Damon Albarn is one of many artists choosing to make exclusive appearances at Britain's most eclectic summer festival

BLUR star Damon Albarn is among the big names set to pull in the punters to this year’s Latitude Festival.

While preparations for this month’s Glastonbury continue apace, fans of the more sedate East Anglian festival are looking forward to a more diverse, and certainly more civilized, weekend.

And with Damon Albarn, Black Keys, and two Door Cinema Club, headlining and further sets by Oxford rising stars Glass Animals, Tame Impala, Editors, Crystal Fighters, Mogwai, Lykke Li, and Kelis, this eclectic festival is giving its Somerset rival a serious run for its money.

And tickets are still available.

Latitude, which won the Best Line-Up prize at the 2013 UK Festival Awards, is particularly proud to have nabbed Albarn for an exclusive festival appearance, for its Saturday night slot. The artist, who also made a name for himself through Gorillaz, The Good, The Bad & The Queen, and his Mali Music, Monkey: Journey To The West, Dr Dee and Africa Express projects recently an acclaimed solo album Everyday Robots.

A festival spokesman said: “Latitude is hugely excited that his performance at the festival will be his only UK festival appearance.

“Damon is no stranger to the festival having appeared at Latitude in 2007 as part of the supergroup The Good, The Bad & The Queen. As a musician who constantly challenges conventional boundaries and norms with his creativity, Damon is a perfect fit for such an innovative festival and now audiences will be delighted to see him appear for his first ever festival performance as a solo artist at Latitude 2014.”

Also making an exclusive festival appearance are Friday headliners Two Door Cinema Club, and Norwegian electronic duo Röyksopp and Swedish indie-pop pioneer Robyn, who will make a special joint-appearance as part of their Do It Again tour. Latitude will be the only opportunity in the UK to see the tour.

Oxford Mail:

Freewheeling: Bombay Bicycle Club

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Roots Award winner Billy Bragg and Swedish band Goat will also be stopping off at Latitude for exclusive UK festival performances.

Other names to look out for are BRIT-nominated Californian sister trio Haim, Memphis soul star Booker T. Jones, ‘Best Breakthrough Act’ Brit Award 2012 nominee Anna Calvi, Alabama’s Phosphorescent and contemporary classical pianist Nils Frahm.

Oxford Mail:

Sister act: Haim

Also heading to Suffolk are American folk-pop artist Cass McCombs, gospel and soul-inspired Chicago singer-songwriter Willis Earl Beal, American baroque-pop band San Fermin and British singer songwriter Marika Hackman.

After adding extra dates to his London tour due to demand, post-rock and alternative hip-hop musician Son Lux will also drop in, treating festival goers to his ethereal and nocturnal experimental rock.

The spokesman added: “So much more than just a music festival, Latitude presents a festival experience like no other, carefully curated so that culture lovers can experience performances by leading artists from the worlds of theatre, dance, literature, film, comedy, cabaret, poetry, fashion, art as well as music, all over one weekend.

“Latitude also offers the unique opportunity to watch artists perform new material before anyone else, and is a launch pad for many artists on their way to sell out tours and superstardom.”

How, what and when...?