Think Big

Tool [pictured] should attract some sweaty fans.

There were two sure crowd-pleasers in the first announcement yesterday of Big Day Out acts.

Headlining the January 19 event are art metallers Tool and pop rock hotties the Killers. Tickets for the country's biggest day in music go on sale Friday, October 13.

Here's a rundown of the acts announced so far:

Tool

As headliners go, Tool are perfect and will get punters through the gate. Although, similar to Metallica a few years back, that means a predominance of boys and bogans. However, in New Zealand the band has a more diverse fan base (per capita the band's biggest-selling market) so a few of us normal people will be rubbing shoulders with sweaty and intense Tool fans.

Violent Femmes

The veteran American act have the job of getting the old fellas through the gate. Not exactly Iggy and the Stooges, but still, Blister In the Sun and Gone Daddy Gone have been shining lights of many past festivals.

The Killers

If tool are for the lads, then the Killers are for the ladies. For some reason the girls go gaga for frontman Brandon Flowers and the band's hook-laden pop-rock'n'roll. This sexist divide is not a hard-and-fast rule so don't be scared to jump around to both Stinkfist and Mr Brightside.

Muse

Like some pomp with your prog-rock? The British band's fans are the types who like it heavy, theatrical and prefer to think when they're moshing. While these guys don't necessarily fill a stadium with fans, they can sure blow it up with noise.

My Chemical Romance

Hope it's not too sunny on January 19 because fans of ominous punk-pop act My Chemical Romance aren't used to sunlight. Their new album, The Black Parade, is out this month so they'll be looking to convert more of you to their dark and doomed ways.

Peaches

The fact that Tool is headlining won't bother electro-rocker Peaches one bit because it means there will be more boys in the crowd. One of her trademark songs is Two Guys (For Every Girl). So boys, and girls, pop in and say hi to Peaches for a dirty old time.

Scribe

Back in 2004, Scribe and the Black Eyed Peas took hip-hop to the BDO main stage for the first time. His new album will be out soon and the Crusader will waste no time reminding all his homeboys and girls who the guy was that used to roll like that.

Also announced yesterday: local acts Evermore, Shapeshifter, The Mint Chicks, The Tutts, The Veils Minuit and Opensouls, as well as Aussies Jet, and Eskimo Joe as well as American avant hip-hop outfit Spank Rock.

Lowdown

What: Big Day Out
When: January 19
Where: Mt Smart Stadium, Penrose
Tickets: $110 plus booking fee, on sale October 13 from Ticketek, Real Groovy, Sounds, ECM and good record stores nationwide.

* Stay tuned: The second lot of bands will be announced November 8 and the final announcement is December 13.