Latitude 2014 line-up: Best music acts to see this weekend

The Independent's music editor selects the best artists to watch

Elisa Bray
Friday 18 July 2014 08:41 BST
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Fans watch acts perform live at Latitude Festival
Fans watch acts perform live at Latitude Festival (Getty Images)

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1. Damon Albarn
Saturday 19 July, Obelisk Arena, 19.30

The songwriter, producer and Blur frontman whose eclectic musical style and observational lyrics have made him one of the UK's most influential artists, headlines the Obelisk Arena. Expect a big show, with songs from his debut solo album, Everyday Robots.

2. The Black Keys
Sunday 20 July, Obelisk Arena, 21.30

Sunday will see the Black Keys in their first UK festival headline slot. The winners of seven Grammys and last year's Brit award for Best International Band, they went platinum in five countries with 2011's El Camino. The mix of traditional blues and psychedelic and garage rock on their latest album, Turn Blue, should see the Ohio band closing Latitude 2014 in fine style.

3. The War on Drugs
Sunday 20 July, BBC Radio 6 Music Stage, 19.25

The Philadelphia band are one of this year's breakthrough acts, their euphoric single “Red Eyes” and third album Lost in the Dream having garnered rave reviews. They bring their ambient folk-rock to the BBC Radio 6 Music Stage.

4. Haim
Sunday 20 July, Obelisk Arena, 18.30

The Haim sisters

Sisters Este, Danielle and Alana Haim have been making music together since they were old enough to pick up drumsticks and guitars. The LA-based band's debut album, Days Are Gone, is filled with radio-gold pop songs, and the punch and panache of their classic rock jams makes them an unmissable live act.

5. First Aid Kit
Saturday 19 July, Obelisk Arena, 18.30

Klara Soderberg of First Aid Kit

Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg bring their warm and engaging folk-rock melodies and harmonising vocals to the Obelisk Arena on Saturday.

6. Future Islands
Sunday 20 July, iArena, tbc

Ever since frontman Samuel T Herring's impassioned, chest-thumping performance on David Letterman's show in March, the Baltimore synth-pop band have been hot property, selling out their UK shows. Witness their compelling live show and infectious melodies at the iArena.

7. Bombay Bicycle Club
Saturday 21 July, Obelisk Arena, 20.00

Jack Steadman of Bombay Bicycle Club performs at Coachella 2014

The young four-piece have risen through the ranks of indie-pop and their latest album So Long, See You Tomorrow, is full of catchy hooks from the Bollywood-sampling single “Feel” to the aggressive “Carry Me”. Add the folk songs from 2010's Flaws, and indie-rock anthems of A Different Kind of Fix, and their set is bound to draw a big crowd to the main stage

8. Lykke Li
Sunday 20 July, BBC Radio 6 Music Stage, 22.00

Swedish singer Lykke Li

Following the success of Wounded Rhymes, and a new album, I Never Learn, on which her sensuous vocals are backed by a quirky, bass-heavy electro sound, the Swedish singer-songwriter and Latitude favourite Lykke Li headlines the BBC Radio 6 Music Stage on Sunday.

9. Atom Bomb! Who is William Onyeabor?
Sunday 20 July, Obelisk Arena, 13.00

On the Sunday afternoon, a band made up of members of Hot Chip, LCD Soundystem, the Beastie Boys and Scritti Politti will take over the Obelisk Arena, to bring the elusive Nigerian electronic music pioneer William Onyeabor's restless polyrhythmic funk to life.

10. Phantogram
Sunday 20 July, iArena, tbc

The Brooklyn band are already stars back home, and fast becoming so over here, since their excellent album Voices landed last month. Catch their eerie, dreamy folk and electro-indie shoegaze set at the iArena.

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