Body and Soul are at it again! They seem to sneak into my room and pick out the bands I listen to the most, and then add them to the list. It’s possibly lacking the wow factor of a Nick Cave, but with Caribou, Goldfrap, John Hopkins et al, you can’t go far wrong!

Yes, indeedy, I’m leaving June 20-22nd open in my calender this year. Not to be missed.

Body & Soul 2014 line-up so far: Goldfrapp, Caribou, John Grant, Darkside, Jon Hopkins, Mount Kimbie, Buraka Som Sistema, Nick Waterhouse, East India Youth, Young Wonder, Jessy Lanza, King Kong Company

To celebrate FIVE STELLAR YEARS on the Irish festival scene, Body&Soul has a few very special cards up its trademark sleeve for 2014.

Upturning its TRUMP CARD this morning, the multi-award-winning festival signals the first of its exciting line-up announcements for this year’s Summer Solstice weekend, June 20-22, set across the unforgettable backdrop of Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath.

Set to headline the festival are über-glam stars GOLDFRAPP who have spanned a fifteen year career creating fantasy environments in their music to reach what is now their celebrated sixth album. Bringing their unique, mesmerising soundscape to Ballinlough. Expect stunning visuals, explosive beats and the spine-tingling vocals of Alison Goldfrapp to set the tone for the entire festival.

Canadian compositional genius CARIBOU will unpack his upbeat 1960’s sunshine pop to bring festival-goers soaring from their feet. The regal baritone of American singer-songwriter, cult hero JOHN GRANT will fill the air with songs from both his award-winning albums.

DARKSIDE, the exciting new partnership between electronic producer Nicolas Jaar and guitarist Dave Harrington, following the extraordinary success of their album Psychic, will emulsify everything from opulent disco, yacht-pop and astral funk. Jon Hopkins returns to Body&Soul, the Coldplay collaborator, Eno Protégé, piano prodigy and Ivor Novello-nominated composer was one of the dazzling highlights of the festival in 2013 and fans can look forward to welcoming him back.

Portuguese dance music project Buraka Som Sistema bring to Ballinlough Castle the full live AV show of their unique ‘zouk bass’ sound, a skewed, electronic take on 80’s French Antillean zouk, while electronic duo Mount Kimbie, Dominic Maker and Kai Campos, will offer exciting sounds of new wave ‘post-dubstep’ to festival-goers.

Californian native Nick Waterhouse, is part of a new breed whose musical style relates to no linear time period; marrying authentic American RnB sound with ‘50s rockabilly artists and new soul revivalists, whether conceived 50 years or 50 days ago, what’s important is where it came from and why.

Multi-instrumentalist East India Youth, AKA William Doyle, will bring his experimental synth-pop sounds from his massively acclaimed first album, Total Strife Forever, which is already being tipped as one of the best albums of 2014, while singer and skilled piano scholar Jessy Lanza will bring her beguiling, elevated vocals and intuitive, impressionistic keyboard skills to the bill.

With synthesised beats, crystalline synth and breathless, Bjork-esque vocals, the Cork duo Young Wonder could easily be mistaken for another immaculate creation from the ruthless Scandi-pop machine. Definitely a must-see.

Along with the nocturnal decadence of its annual costume Masquerade Ball, Body&Soul will be showcasing its usual offering of hand-picked artists and performers across what previous festival-goers will know and love as three days and nights of the unexpected. Each year celebrating the age-old tradition of the Summer Solstice in its own unique and modern way, the ever-changing, ‘shapeshifting’ festival with a “heart-shaped mind and a cutting-edge soul” is known as much for its vast spectrum of musical influences as its attention to smaller details. The family-friendly festival will feature bespoke installations across the walled gardens and woodlands from artists around the world along with a dotted landscape of spoken word, holistic arts, theatrics, acrobatics, gastronomic delights and a promise of adventure around each and every one of its shape-shifting corners…