Electric Picnic preview: Friday

The excitement is truly building now. Here's a quick rundown of the artists not to miss, starting with Friday's line-up.

MODEST MOUSE

Moody indie-rockers are known for their frequently raucous live sets, and packed their tent to bursting point last time they played the Picnic. Just don't be that guy who asks them to play 'Freebird'.





PUBLIC IMAGE LTD.


The Sex Pistols' appearance at EP08 was one of the most divisive in the history of the festival, but there'll be a whole lot more goodwill coming the way of John Lydon's newly-reformed Public Image Ltd. The pioneering post-punk outfit's influence has grown and grown down the years, and with an eclectic sound that draws on reggae, dub, punk and krautrock, they should go down a storm at the Picnic.





EELS

Mark 'E' Everett and co are touring on the back of a quick-fire trilogy of albums. A surprisingly fun live band considering the often solemn nature of E's songwriting, this set is more likely to focus on their rockier material than the folky stuff.





FOALS

New material from the subtle, layered Total Life Forever is likely to be mixed with reliable rave-ups such as 'Balloons'

Foals - Spanish Sahara / This Orient by subpop



JANELLE MONAE

I almost put this in begrudgingly, because so many people are banging on about this one that I've got a funny feeling it's going to turn out a damp squib. That's probably me just being contrary, though - Monae is the pop sensation of the moment.

janelle monae / the archandroid by weworemasks

JONSI

The Sigur Ros frontman's live shows have frequently being described as magical and awe-inspiring. He's touring behind this year's Go.

Go Do by Jónsi



STARS

The Canadians are touring behind new album The Five Ghosts, but expect them to dip into their 2004 masterwork Set Yourself on Fire as well.





HERE WE GO MAGIC

Seeing Luke Temple and co. playing the otherwordly 'Fangela' at Primavera Sound this year to a crowd of enchanted punters was one of the highlights of that weekend. Expect spiky psych-rock, hyperactive David-Byrne-isms and polyrhythmic Afro-pop-influenced tunes.





LAURA MARLING

The precocious young singer-songwriter from London has twice been nominated for a Mercury Prize, and the evocative quality of her compositions as well as her delicate but expressive vocals illustrate why.