The four-day extravaganza is taking place at Henham Park, near Southwold, from July 14-17.

Tonight, organisers Festival Republic announced the first acts booked to appear at a launch party in London.

The music stages will be headlined by US indie band The National on the Friday night; by Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini on the Saturday; and by reformed indie veterans Suede on the Sunday.

Other artists booked to perform include Paloma Faith, KT Tunstall, British Sea Power, Lloyd Cole and The Waterboys, among scores of others.

Comedians booked to appear include Phill Jupitus, Richard Herring and Omid Dhalili.

There is also a premier line-up of top names in the literary and poetry arenas and performances from leading theatre companies and cabaret acts.

More acts will be announced over the coming months.

Organisers say they have made a number of improvements this year include a second bridge across the lake, increasing the size of the arena, larger poetry and literary areas, more toilets across the site, increasing seating areas in the arena, improved water supply in the arena, increased security and improved lighting in the arena and campsites.

Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic and founder and creator of Latitude, said: “I am extremely proud of what has been achieved over the past five glorious years of Latitude.

“We’ve been listening to our loyal fans and this year, for our sixth edition, we are making some changes to the site which will further enhance everyone’s enjoyment of their favourite festival weekend.

“Latitude truly is more than just a music festival and this year’s programme across the full spectrum of arts and music is utterly exceptional. We look forward to welcoming you to explore, discover and enjoy all that it has to offer.”

Prices have risen this year to reflect changes in VAT. Weekend tickets now cost �170 (�5 for children) while day tickets are �70.

The Latitude Festival made its debut on the Suffolk coast in 2006.

The capacity of the event rose to 35,000 people a day for last year’s event, and that is to stay the same for this year.

The full list of names announced so far is:

Music: The National, Paolo Nutini, Suede, Foals, Paloma Faith, Yann Tierson, Villagers, The Duke and the King, Lloyd Cole, The Waterboys, I am Kloot, Caribou, Avi Buffalo, CW Stoneking, Glasser, Bellowhead, Thea Gilmore, Esben and the Witch, Phildel, The Bees, Chapel Club, Grafitti 6, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Edwyn Collins, Bright Eyes, Everything Everything, Gold Panda, Kele, Rumer, The Vaccines, Jenny & Johnny, Hurts, The Naked and Famous, Anna Calvi, Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan, Crocodiles, Trophy Wife, Tripwires OMD, Foster The People, Marques Toliver, Crystal Fighters, British Sea Power, KT Tunstall, Fight Like Apes, My Morning Jacket, and Violens.

Comedy: Jon Richardson, Phill Jupitus and Friends (improvisation), Roisin Conaty, Jason Byrne, Tim Key, Richard Herring, Danny Bhoy, Omid Dhalili, Tom Wrigglesworth, Rob Rouse, Seann Walsh, John Widdicombe, Nick Helm.

Cabaret: Idiots of Ants, Bourgeois and Maurice, Late Night Gimp Fight, Ladygarden, Doctor Brown Because, Katherine Ryan, Richard Dedomenici and Bryony Kimmings.

Literary: Alan Hollinghurst, Alexei Sayle, Bad Physics present a play by Louis de Bernieres, Brendon Burns, Dave Gorman, Geoff Dyer, Guy Pratt, Marcus Brigstocke and Andre Vincent’s Early Edition, Mark Billingham in conversation with David Morrissey, Mark Thomas, Pappy’s, Rupert Thomson in conversation with Samantha Morton, The School of Life, Tom Clempson, Emma Kennedy, Mike Carter, Lucy Edge and Jeff Phenix.

Poetry: Jo Shapcott, Tim Key, Simon Armitage, Saul Williams, Sophie Hannah, Luke Wright, Kate Tempest, Kate Fox News, The Gentleman Rhymer, Tim Clare, Joel Stickley, Luke Kennard, Yanny Mac, Clare Pollard, Mark Grist.

Theatre: Hammersmith Lyric in association with Spymonkey and Peepolykus, The Bush, Battersea Arts Centre, Fuel, Clean Break, Paines Plough, High Tide, news from Nowhere, Theatre Delicatessen, Forward Theatre, Nabokov, Lab Collective, Whippet Productions.