News

Richard Hawley and Jonsi Added To Latitude Line Up

• 24th Mar 2010

Latitude Festival returns for an incredible 5th Edition on 15-18th July 2010 set in the beautiful countryside of Henham Park Estate on Suffolk's Sunrise Coast.

Latitude is dedicated to bringing the very best from the worlds of music, theatre, comedy, literature, film, poetry, dance, art, fashion and cabaret together for one glorious weekend and once again, it has created a line-up like no other. Florence + The Machine, Belle and Sebastian and Vampire Weekend are all headlining the Obelisk Arena with performances by Empire Of The Sun, The Maccabees, Rodrigo y Gabriela also confirmed. And with a wealth of diverse musical talent from both emerging and established bands and acts still to be announced, Latitude's four dedicated music arenas will provide the perfect soundtrack to the weekend's festivities

With The National (Friday), The xx (Saturday) and Grizzly Bear (Sunday) announced as headliners for the weekend, and Charlotte Gainsbourg and The Horrors also confirmed, The Word Arena will once again boast an amazing set of alternative artists crossing genre boundaries seamlessly. You'll discover a host of fresh and exciting acts from across the spectrum within The Word Arena.

Joining the headliners on Friday is Sheffield's favourite lovelorn crooner Richard Hawley. The delicate and impassioned strains found on his recent sixth album Truelove's Gutter, with lithe string and gently imparted guitars, continue where the Mercury Music Prize nominated Cole's Corner and Top 10 gracing Lady's Bridge left off. As the title suggests, this darker foray into Hawley's personal style is poignant and devastating, yet clearly hit a chord with the public as it hit the UK Top20 upon its release last year. The former Longpigs and Pulp member has also worked with some of our finest indie heroes from Arctic Monkeys to Elbow further cementing his influence and popularity with peers and fans alike. As his songs sail upon the air across the hills of Suffolk, it will be a difficult task attempting to find somewhere as relaxing and romantic anywhere else on the site while he commands The Word Arena.

As the incandescent voice and heart behind Icelandic orchestral post-rock band Sigur Rós, Jónsi Birgisson has already made a significant impact on Latitude's history with the band's incendiary headline performance in 2008. Jónsi returns to Henham Park this time as a solo artist. The follow up to last year's critically successful album Riceboy Sleeps with partner and artist Alex Somers, Go continues the acoustic and stringed arrangements of his first solo album with similar sparse, subtle and ultimately beautiful effect. Jónsi will have the audience falling at his feet in The Word Arena on Sunday night.

Elsewhere throughout the weekend, festival goers can enjoy readings from leading poets and authors including Wendy Cope, John Cooper Clarke, Bret Easton Ellis and Arthur Smith; top comics Emo Philips, Ardal O'Hanlon, Rich Hall and Tommy Tiernan; exciting theatre and dance productions presented by Royal Shakespeare Company, Bush Theatre and Royal Opera House to name but a few plus a wealth of cabaret, film, DJs, workshops and late night parties found throughout the site. It really is a place like no other; an intimate world away from reality that encourages you to be all that you've ever wanted to be whilst indulging in the spirit of exploration and discovery.