Geldof and Underground set to electrify picnickers

ROCK legend Bob Geldof and electronica heavyweights Underground have been added to the ticket for the Electric Picnic festival in September in Co Laois.

Underground, the undisputed kings of electronic music will make a very welcome return to Stradbally following a very successful show in 2008.

Limerick comedy duo The Rubberbandits have also been added, along with Sharon Corr, Republic of Loose, Donal Dineen’s Parish and Ghost Estates.

Geldof will be treating picnickers to his first music performance at the Picnic.

He will be joined by international acts Niki & the Dove, The Black Angels, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, M. Ward, Foster the People, I am Kloot and Everything Everything.

Californian art-rock band Warpaint, who were in Dublin last month will be making their second Irish appearance of the year at the festival.

Other big names to be added include; Dance-Punk group The Rapture, James Vincent McMorrow and James Blake.

Irish alternative rock band Fight Like Apes will be performing tracks from their second album which will be released the week of the festival.

Friendly Fires will be bringing their electric live show along with their eagerly anticipated second album.

Renowned singer-songwriter and producer extraordinaire, M Ward, returns to Ireland for the first time in over five years.

No stranger to Irish shores, Laurent Garnier is sure to attract a loyal following, showcasing his latest album Tales of a Kleptomaniac.

Meanwhile, Electric Picnic will showcase the best local acts on the Cosby stage. A battle of the bands competition will be held in Portlaoise to determine the most suitable act for the Cosby stage. A series of heats will be held in Portlaoise venues throughout the summer. The winner will play at the Cosby stage at the Picnic.

Electric Picnic takes place at Stradbally Hall, Co Laois, on September 2-5.

Weekend tickets are €240 and Sunday tickets are €99.50, though the organisers have yet to release a day-by-day breakdown. Weekend tickets are available from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and online at Ticketmaster.ie