The Roots, Vampire Weekend Lead Falls Festival Announcement

A huge lineup has been revealed this morning for Falls Festival, with hip-hop legends The Roots, US rock outfit Vampire Weekend and indie-electro favourites MGMT leading the charge.

Other big name acts on the bill include buzz British trio London Grammar, alternative rock stalwarts Violent Femmes, Irish singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow and quartet Grizzly Bear. Local acts that will feature include Big Scary, The Cat Empire, Chet Faker and Hermitude. Check out the fill lineup below.

It was recently announced that for the first time in the event's history that it would take place across three locations around the country, with Byron Bay's North Byron Parklands added, along with current homes of Victoria's Lorne and Tasmania's Marion Bay.

The ticket ballot for pre-sales is now open, with an allocation of general sales tickets to be set aside from Wednesday 4 September.

Lorne: Saturday 28 December - Wednesday 1 January (18+)
Marion Bay: Sunday 29 December - Wednesday 1 January (all ages)
Byron Bay: Tuesday 31 December - Friday 3 January (18+)

Lineup:

!!! (Chk Chk Chk), Asta, Big Scary, Bombino, Bonobo, The Cat Empire, Chet Faker, Crystal Fighters, Cyril Hahn, Flight Facilities, Gossling, Grizzly Bear, Hanni El Khatib, Hermitude, James Vincent McMorrow, London Grammar, MGMT, Neil Finn, Pond, The Preatures, The Roots, RUFUS, Solange, Tom Odell, Vampire Weekend, Violent Femmes, White Denim, The Wombats, The Correspondents, Hot 8 Brass Band, Hot Dub Time Machine, Late Nite Tuff Guy, Legs Akimbo, Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro, Tom Thum

Here are just a few of the highlights of the bill in our eyes:

VIOLENT FEMMES:

Their debut, self-titled album from 1982 is one of the most emotionally raw yet ridiculously catchy LPs of all time, a post punk release that was emo way before emo was even a word. They forged on with plenty of great tunes after that, but it's those early ones we'll be screaming along to at New Year's.

MGMT:

They started off with songs so infectious you'd have expected they'd be some of the biggest pop stars in the world by now. Instead, they decided to stay true to themselves and started making music that was interesting, weird and thought provoking. You've gotta respect that.

NEIL FINN:

He has a new record due early next year, so we'll no doubt get a taste of that at Falls. We guess we'll also get to hear some of the other songs that Finn has written in the past, which is nice. We guess they're pretty good… (We're being facetious, the man is a king and we're going to cry when he plays).

VAMPIRE WEEKEND:

New York African influenced indie pop group who have the world at their feet. Actually, they've had the world at their feet for over half a decade if we're honest. Watch the kids go batshit crazy when they step on stage.

THE ROOTS:

You've seen them on Fallon, sure, and you've probably heard their stunning records as well, but until you've been a part of one of The Roots live shows, you haven't felt the full force of this live hip hop behemoth. What a party we will have.

BOMBINO:

This West African guitarist has released one of the records of the year in Nomad and the fact that we'll get to dance to his sweet psyched out jams this summer is making us incredibly happy indeed.

BONOBO:

Simon Green has been making downbeat hip hop flavoured electronic music for well over a decade now and his records have been a big part of the great Ninja Tune label for years. His latest The North Borders has been his most popular record by far, so catch him while he's hot!

WHITE DENIM:

These Texan indie-prog dudes are one of those bands that every dude in the local record store loves, the kind of band that gives the most jaded of punters hope that there is still great rock music being made in this day and age. This will be their first visit to Australia and we, as legitimate music nerds, are really, really excited about it.

GRIZZLY BEAR:

These Brooklyn indie rockers have soundtracked many a young person's life over the past few years, their folky brand of indie music with harmonies more luscious than you could ever hope for is absolutely adored by so many. There'll probably be heaps of gross couples making out during their set.

SOLANGE:

Solange might not have the same power as her sister Beyoncé, but she's certainly got the indie cred. Her Losing You song was one of the best of last year and, through both collaboration and her own work, she has etched out a very fine name for herself over the past couple of years.

LONDON GRAMMAR:

They're the band everyone is talking about right now and by the time London Grammar make it to Australia for Falls they will have proven whether they truly have the goods with their debut LP If You Wait, which is released real soon.

HANNI EL KHATIB:

The LA-based bro loves his garage rock and blues, so it's only fitting that Dan Auerbach produced his latest LP Head In The Dirt. His wild and rollicking rock'n'roll will be just the ticket for some summertime fun.