The time has come to announce some exciting news about the first round of artists who have confirmed for the thirteenth annual [1] FIB Heineken.

As always, we have it all, and the very best:

The biological parents – along with MC5 – of punk-rock, Iggy & the Stooges, who made three of the most influential albums of all time — ‘The Stooges’ (Electra, 1969), ‘Fun House’ (Electra, 1970) and ‘Raw Power’ (Columbia, 1973).

The hard-hitting and guitar-driven pop-punk of the British Arctic Monkeys, a band that with just one album – ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’ (Domino, 2006) – has become a veritable point of reference worldwide, reminiscent of classics like The Jam and The Clash.

The punk-pop power of the Swedish school as represented by The Hives, who mix Abba with The Nomads with the greatest of natural ease.

The funk explosion of !!! – who will no doubt make it clear why their recently released ‘Myth Takes’ (Warp, 2007) is all the rage of the dance floors.

The band that gave us “Don’t You Want Me” – The Human League, led by a guy with some of the most popular bangs in music history, those worn by Phil Oakey.

The infectious Brazilian pop rhythms of Cansei de Ser Sexy, a veritable melting pot of time-honoured influences with totally fresh-sounding melodies.

The excellent melodies and harmonies, calling to mind the Mamas & the Papas, of the Stodart and Gannon brothers, better known as The Magic Numbers.

And the fascinating experimental edge of the U.S. band Animal Collective, veritable gurus of today’s psychedelic sound.

Eight names that now form part of a line-up that is just now beginning to take shape – and just starting to hint at what is sure to be another unforgettable year at the Festival.