ELECTRONICA pioneers Orbital will headline next year’s Big Chill festival. It will be their first live show together in five years and a fitting way for the summer festival – which attracted about 39,000 people to Eastnor Castle’s Deer Park in Ledbury earlier this year – to celebrate its own 10th anniversary.

Orbital, formed by brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll, split in 2004 after establishing themselves as one of the most influential duos in dance music history. Singles such as Chime and The Box helped shape the UK’s burgeoning club scene.

Their return will not only mark 20 years since the release of their first single but bring back memories of their Glastonbury performance in 1994 and the raucous live shows that introduced an improvisational element to electronic music.

Orbital’s live performances, an impressive blend of spontaneity and experimentation, set the benchmark for today’s electro-darlings like Simian Mobile Disco and Justice.

Plans for their Big Chill set are being kept under wraps for now but festival-goers should expect expansive audio-visuals and the return of the Hartnell brothers’ trademark torch-glasses.

“It’s not an exercise in nostalgia, the time just seems right,” says Phil.

“Everything just seemed to fall into place. I’ve played at the Big Chill before, I DJed there and had a really good time – it’s an amazing festival.

“The timing is also good: 20 years of being together.”

Paul, expecting a memorable show, said: “We’ve got 15 years of active service. If you boil that down to a 90- minute festival set you should get something thoroughly exciting from beginning to end.

“Audience reaction is part of the process. It really becomes like a friendly football match between you and the crowd.

“That was always one of our strong points and for people to say that about an electronic band is a real honour.”

The Big Chill will run from Friday, August 7, to Sunday, August 9. For more information visit bigchill.net.