Latitude 2009

THE NATIONAL Brooklyn-based Ohio emigres – and Uncut favourites – The National have been playing increasingly large venues with each visit to UK shores and it’s not hard to see why.

GRUFF RHYS His day job is as front man and principal singer-songwriter with Super Furry Animals, but Rhys will go it (almost) alone when he plays the Uncut Arena on the closing day of The Latitude Festival.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE QUEEN Not strictly the name of a band – they claim not to have one – but rather title of the debut LP by a supergroup of sorts, featuring Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon, former Verve guitarist Simon Tong and Afro-beat drummer, Tony Allen.

JARVIS COCKER Perfectly sandwiched between The Rapture and headliners Arcade Fire on the final day of this year’s Latitude Festival, quintessential English eccentric Jarvis Cocker will suit the site’s leafy glades to a tee.

RICKIE LEE JONES Probably best known for her jazz-toned, easy-swinging smash hit from 1979,‘Chuck E’s In Love’ and for once having stepped out with Tom Waits, Jones affects a distinctive style which blends R&B, folk, Beat poeticism and jazz in a foil for her impressively supple, slightly smokey voice.

ARCADE FIRE Anyone who doubts the transcendent power of orchestral pop – not to mention the potential of the crash helmet as percussion instrument – will surely be converted by Montreal’s Arcade Fire, who Time magazine saw fit to make cover stars after the release of their ‘Funeral’ LP in 2005.