This time last year we were waxing lyrical about all the Scottish talent at Latitude with the Phantom Band and Admiral Fallow leading the charge.
We’re not counting Django Django. While they’re ace, they’re now London-based and Scotchlandia barely registers. So that means no up and coming Scottish talent on the line-up? Let’s check that line-up again, just to be sure. Nope, not a drop.
So then, moving on to what we do have… here’s a bundle of twenty bands well worth a look if you’re heading to Suffolk for four days of musical festivities and the rest of the shenanigans going on. Don’t forget the comedy and cabaret too, this is one festival you’ll never be bored at!
BATTLES
Now a wildly different beast – and a three-piece – since touring debut album Mirrored, their ever-so-slightly-mental take on avant-garde post rock could go either way in a field full of posh public schoolies. We’ll be down the front though!
Where to see them: Word Arena, Sunday
ST. VINCENT
One of our favouritest lady artists ever, we’ve never seen Annie Clark play live before. We’re EXCITED.
Where to see her: Word Arena, Sunday
BAT FOR LASHES
See above. Nastasha Khan is an astoundingly talented lady. We’ve seen her play before, but there’s new material looming so this is another mouthwatering prospect on the main stage.
Where to see her: Obelisk Arena, Sunday
dEUS
Incredibly the Belgian art-poppers are still going strong and still making fresh, wonderful music. We’ll resist shouting for Suds and Soda and Roses as they’ve much more to offer, but that’s what we’ll be crossing our fingers for…
Where to see them: Word Arena, Saturday
SLOW CLUB
Rather fabulous grown up pop music and the perfect fit for Latitude. The band are now getting the recognition they deserve and this will be a hugely fun occasion.
Where to see them: iArena, Sunday
BRETON
Fidgety DIY electro-pop is the order of the day here. Debut album Other People’s Problems is a bit of an overlooked gem and we’ve heard they’re really something special live.
Where to see them: iArena, Friday
DJANGO DJANGO
Okay, okay they may be only vaguely Scottish, but they’re looking like one of the bands of the year. We’re going to be all over this.
Where to see them: iArena, Saturday
FIRST AID KIT
Ridiculously youthful Swedish sisters who have been all over 6 Music, channelling Emmylou Harris. Perfectly chilled outdoor fare.
Where to see them: Obelisk Arena, Friday
tUnE-yArDs
Faintly unhinged genre non-specific Canadian. Incredible on record, wondering how she’ll recreate last year’s Whokill album live is half the appeal.
Where to see her: iArena, Friday
SHARON VAN ETTEN
The National’s Aaron Dessner lent a massive hand to van Etten latest’s album Tramp, a rugged variation on country soul. If the National man turns up that will be three Latitudes in a row; even if he doesn’t this will still be worth it.
Where to see her: Word Arena, Saturday
THE FIELD
A scan of Latitude’s official line-up would suggest that German dance artist the Field are opening the iArena, but there are rumours that stage will finish each night with some late night trance. The similarly hypnotic Apparat and Walls are down for similar slots on the other days. If the rumours are true, this could be an awesome idea.
Where to see them: iArena, Friday
WE ARE AUGUSTINES
This NYC three piece look destined for the mainstream so this could be a last chance to catch them on a small stage. There’s a whiff about the Killers around Billy McCarthy’s vocals but debut album Rise Ye Sunken Ships is good enough to rise above the sniffiness.
Where to see them: iArena, Sunday
TOY
We’re liking the sound of this lot. Horrors-y with a health dose of shoegaze and psychedelia. Stuffed teddy bears are unlikely to be involved.
Where to see them: The Lake Stage, Saturday
KURT VILE
Last year’s Smoke Ring for My Halo was a lovely mix of both lo-fi and anthemic sounds. Much as we like Bon Iver, this sounds like a pleasant way to polish off Friday night.
Where to see him: iArena, Friday
THE WAR ON DRUGS
And it’ll be interesting to see if Vile is on site to hook up with his old band who are due on much earlier in the day, hawking their no less wonderful Slave Ambient record.
Where to see them: Word Arena, Friday
FRANCOIS AND THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS
Putain de merde! Those Frenchies aren’t supposed to be any use at all at indie-pop, but here are former Fence favourites (now on Domino) showing us that French music isn’t all Halliday and Gainsbourg. Lovely.
Where to see them: iArena, Sunday
THE CAST OF CHEERS
Possibly the best named band on site, we hear they also enjoy crowd members shouting “NORM!” at them. And when they’re not strangling crowd members with guitar leads, they play a nice line in glitchy guitar pop.
Where to see them: The Lake Stage, Sunday
OF MONSTERS AND MEN
Big-sounding chamber pop from Iceland. That one song they’ve been playing on 6 Music has piqued our curiosity big style.
Where to see them: The Lake Stage, Sunday
I BREAK HORSES
Dreamlike shoegazey types from Sweden. Last year’s Hearts album got the blogosphere very excited, and for goods reasons too.
Where to see them: iArena, Saturday
DAUGHTER
Vaguely rootsy folk pop fronted by the ethereal Elena Tonra. They popped up in the Blogger’s Alternative Sound of 2012 shortlist and are an ideal fit for the atmospheric woods of the iArena.
Where to see them: iArena, Sunday
