Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice, Canadian indie-rockers Arcade Fire and Blur frontman Damon Albarn's new band have been announced as headliners for the Latitude festival this summer.

 

But organisers stressed that the festival was about more than just the music, as a programme of theatre, comedy, poetry, literature and film was also unveiled at a launch party in London. This July will see the second year of Latitude, which is held on the Earl of Stradbroke's Henham estate, between Beccles and Southwold.

 

It is Sunday night headliners Arcade Fire, who are noted for their live performances, who are causing most excitement among fans. Triple-platinum-selling Damien Rice will play on the opening night on Friday, while The Good, the Bad and the Queen finish the Saturday night. The new band is fronted by Damon Albarn, who has already found success with both Blur and Gorillaz, with the Clash's Paul Simon on bass.

 

But away from the bands, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts will also be running events, Liverpool poet Roger McGough will be reading his poetry, and Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank will be performing.

 

Mean Fiddler managing director Melvin Benn said: “With Latitude I wanted to re-format festivals and break the mould. Due to the success of last year, artists and performers are now approaching us to be involved.

 

“Having read comments on the message boards and forums from happy festival goers, it's clear that a lot of people found their festival home in Latitude, which is fantastic and something really positive that we can keep building on year on year.”

 

Though there is some disappointment from fans who had hoped for performers such as Joni Mitchell and even Coldplay, estate manager Hektor Rous, son of the Earl of Stradbroke, said it was not just about the music.

 

He said: “It is not just a festival about the headliners, because that is what the other festivals are. The headliners give a feel for it, but I am just as excited about the poetry and about the Royal Court Theatre. The variety and diversity of stuff on offer is bigger than any other festival I know. I can't wait.”

 

With some acts still to be announced, the Magic Numbers and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are also confirmed for the music stages. Alan Carr, of Eight out of Ten Cats and the Friday Night Project, will be performing in the comedy tent alongside Stewart Lee, Mark Steel and Marcus Brigstocke. The literature tent includes Norfolk-based author Louis de Bernieres, author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and the theatre tent will see short plays from the Royal Court Theatre, including work written specially for the festival.

 

A children's area will include a book at bedtime each night, while puppet workshops, Bollywood dance classes and a Moulin Rouge cabaret run in the cabaret tent.

 

Amanda Berry, chief executive of Bafta, said: “I was bowled over by the imagination and thought that went into the events at Latitude last year and believe it is the perfect festival for Bafta to be involved with. We're planning an ambitious range of thought-provoking events to stimulate, surprise and inspire the festival audience.”

 

Tickets are now on sale at £112 for the weekend of July 12-15 or £45 a day, plus booking fees. The booking line is 0870 060 3775, or you can buy tickets through UEA on 01603 50 80 50 or http://www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk. Or visit http://www.latitudefestival.com.

 

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Albarn group to headline Latitude

 

 

Damon Albarn's supergroup, The Good, The Bad and The Queen, headline this year's Latitude Festival in Suffolk.

The band, which also features ex-Clash bassist Paul Simonon and former Verve guitarist Simon Tong, play the Saturday night slot at the three-day event.

 

Irish folk singer Damien Rice plays on Friday, with Canadian rockers Arcade Fire closing the festival on Sunday.

 

Latitude takes place at Henham Park in Southwold from 12-15 July, showcasing arts and poetry as well as music.

 

The Poetry Arena will host readings by Roger McGough, John Hegley and Murray Lachlan Young, who became the first poet to sign a £1m record deal in 1997.

 

The author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres, will appear in the Literature Tent, while the Royal Court Theatre will perform in the Theatre Arena.

 

Other bands announced for the festival include Wilco, CSS, The Magic Numbers and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

 

There will also be an outing for London club night Guilty Pleasures, which has come to public attention by championing soft rock classics and other untrendy songs from the 1970s and 1980s.

 

Latitude was set up last year by Mean Fiddler, the firm behind the Reading and Leeds festivals.

 

Managing director Melvin Benn said he wanted to emulate the "genteel, less manic feel" of his favourite European festivals.

 

"I wanted to re-format festivals and break the mould," he said.

 

"Having read comments on the message boards from happy festival-goers, it's clear that a lot of people found their festival home in Latitude."

 

The Creamfields Festival line-up has also been announced, with the Chemical Brothers headlining the event which takes place over the August bank holiday weekend at Daresbury, in Cheshire.

 

Other acts taking part in the August festival include Kelis, Groove Armada, New Young Pony Club and Ladytron.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6506039.stm

Wilco. They get flipping Wilco? And Arcade Fire. The two top bands on my acts-I-really-want-to-see-but-never-have list. There isn't an act announced so far I wouldn't have qualm about seeing, but it's so far south. So far away there's no real way I can get there. Lucky people.