You've got your tickets, the stage times are trickling out and your internet history is full of searches for cheap two-man tents. Electric Picnic is just three sleeps away!
With hundreds of acts on show, it can be tricky to decide who to go see but these five Picnic picks are definitely worth checking out...
Son Lux
Firing an icy shard through your chest this weekend will be Ryan Lott, the lifeblood of Son Lux. A running mate of Sufjan Stevens, and a collaborator with the likes of Lorde, Lott manages to combine often austere, glacial electronics with emotive vocals. White heat to melt the ice. His/their most recent album Bones vaults from the shoulders of quasi-breakthrough Lanterns. Songs like 'Change Is Everything' will make your heart soar, while 'Easy' is vulnerability at its most sultry. I was lucky enough to catch him in the Workmans a couple of years ago, and a chance like this should not be passed up.
Yasiin Bey
The man who rose to fame as innovative, gifted rapper Mos Def has recently made an ill-advised foray into the world of stand-up. Provided he avoids that sideline gig, Bey could provide one of the best sets of the weekend. He’s recently reclaimed the Mos Def moniker, and with it revived an old-school sound on new single 'Sensei On The Block'. With albums like Black On Both Sides, Bey has given us some of the most layered, intelligent hip-hop of the past two decades. If he’s on form, homage is due to be paid.
Natalie Prass
The wee amphi-theatre of the Body & Soul area will be a perfect venue for Natalie Prass. The Virginia singer-songwriter got a spoke in early for album of the year. With her self-titled debut, Prass came so fully-formed and pristine it was as if she was an artefact from early 70s Laurel Canyon preserved in amber. There’s a romantic, sepia tone to her approach which will offer a gentler counterpoint to the weekend’s lunacy. Album-closer 'It Is You' is the greatest Disney song never in a Disney film, and could provide one of the more magical three-minutes of the weekend.
Girl Band
As well as offering sanctuary to old stagers like Blur and The Boomtown Rats, festivals often offer the chance to catch as band just as the rocket’s about to launch them into orbit. Girl Band are one such group. Their debut album is due at the end of the month, they have autumn dates in London that are already sold out. And with 'Lawman' they gave us the Irish single of 2014. A ferocious, arresting and invigorating live act to boot, their stage is likely to be rammed so bring strong elbow game.
Grace Jones
Listen, do you want to run the risk of running into her, and saying you passed up the chance to catch her main stage set? Of course not. But don’t let vague threats of physical violence convince you. Ms Jones will tee things up nicely on Friday night. With the groove of 'Pull Up To The Bumper' and the grind of 'My Jamaican Guy' (sampled by LL Cool J for 'Doin’ It'), asses will be moved. Ms Jones recently put out a three-disc set of her unheralded disco period which, if plundered, will draw in some unsuspecting souls. Musically and sartorially adventurous - a must-see.
Be sure to head over to the Newstalk Lounge at the Mindfield Arena for some live action from George Hook, Tom Dunne and Off The Ball #NTLounge
