Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Portishead, alt-J, Manic Street Preachers, Alan Davies and Jason Manford will play the music and comedy stages at this year’s Latitude.
They are just some of the 100 plus acts announced for the 10th edition of the multi-arts festival which also incorporates theatre, literature, cabaret, art and science.
New this year will be a spa area offering massages and treatments which will turn into a late night party zone and you’ll be able to swim in the lake for the first time.
“Not only have I never played at Latitude before, but I’ve never even been there, ever. So yes, I’m really looking forward to headlining the festival on July 19,” said said the former Oasis star, who will close the multi-arts festival at Henham Park, Suffolk.
Mercury Prize-winning art-rockers alt-J are excited to return to Latitude for the third time.
“Playing there has always been so memorable. Latitude has always supported us and to go from playing the smaller stages to this means it will be a night of celebration,” said the band.
Portishead will give a rare UK appearance as they top the bill on Saturday.
“I’ve been to Latitude before as a festival-goer and really enjoyed it I think the effort they put into their whole programming - music, comedy and film - is what makes it a great festival to be part of. I’m really looking forward to it,” said Geoff Barrow, of Portishead.
Band-mate Adrian Utley added: “I love the vibe at Latitude and the location. Good forward thinking programming as well, I played a couple of years ago in the cinema tent with a silent film project I was doing and it was a really good experience...looking forward to this one very much.”
In an exclusive festival appearance, Gareth Malone will put together a 100-strong choir of Latitude-goers who will rehearse at several points over the weekend, culminating in a main stage performance on July 19. Malone and his Voices choir will also perform on the Waterfront Stage on July 18.
Music programmer Natasha Haddad added music, arts and emotions go hand-in-hand and they were lucky to have an audience whose appetite for these covers such a broad spectrum.
“From the hands-in-the-air euphoria of Jon Hopkins, Caribou and Kiasmos to united sing-alongs during Noel Gallagher, Manic Street Preachers and Laura Marling, Latitude will also embrace the celestial moments of Portishead, James Blake and Sun Kill Moon,” she said.
“We’re 100% behind new experiences and new artists and have seen many of this year’s line-up rise through the stages, such as headliners alt-J, The Vaccines and festival favourites Wild Beasts. We’d hedge our bets on artists such as Leon Bridges, Jack Garratt, Marika Hackman and Nadine Shah all following the same successes.”
Headlining comedy-wise this year will be Alan Davies and Jason Manford.
Other comedians include Jon Richardson, Rob Delaney, Adam Hills, Jack Dee, David O’Doherty, Josh Widdicombe, Katherine Ryan, Shappi Khorsandi, Sara Pascoe, Daniel Sloss, Dane Baptiste, Liam Williams, Holly Walsh, Joe Lycett, Luisa Omelian, Nina Conti and Matt Richardson.
Sadler’s Wells return for the eight year running with a diverse programme on the outdoor waterfront stage, more details to come soon.
Headlining this year’s poetry arena will be the former laureate and award winning poet Simon Armitage CBE. Other performers include Tim Key, Michael Rosen, John Cooper Clarke and BBC Three’s Uncle writer and star Nick Helm.
The first name announced for the film and music stage is Brit Award nominated George the Poet with further artists being announced in the coming months.
“At Latitude there is a home for every kind of comic and comedy fan. The festival has grown a reputation for being the place to see new talent and indeed we are excited to be supporting a wealth of new talent across the festival this year,” said Tania Harrison, curator of the arts arenas.
“From ones-to-watch to one-offs to must-sees we will have some spectacular special guest appearances.”
There’s plenty for families too in the kids arena.
Activities include pond dipping, astronomy, pizza making, a night-time disco, a fire-show, shows, music, drama classes and puppetry and giant crafts sessions.
For older children there’s the inbetweeners’ teen area offering music, media, fashion and technology workshops plus wildlife, bush-craft and survival skills.
“I’m delighted to reveal the first acts for Latitude 2015, with a music and arts bill that is as strong as it is broad. This year is the 10th edition of the festival and we’re celebrating with an event which, although it has evolved significantly from the intimate 15,000 capacity we started out with, I really feel has kept the special atmosphere and unique quality which sets it apart,” said festival founder Melvin Benn.
“Every year I challenge myself to build on previous summers and make each festival even better than the one before. With the start of a new decade for Latitude, I wanted to bring something really fresh and new to Henham and I think we’ve done just that.”
Latitude takes place July 16-19. For the line-up so far click here.
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