The event promises to live up to its usual levels of excitement, delivering some of the world’s best bands and groups on the threshold of greatness.
Muse, named best act in the world at this year’s prestigious music industry Q Awards in London, are this year’s Big Day Out headline act, along with Los Angeles industrial metal band Fear Factory, who are on the comeback and celebrating their 21st anniversary.
Muse, whose members are Matt Bellamy, Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme, are known for their extravagant live performances, and their fusion of genres, including prog rock, classical and electronica.
The lads have built a rock galaxy all their own, from their first steps with Absolution, to the heights of Black Holes, Revelations, and The Resistance.
Meanwhile, composer and guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala have followed their muse in experimental, boundary-breaking and virtuoso direction in The Mars Volta.
Other British acts successful at this year’s Q Awards, Kasabian and Lily Allen, are returning for another Big Day Out appearance. Kasabian won best album of the year for West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, while Allen was judged to have the best track, The Fear.
“It’s really nice, I’ve never won anything before,” says Allen.
“It didn’t matter why I got it. It’s just nice to have someone say to you, ‘well done, you’re quite good at music’.”
Other bands that are appearing at the Big Day Out include Dead Prez, Eskimo Joe, Blowfly, Powderfinger, Groove Armada, Ladyhawke, Dizzee Rascal, Karnivool, Peaches, The Temper Trap, Rise Against, Mastodon, The Horrors, Calvin Harris, The Decemberists, Girl Talk, Jet, Sasha and The Checks.
Devendra Banhart, Passion Pit, Simian Mobile Disco DJs, Silent Disco, DJ Chucuchu, Poirier featuring MC Zulu, PNC, Minuit, Kora, Dimmer, Gin Wigmore, James Duncan, Midnight Youth, The Veils, Mountaineater, Deja Voodoo and Tim Phin will also be appearing.
Other acts include Cairo Knife Fight, Bandicoot, Lord of Tigers, Kidz in Space, True Lovers, Head Like a Hole, Batucada Sound Machine, Concord Dawn (DJ set), Dick “Magik” Johnson, Elston Gun, Evil, House of Shem, Mile High, Nick D, O’Lovely, Opensouls, Tainted, The Drab Doo Riffs, The True Lovers and Valedictions.
