well as VILLAGERS and TUNNG.

Choice-Award winner JAPE returns to Stradbally after a storming show last year, Erland Oye's underground cult heroes  WHITEST BOY ALIVE play their long-awaited first ever Irish show, as do London-based MICACHU & THE SHAPES.  New York's THE WALKMEN bring their distinctly powerful brand of indie rock.

Powerful big bands are represented by classical composer and film score writer MICHAEL NYMAN who will bring a mini-orchestra,  Electric Picnic stalwarts DUBLIN GOSPEL CHOIR, the jazz/funk of Will Holland?s QUANTIC SOUL ORCHESTRA,  and a very rare full band show of Berlin's jazz-electro fusion JAZZANOVA.

With lots more acts to be announced in the coming weeks and months the music line-up for Electric Picnic is shaping up to be another cracker!

Of course it's not just about the music...

The Body & Soul Village, the heartbeat of the Electric Picnic will be once more pulsating to its own rhythm. A veritable hippy heaven with a large array of holistic treatments, reiki, yoga and massage. The unique Chill Stage, set in a natural amphitheatre will host a mix of folk, world, classical, electronic, reggae, roots and hip wiggling funk. Once more an army of creatives will be set free across the landscape to transform the space into a magical wonderland.

It wouldn't be the Electric Picnic without the peals of laughter across the lawns of Stradbally.  The Comedy Tent has always been a major attraction with a steady stream of Picnikers through the doors. This year will be no exception and there will be the usual 3 days of entertainment, the line up will be announced over the coming months.

Now an integral part of the festival the Spoken Word area will see the return of David McWilliams' Leviathan debates, poetry reading, Storytelling and Irish language, full details of the compendium of events to be announced over the coming months but expect a further step up from last year with renowned international names ?stay tuned!  

The world renowned performance art troupe, Lucent Dossier crawls once again out of the LA underground arts & music scene with their interactive Water Show?.a 1960s Treehouse Jungle World complete with water stage, rope ladders, unique aerial apparatuses and wild eccentric characters!

Each year Arcadia has looked more and more like a jaw dropping set from a Mad Max movie and this year they will we be taking it to a new level with a unique space-aged 360 degree venue complete with robots and junk metal art installations, circus acts, trapeze performers, and fire spinners.  This year Electric Picnic will be the only festival, aside from Glastonbury, that will host Arcadia?s impressive structure.

Inhabited by the dark, the twisted and the strangely beautiful, THISISPOPBABY's palace of Performance, Myth and Discotheque returns to the Picnic this year following a notorious debut in 2008. Slip once again through the orifice of POP and immerse yourself in an upsidedown universe ruled by Queens of Allegory, Caricature and Disguise. With gender illusion, blinding visions, sensory surprises and grotesque wit, you will find yourself Popsucked and Poplicked by a host of international tranniversalist superstars. And then your sweat will turn to artificial sugar as you dance deep into your future and find yourself returning to POP, over and over... 

THISISPOPBABY brought together the best of Irish drag artists to put together this evening's Electric Picnic line-up announcement show, hosted by Panti.

Last year Electric Picnic was the proud recipient of  two awards for its attempts at making it a more environmentally friendly festival. The Irish Festival Awards voted it Greenest Festival and A Greener Festival awarded it The Greener Festival International Award. A Greener Festival recognizes environmentally-friendly music festivals and Electric Picnic is the only Irish Festival to receive the award in 2008. The long term sustainability strategy that was implemented at last year's festival will be closely followed with plans for 'Year 2'. The 'Global Green' will return along with the successfull carpool.ie and Bin Your Empties team. There will be increased number of recycling stations throughout the festival and many more new intiatives to try on build on last year's efforts. 

Such was the success of last years Greencrafts it has been decided to enlarge the area. Specialist meets beginner to share practical skills and inspiration, enabling green philosophy and aspiration to be shifted into a practical reality - while having lots of fun.

In the Greencrafts area, you'll feel the pounding energy and spirit of all the makers during the day leading workshops: smiths forging hot metal, silver rings and shamanic drums, pole lathes chatter while shavings fly, bow-top wagons, yurts and tipis built, fire and flint, knives and arrows, glistening axes splitting and shaping timber, fluff and fur, rhythmic weaving of willow basketmakers, dazzle and delight, twinkling lanterns formed, raku kilns a-blazing

The Southern Comfort Crawdaddy Stage promises to draw out the Mardi Gras fever adding a touch of New Orleans style. The Bacardi B Live Arena also makes a welcome return, as ever showcasing the collaborative works of world class DJs, musicians, live vocalists and percussionists.

The Hot Press Chatroom offers festivalgoers a unique chance to get close to their favourite stars, with lively question and answer sessions involving experienced Hot Press interviewers and the fans themselves. Legendary chatroom appearances over the years include Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips, Mani of The Stone Roses/ Primal Scream, New Order, The Frames, The Undertones, Damien Dempsey, The Go! Team, DJ Shadow, Bloc Party, Carbon/Silicon and Michael Franti. Hot Press journalists Stuart Clark, Roisin Dwyer and Paul Nolan will be fielding questions from the crowd this year. The crew look forward to chatting to the creme de la creme of the Picnic's 2009 line-up.

Last year's introduction of the Family Ticket proved hugely successful with a record number of families in attendance. The Family ticket permits access for two adults and up to four children with access to the Family Campsite, there will be a vast array of activites for children and the Kids Area will return bigger, brighter, more colourful than before- if that's possible! The Electric Picnic isn't just for grown up and we intend to make the festival as family friendly as possible. The Children's Festival will have all sorts of creative workshops, kids yoga, chill out space for parents, and games.

Ticket Info

Weekend Tickets are EUR240 / Family Camping Ticket is EUR480 for 2 adults & up to 4 kids under 12 with access to designated Family Campsite. There are no single day tickets.

Campervan Tickets for access to Campervan Park are EUR60, available also from the same outlets. Above ticket prices include booking fee & VAT and go on sale 9am Friday 17th April from all usual outlets, www.ticketmaster.ie  / Credit Card Hotline: Ph 0818 719300 Republic of Ireland / 0870 2434455 UK/Northern Ireland. Phone / internet bookings are subject to 12.5% service charges. Agents fee is EUR2.50.

LINEUP SUBJECT TO CHANGE