RESIDENTS yesterday hailed north Suffolk as a hotbed of top musical events - as yet another chart-topping act announced a gig in the area.The Sugababes are the latest band to be added to the long line of high quality performers heading to the sunrise coast this summer.

RESIDENTS yesterday hailed north Suffolk as a hotbed of top musical events - as yet another chart-topping act announced a gig in the area.

The Sugababes are the latest band to be added to the long line of high quality performers heading to the sunrise coast this summer.

They join rhythm and blues legend Jools Holland, triple-platinum selling singer songwriter Damien Rice, Canadian indie-rockers Arcade Fire and Damon Albarn's new band The Good, The Bad and The Queen on the list of star-studded names coming to the area.

And now locals believe that north Suffolk is becoming a haven for top musical events, which will have an unprecedented affect on tourism and the local economy.

Adele Buckley, secretary of the Chamber of Trade in Southwold, said: “It's fantastic and it really puts us on the map.

“It's amazing the amount of people who come here for the events who haven't been to the area before and then they stay on afterwards.

“Last year, after Latitude, I spoke to a Yorkshireman who didn't know this part of the coast existed and he fell in love with it - these events have a long-term affect, not just for the few days, which is great.”

The Sugababes will be playing at Somerleyton Hall, near Lowestoft, on Friday, August 10, as part of the estate's two-day Somerleyton Music Weekend, which also sees Jools Holland, joined by Lulu, in the line-up.

The country estate will also play host to the second Eastern Haze festival on July 20-22

And, as revealed yesterday, Damien Rice, Arcade Fire and The Good, The Bad and the Queen, will be headlining this year's Mean Fiddler-organised Latitude Festival, at Henham Park, between Southwold and Halesworth, on July 12-15.

Stephen Bournes, owner of Southwold Pier, said: “I think it's all very positive and it enriches the package when you come to the area as a tourist but it's also great for residents.

“Henham and Somerleyton are very special environments which will attract people to this part of Suffolk and give them a very unique experience.”

Peter Banks, owner of Sutherland House hotel and restaurant in Southwold, said: “It's super - it puts Southwold on the map and it will do the same thing for this area as the Eden Sessions have done for Cornwall.”

He said business will also be boosted by media representatives and technicians as well as tourists.

Tim Heaps, chairman of the Halesworth Tourism Group, said the inaugural Hide Tide Festival at the Cut in Halesworth, held next week, April 6-8, will also be a big player in attracting tourists.