Arcade Fire's concert dress code: 'Formal attire or costume'

Win Butler, a member of Arcade Fire, performs at the Little Haiti Cultural Center in Miami. Photo / AP

Big Day Out headliners Arcade Fire are asking fans to dress up for their next tour.

The Canadian act, who released one of the year's best albums in Reflektor, want fans to wear "formal attire or costume" to all shows on their 2014 North American tour and at several European festival shows, beginning in March and running until August, NME.com reported.

But the band will begin their year with a headlining slot at Australasia's Big Day Out touring festival, which begins in Auckland on January 17.

Organisers told nzherald.co.nz they weren't sure if Arcade Fire would make the same demands on fans attending their New Zealand festival performance.

The bizarre request comes after front man Win Butler reportedly told fans at a secret UK show - which asked participants to wear "fancy dress" - that their outfits would help them "get laid".

Performing under the name 'The Reflektors,' NME.com reported that Butler told the crowd: "To anyone who felt uncomfortable dressing up - I'm not sorry. At least 70 percent of you are getting laid tonight... As long as you showered. That's the secret. Boys."

Arcade Fire will headline the Big Day Out alongside Pearl Jam, Blur and Snoop Dogg.

Arcade Fire
Where: Big Day Out 2014
When: Friday, January 17 at Western Springs Stadium and Park

- nzherald.co.nz