Kwabs
When?: TBA
What To Expect: More than just one of Disclosure's many collaborators, Kwabs is set for an explosive finish to 2015. Delivering reflective, slap-to-the-face lyrics, his music is a timewarp of nineties pop, noughties house and modern R&B. Encased in his soulful croon, his set looks to be an intriguing highlight of the weekend.
Highlight: Fight For Love packs in all the good qualities mentioned above in to one out-of-this-world jam.
What It Will Sound Like:
Chvrches
When?: TBA
What To Expect: A new arsenal of bruisey pop, along with all the old favourites - Chvrches energy will spill over in to the surrounding area by the bucket-load.
Highlight: New track Leave a Trace will incite frenzy in the hearts of most thanks to it's glittering chorus. There'll be no wallflower performances from frontwoman Lauren Mayberry, that's for sure.
What It Will Sound Like:
The War On Drugs
When?: TBA
What To Expect: Putting a new spin on classic all-American rock, with trickles of watercoloured synthesizers and keyboards, prepare to dance like it's 1989.
Highlight: Red Eyes is distinctly Americana in it delivery, with really gorgeous instrumentation and emotional vocals.
What It Will Sound Like:
Alvvays
When?: TBA
What To Expect: Representing Canada at Electric Picnic, the indie-pop wonders are a bundle of colourful fuzz, with playful melodies flitting in and out of '70s-esque string work.
Highlight: The five-piece will melt hearts (and faces) with their soft-core rock stylings, especially with Next Of Kin and Atop A Cake.
What It Will Sound Like:
Django Django
When?: TBA
What To Expect: If you're looking for something that's more 'rattle' than 'hum', Django Django are your band. Django Django are set to cause rukus Picnic-weekend, with rollicking percussion, with some added art-pop flourishes.
Highlight: Life's A Beach buzzy guitar riffs will draw huge numbers to whatever stage they grace.
What It Will Sound Like:
Natalie Prass
When?: Saturday 5th 11:15-00:15am Body And Soul stage.
What To Expect: Breezy soulful tunes. The instrumentation on her debut album (composed with the help of Matthew E. White) is something to behold - delicate and endlessly rich. This is warm, sunday morning music at it’s best.
Highlight: Bird of Prey. Incredibly emotive strings and horns add texture and depth to Prass’s narrative and a bouncing piano track.
What It Will Sound Like:
Shura
When?: TBA
What To Expect: Unique electronically focused music is difficult to come by these days. Thankfully Shura’s sound is distinctly her own. her vulnerable yet confident tones are a blend of 80s synth pop reminiscent of Janet Jackson’s best, and the chilled R&B of today. An impressive producer, there is an uncommon depth and texture to her songs that prop her firmly above her peers in a saturated market.
Highlight: The 7 minute epic White Light builds slowly into a danceable, synth-infused ballad.
What It Will Sound Like:
FKA Twigs
When?: TBA
What To Expect: undoubtedly one of the most creative and exciting artists in the game at the moment. With songs that go outside musical and lyrical norms, Twigs is somewhat of an atypical pop star. She crafts music out of bassy, mechanical sounds that are penetrated by a delicate voice speaking overtly about sex.
Highlight: Twigs began her career as a dancer, and continues to wield this talent in her performances, directing and starring in her own music videos. Her visuals are on a par with her music, of equal creative importance. Should be a sight to behold.
What It Will Sound Like:
Future Islands
When?: Saturday // 5.15-6.15 // Main Stage
What To Expect: Synth pop with a rough, rocky edge. These guys have been making great music for almost a decade now, and have finally received the recognition they deserve after ‘Seasons’ and their Letterman performance went viral.
Highlight: It’s all about front-man Samuel T. Herring here. The emotion and energy that go into his surprisingly sexualised dance moves can be measured in the litres of sweat that can be wringed from his shirts after every show. The man has had audiences delirious for the past year, including 2 sell-out shows in Vicar Street last November. Live, his voice finds it’s way to that slightly terrifying metal howl on Fall From Grace, which only adds to the intrigue of the performance.
What It Will Sound Like:
Tame Impala
When?: TBA
What To Expect: Kevin Parker’s Psych-rock outfit dipped a toe in the pop ocean guesting on Mark Ronson’s album and dove in with 2015’s 'Currents', a serious contender for album of the year. An injection of groove has turned these guys into the act to see at EP.
Highlight: There aren’t enough superlatives out there to describe ‘Currents’. Here’s hoping they play the whole thing. But failing that, the bouncing bassline of Less I Know The Better will do nicely as a highlight.
What It Will Sound Like: