So Electric Picnic is upon us this weekend and we thought we take a few minutes to point out some bands playing over the weekend who we may pop along and see. Dont get this preview wrong, there are other absolutely top acts playing but the lineup is just so vast it would be impossibly to do it all, so here’s a few we have selected that we would reccomend to you.
for those of you not in the know, the lineup and stage times are complete and can be found here
GOLDENPLEC’s ELECTRIC PICNIC LINEUP + STAGE TIMES + MAPS 2009
There you will find the full list of acts playing at Electric Picnic in 2009, The Maps for the Festival and Campsites and other relevant information. As we all know Electric Picnic isnt all about music and this year there is Word Slam Poetry, Cinema Showing, Literary Stage, An Irish Language Stage, A Science Gallery, A Theatre Stage and a Comedy Stage. All of which will be jam packed full of what it says on the tin type stuff, but the point of it is, thats there’s a plethora or options for you to go explore during the day and night when something musical just doesnt tickle your fancy. There’s even a levanthian area for political debate and discussion.
however being a music site we focus more so on the musical options we have at our disposal this weekend.
Top acts like Basement Jaxx, Orbital and MGMT, 2ManyDj’s, Madness will be at the festival this year, but you already knew those guys and probably plan on seeing them anyway. Bell X1 play the main stage on sunday at about 8:15 and if you’ve not seen them or heard them (living under a rock with no radio or friends) then they are always worth a listen.
Florence and the Machine
One band that have burst onto the scene this year that are Florence and the Machine whom was promoted by BBC Introducing in 2008 giving her appearances at Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds and T in the Park in 2008. She played at Oxegen already this year in the Red Bull Music tent, debut album “Lungs” literally released THAT weekend and since Florence and the Machine have recieved serious radio play since and play Electric Picnic in a massive european venue + festival tour all the way up to November 09 in what has been a busy year.
They also have been nominated for Best New UK + Ireland Act 2009 for the MTV Europe Music Award. 2009 has been a massive year for Florence and the Machine and it would be a massive mistake to miss this set. Pop on over to the SUNDAY – ELECTRIC ARENA : 5:30pm
Seasick Steve
Seasick Steve is somewhat of an enigma, in the last while he has recieved lashing of high praise about both his music and his live shows. He interacts with the crowds, sometimes pulling ladies up on stage to serenade them, he plays an array of what look like defunct and old instruments that dont look like they could hold a tune and he plays some of the most foot tapping music from them. Seasick steve is a man worth watching. Its a show worth seeing. I have seen him live at 2 prior festivals and thoroughly enjoyed both performances and i can forsee myself being there again this year. There are honestly very few shows like his, he has uniqueness on his side and i’ll be very surprised if your at the show and dont find yourself smiling and tapping a foot – FRIDAY – ELECTRIC ARENA 9:15-10:30pm
Mundy
Ive always been a fan of Mundy’s ever since Jellylegs album back in 1996, he’s another top artist whom ive seen live a few times and always seen to find myself back infront of his stage when he comes around again a year or 2 later. He currently touring his brand new album “Strawberry Blood” after decent success in recent times with his previous album “Raining Down Arrows” and of course the perennial “Galway Girl” he released with Sharron Shannon. Now if your just looking to see Galway Girl Live, its probably safe to just go at the end, Mundy’s a smart man and will want to keep a big crowd and let them hear his other music before giving those temporary fans the Galway Girl they want (and hopefully convert a few in the process) but i would honestly say go and see the full set, he has an array of songs that are sing along tunes even when you dont know the words with catchy chorus’s and on top of it all, he’s IRISH. SATURDAY – CRAWDADDY STAGE – 7:00-8:00pm
Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson of Beach boys fame comes to electric picnic this year and i dont know what to expect, he has toured his 
“That Lucky old Sun” album and i imagine a large amount of the set will contain such, but reviews of some recent gigs say that sometimes he plays some of the beach boys back catelogue, sometimes he doesnt. Now should there be a mix of both Brians solo material with some beach boys songs too, this could indeed be gig of the weekend. I know i’ll be there regardless thats for sure. I really do hope however that he throws out some of the golden beach boys hits, he plays for nearly an hour and a half and i imagine thats probably to allow for such. If i was you, i wouldnt miss this gig, his solo stuff is as quality as the beach boys stuff and together could light up your Saturday evening.
Saturday – Main Stage – 8:15-9:45pm
Bat for Lashes
Bat for lashes AKA Natasha khan + backing band are another band who have gotten plenty of radio play this year and with the release of the album “Two Suns” in April of this year have had chart success with the debut single “Daniel” which charted in the top 40 in both the UK and Ireland and the album was #5 in the UK and was nominated for a Mercury Music Award. You can see why plenty of people are talking about bat for lashes. Its another show worth seeing
Saturday – Electric Arena 7:00-8:00pm
Passion Pit
With Thumping Bass and clever and catchy synths, you’d be mistaken for thinking initially you were listening to MGMT but these guys have an array of Electro Pop Anthems that will have you up and dancing. Its not quite the Chart marketable synth pop of MGMT but all the same the songs are very catchy and worth a viewing.
Sunday – Cosby Stage 9:00-10:00pm
Fleet Foxes
Another band whom have emerged in the last 2 years and garnered a huge following over a short space of time, their melodic pop tunes with catchy wordings and sound give a relaxed and enjoyable vibe from them. As a band, this isnt a bash around or even really dancing type music, but more the type to be taken in and enjoyed from talented musicians. Their music is best absorbed for its quality lyric for lyric than shouting it back at the band, if your looking to chill out with some quality music, Fleet Foxes are the perfect call.
Sunday – Electric Arena 6:45 – 7:45
Mick Flannery
Mick Flannery has gotten a lot of attention in recent times with the release of his White Lies LP, Nominated for a Choice Music Award and won Best Male at this years Meteor Music Awards and is an act that is only going to get bigger and bigger, the catchy bluesy acoustic music makes for easy listening but is catchy and easy to sing along with. Perfect festival music. You’ve undoubtably heard songs like “Safety Rope” and “Wish you well” and “Tomorrows Paper” on the radio in recent times and i cant reccomend him highly enough.
Sunday – Crawdaddy Stage 2:15-2:45
JAPE
This man needs no introduction, he has been played on almost all the radio stadions in recent times, Won the Choice Music Award ahead of the brilliant Mick Flannery and that should tell you the quality of this act. you should definitely drop by and check these guys out. You might even get treated to one or 2 of the new songs he’s working on for his 4th album aswell as the audio treats from the Choice Music Award Winning Album “Ritual”
Saturday – Electric Arena 5:15-6:15
Villagers
Villagers like a lot of the bands were covering on this are a recent enough band to emerge on the irish scene, One member is a former “Berkeley” member and the lead is the current guitarist for Cathy Davey and is formerly of band “The Immediate”, this band although new, is filled with gig and musical experience.
Friday – Body and Soul Main Stage : 6:10-6:50
Sunday – Crawdaddy Stage 1:15-1:45
There are many other top acts this weekend at Electric Picnic like Lisa Hannigan, Basement Jaxx, Bell X1, Donal Dineen, The Hacker, Whitest Boy Alive, Dinosaur Jr, Rodrigo Y Gabriela but we cant cover everyone
I hope this article helps you pick some new bands out that you hadnt heard much of before, who knows, you might find a new favourite band this weekend if you give some of these a chance.
See ya’ll down there
Aidan