This year’s Latitude Festival is nearly ready to launch — with the first headliner being announced exclusively on Uncut.co.uk at 12noon today (March 19)!.

The acclaimed award-winning festival, now in it’s third year is set to run from July 17 – 20, at Henham Park Estate in Southwold, Suffolk.

The BIG Latitude Festival announcement is due to take place at 7pm tonight — The rest of the headline acts are to be revealed and tickets will go onsale!

5000 early bird tickets which went on sale at the end of 2007 sold out within a few weeks, so better be quick.

Latitude was launched in 2006 as an alternative to mainstream rock festivals like Glastonbury and Reading and its remit embraced not just music but also the best in comedy, films, books, theatre, poetry and cabaret.

Last year’s festival was headlined by Arcade Fire, Damon Albarn’s The Good, The Bad and the Queen and Damien Rice and also featured stunning performances from Wilco, Hold Steady,

Tinariwen, Jarvis Cocker and Rodrigo Y Gabriela and band’s for the 2008 next bash will be announced in due course.

Promoters Festival Republic promise an even-more stellar line-up in 2008, building on the success of the festival’s first two years, with a huge range of activities and brilliant music across the event’s multiple arenas.

Festival Republic have also announced plans for a week of Latitude-related performances at London’s ICA in June, in addition to a Longing For Latitude tour in the run-up to the festival.

More information about location, tickets etc are available from the official Latitude website here: www.latitudefestival.co.uk

Pic credit: Andy Willsher