Falls festival line-up announced

Three decades of American music history will be revived at the Falls Music & Arts Festival when Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Public Enemy and Interpol take to the stage.

Organisers behind the live music festival, which is split between two sites in Marion Bay, Tasmania, and Lorne, Victoria, have announced another line-up leaning heavily on US acts.

The Cool Kids, The National, Sleigh Bells, Cold War Kids and The Soft Pack will provide an insight into the latest sounds from the States.

But the inclusion of three generation-shaping American heavyweights is likely to prove the biggest draw for Falls Festival, which runs from December 28-31.

Joan Jett's teenage band The Runaways epitomised the essence of 1970s punk during a turbulent four-year reign, before the singer hit mainstream fame with her number one single I Love Rock'n'Roll.

A decade later Public Enemy became to hip-hop what The Beatles were to pop music as the collective elevated rap music permanently into the mainstream.

The pioneering group, including Flava Flav and Chuck D, will perform their 1990 album Fear of a Black Planet in its entirety for the first time in Australia.

Interpol, meanwhile, have grown into one of the most influential rock bands of the last ten years, trailblazing on the heels of fellow New Yorkers The Strokes.

The American invasion will be matched by an equally impressive line-up of Australian acts.

Homegrown legends come in the form of The Living End, Paul Kelly and Ash Grunwald, while aspiring favourites include Tame Impala, Angus & Julia Stone, Washington and Cloud Control.

UK bands Klaxons, Marina And The Diamonds and Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Canadians Hot Hot Heat, Junip from Sweden and Senegalese rapper Daara J Family make up more of the international flavour at Falls Festival.

Many more acts are confirmed for the summer music feast, which celebrates its 18th year in Victoria and its eighth in Tasmania.

Tickets go on sale from September 9.