The Cure, Sigur Rós and Elbow will headline Electric Picnic 2012.
The Cure’s heyday was in the 1980s and early 1990s when they were established as one of the foremost goth bands. They have been around in different guises since 1976, but lead singer Robert Smith is the only constant.
The band will play a set more than two hours long, drawing from all 14 of their studio albums, including Wish, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2012. This will be The Cure's first appearance at Electric Picnic.
"Anyone who went to Bestival and saw them…they were absolutely amazing; hit after hit after hit," said John Dunn, from Festival Republic. "They invigorated themselves. It will be the highlight."
Other bands in this year's line-up include Ed Sheeran, Grizzly Bear, The XX, Orbital and The Roots. Local heroes including Glen Hansard, Christy Moore and Bell X1 also feature.
“Every year we try and raise the bar,” said Robbie Butler, an organiser from POD.
The festival, which tends to attract an older demographic than other rock events, takes place as usual at Stradbally House, Co Laois, from August 31st to September 2nd, with a capacity for 30,000 people.
The festival announced the line-up in the Market Bar in Dublin today. Amidst colourful silks and paper lanterns, PaperDolls aerial acrobatic troupe rode in on bicycles to promote this year’s Tour de Picnic. The 80km charity race has raised more than €550,000 since 2008 for the Temple Street Children’s Hospital.
With Oxegen and Glastonbury both cancelled this year, we expect an influx of more music lovers and visitors from abroad. “Although numbers are down for the last couple of years with the economic climate, we’re still keeping our head above water. As far as I’m aware, they’re going to come back stronger next year,” Mr Butler said, speaking of Oxegen. Last year's line-up saw the return of indie darlings Arcade Fire, whose 2005 set effectively shot them to fame. They shared headline duties with Interpol and Pulp.
Early-bird tickets for the festival sold out before any act was announced.
Weekend tickets for this year’s festival are priced at €230 with Sunday tickets costing €99.
Electric Picnic 2012 acts confirmed so far:
The Cure, Sigur Ros, Elbow, Grizzly Bear, Orbital, Christy Moore, The Roots, Hot Chip, Glen Hansard, The XX, Metronomy, The Horrors, Azealia Banks, Roots Manuva, Bell X1, Staff Benda Bilili, Milagres, Ed Sheeran, Alabama Shakes, Cranes, Little Roy, John Digweed, Land Lovers, Baxter Dury, Jonathan Wilson, Solar Bears, Fatoumata Diawara, Willis Earl Beal, Lanterons on the Lake.