The annual pilgrimage to Co. Laois is almost upon us – as Electric Picnic makes its triumphant return with a major 20th birthday edition. To celebrate, we're bringing you an extra special issue of Hot Press (available to pre-order below), featuring an essential in-depth guide to the iconic festival – and Stradbally-bound hip-hop heroes, and now major motion picture stars, KNEECAP gracing the cover...

The west Belfast trio's meteoric rise to fame has seen them pissing all the right people off, whilst amassing a huge celebrity fan club. With their self-titled film in cinemas and a high-profile Electric Picnic appearance just days away, KNEECAP treat Hot Press to an unforgettable interview, talking Micheal Fassbender, Noel Gallagher, Lankum, Grian Chatten, Donald Trump, Gerry Adams, and Bobby Sands...

As part of our Electric Picnic special, we also profile the main artists, recommend the essential acts to check out, have a behind-the-scenes look at the Smirnoff Stage, and provide you with all you need to know about the Stradbally bash – featuring must-read interviews with Bambie Thug, Kodaline, NewDad, Tom Grennan and more...

Bambie Thug. Credit: Becca Geden

Elsewhere in the new issue:

As the Pixies prepare to hit Ireland for a trio of gigs, pioneering guitarist Joey Santiago tells Will Russell about the band's live set-up, getting into Rory Gallagher, and perhaps – just perhaps – a new record...

With new album Paradise State Of Mind about to arrive, Foster The People main man Mark Foster discusses his creative process, raising the spirit of The Wrecking Crew, and a rather legendary Irish ancestor...

Saleka Shyamalan talks to Roe McDermott about her role as pop sensation Lady Raven, in the gripping new psychological thriller Trap...

Showrunner Kathleen Jordan, and stars Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Tony Hale, discuss Netflix’s brilliant new medieval black comedy, The Decameron...

The Decameron

Father Ted and Toast Of London writer Arthur Mathews tells us about his new book Walled In By Hate, which examines the life of Free State politician Kevin O'Higgins...

With recent newspaper reports putting the notorious gangster at death's door as a result of a cancer diagnosis, John Gilligan sets the record straight in an in-depth interview, providing a unique insight into how a serious criminal looks at the world...

The Adult Cautioning Scheme was supposed to stop tens of thousands of people being charged and summonsed for the personal possession of cannabis. Like most Irish drug policy, though, it's been a spectacular failure. Stuart Clark reports on what's gone wrong, looks at countries where they’ve got it right and endeavours to separate marijuana fact from fiction...

And that's just a taste of what you can look forward to in this enthralling new issue – available to pre-order online below...