Pixies, Orbital and Alt-J headline Bluedot 2017

Bluedot returns to Cheshire's Jodrell Bank Observatory between 7-9 July with its biggest line-up yet. The first wave of acts has now been announced, with pioneering house/techno veterans Orbital, influential alt-rockers Pixies and Leeds' off-kilter indie favourites Alt-J set to headline the festival.

Ghent electro-rockers Soulwax will also appear, having returned to their live band guise in 2016, as will LA ambient rock quartet Warpaint and Chicago psych-pop mavericks Ezra Furman And The Boy-Friends. The bill also includes Manchester's electropop sensation Shura, post-industrial experimentalists Factory Floor, Squarepusher's live band project Shobaleader One, genre-spanning DJ Andrew Weatherall and SAY Award winner Anna Meredith. Read the full-line-up below.

As usual, Bluedot will also have a full programme of science, arts and culture yet to be announced, including appearances by author Frank Cottrell-Boyce, a performance of an alternative score for Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells by Tubular Brass and a show entitled The Men Behind The Mask – a look at the creation of Star Wars villain Darth Vadar, with Brian Muir, Ralph McQuire and David Prowse. There will also be panels and discussions on topics ranging from the dark web to the concept of 'fake news'.

Director Ben Robinson comments: "We are only just beginning to realise the potential of curating a festival in such a unique location. It’s going to be an exciting summer ahead."

Full weekend camping tickets are now on sale from £149, with alternative payment plan options, from the Bluedot website: discoverthebluedot.com

Bluedot 2017 line-up

Orbital, Pixies, Alt-J, Soulwax, Warpaint, Ezra Furman and the Boy-Friends, Shura, Factory Floor, Shobaleader One, Andrew Weatherall, Anna Meredith, Moonlandingz, Boxed In, Max Cooper (performing Emergence), Radiophonic Workshop, Whyte Horses Experience, Jane Weaver, Meilyr Jones, Rival Consoles, The Comet is Coming, Marc Riley DJ set, Henge, Age of Glass, Anchorsong, Flamingods, The Early Years, Plastic Mermaids, Goat Girl, Makeness, Ider, TVAM, Wovoka Gentle, Ethan & The Reformation, Girl Sweat Pleasure Temple Ritual Band, Horsebeach, Team Picture, Algorave.