THE LAKE STAGE

FRIDAY
 
~ Everything Everything ~ Islet ~ Engine EarZ Experiment ~ Esben And The Witch ~
~ The Good Natured ~ Yuck ~ Y Niwl ~
 
SATURDAY
 
~ Gaggle ~ Frankie & The Heartstrings ~ Teeth ~ Nedry ~
~ Zun Zun Egui ~ Sweet Baboo ~ Standard Fare ~

SUNDAY
 
~ Beth Jeans Houghton ~ Tom Williams & the Boat ~ Kelpe ~
~ Wilder ~ Mitchell Museum ~

A few metres away from the crystal waters of Latitude’s core landscape feature, The Lake Stage provides tantalisingly early glimpses of Radio 1’s DJ and champion of new music Huw Stephens’ freshest tips. Latitude audiences are treated to a full parade of diverse and exhilarating bands about to be splashed across magazines up and down the country. The first acts have just been confirmed and Latitude is excited to announce the following rising stars to the line-up:

Friday‘s line-up so far:

Scatterpop outfit Everything Everything has long been skewering tropical rhythms with skyscraper synth lines. The attention they've deserved is now forthcoming, what with an inclusion in the BBC ‘Sound of 2010’ poll and an NME Radar Tour with fellow Manchester band Delphic. With a trio of hyper-falsetto voices squeezing twenty words into each second, these intelligent lads are blatant R. Kelly aficionados and seem to appreciate the bewildering qualities of math-rock or Radiohead and Pavement's slanted anthemic structures. The world is theirs if they choose, but for now they can have a Latitude headlining slot.

Welsh DIY no-wave outfit Islet have shunned the traditional online marketing avenues to success and have instead concentrated on writing and performing good music that needs no gimmicks or PR stunts. Their brutal energy and passion has earned them a fevered following in their hometown of Cardiff, as well as being featured on Radio 1 and in NME. Their performance on the Friday of Latitude will certainly be one to watch.

Engine EarZ Experiment is a diverse collective, feathering traditional Asian melodies and instrumentation, with a penchant for bringing the unfamiliar to the table. Expect flute beatboxing across tablas, dubstep bass rumbles and searing guitar licks. Their seamless merging of influences has seen them headline Glastonbury's BBC Introducing Stage last year and secure a prestigious Maida Vale recording session.

Eloquent and economical sonics merge with a shivering, shuddering atmosphere in Esben & The Witch's soothing albeit eerie electronica. They've already released a stunning 7” single with cool 4AD owned independent Too Pure, and this Brighton bunch are set to seep into your bloodstream. More subtle and daring than their peers, it's the unfolding majesty that snares your attention though the icy, Siouxsie-esque howl will remain in the memory for just as long.  

Described by the Guardian as: “a techno Dido, a Lily Allen who's given in to depression, or a Kate Nash who wants to prove herself with serious clubbers”, Sarah McIntosh a.k.a The Good Natured is soon to join the legion of strong, successful female solo performers currently gracing the charts. Her forlorn and honest lyrics over intricate, electro beats are a perfect match and her set on Friday should not be missed.

Seemingly falling in between the well stocked gap separating My Bloody Valentine and The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Yuck up the harmonious pop ante. Supporting Dinosaur Jr. and Built to Spill in London, joining noisy duo Japandroids as well as lo-fi heroes Times New Viking around these isles, they're in amazingly abrasive melodic company. Their positive, upbeat fuzztones will be in full swing come the summer.

Y Niwl may not come from the sun-soaked shores of California, but they've certainly struck a chord with their surf-twang addled sound. Jamming upon a familiar theme, this Welsh four-piece ride the wave of that classic organ sound, while the percussion shuffles and the guitar and bass duel on a wash of reverb.

Confirmed for Saturday so far:

23 brightly berobed females, all independent yet all functioning as choral unit: Gaggle return to The Lake Stage after an exciting set in 2009. Having released their debut single 'I Hear Flies' on Transgressive earlier in the year after numerous assemblies at venues around the country, it's about time the wider world were aware of this extraordinary collective. Dramatic, undulating vocalisations take on a dominating military force, manifesting in aural gang warfare on an intimidatingly awesome scale.

You can't move at the moment for the name Frankie & The Heartstrings. Though unsigned, they're managed by a co-owner of indie label Wichita and their Roxy Music via Libertines stomp has already captivated fellow Sunderland dwellers The Futureheads who they've been supporting on tour. Headlining Huw Stephens' stage on Saturday, their inexorable rise seems inevitable.

Describing themselves optimistically as “the world's second greatest pop band” The Teeth are an odd London band who mix a kitsch rawness with melodies. Streamlined to focus on their wonky tunes, you can hear every instrumental clunk and vocal tic. They're bound to be one of the wonderfully unique bands at this year's festival.

Taking the ominous grinding of sub-bass and sifting svelte, haunting female vocals upon it, London trio Nedry have merged the underground with the palatable sounds of now à la The xx. Their debut album ‘Falcons’ is winning accolades across the board and they are due to tour with excellent instrumental rock band, and Latitude's Sunrise stage faves from last year, 65daysofstatic. 

Zun Zun Egui are a vibrant four piece who blur the lines of melody and rhythm with smeared guitars, prominent percussion and Mauritian vocalist Kush chanting enticing patterns over the whole mess. Having built up a dedicated following from performances at End of the Road festival and the release of their EP ‘Bal La Poussiere’ last year, the zeitgeist has seemingly finally caught up with them and their African influences. They slot into Latitude's diverse and exuberant line-up perfectly.

Sweet Baboo is Stephen Black, a Cardiff-based acoustic troubadour who comes armed with a dark and wry sense of humour as well as an array of simple, country and folk-inspired tunes. With an alternately gruff and faltering voice, his songs are wrapped in pathos as well as comic asides. Inspired by the genius Daniel Johnston, there's a lot to learn from Sweet Baboo's blunt, honest approach.

Standard Fare have recently released 'The Noyelle Beat' and its indelibly catchy chiming indie lilt is buoyed by Emma Kupa's meandering vocal lines, allowed to roam across all sorts of peaks and troughs. Receiving great reviews across the underground press encouraging Artrocker to gush that it's "an album that is as close to perfection as you could hope for”. Their summery pop is perfect for the rays Latitude's attendees will be basking in while they're playing.

Sunday will see:

Hailing from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Beth Jeans Houghton and the Hooves of Destiny spring forth a barrage of folk and country-tainted songs, ranging from the banjo-shreddingly upbeat to echo chamber melancholia. A striking presence both alone and with her new four piece backing band, Beth has been lucky enough to support an eclectic bunch of luminaries, from Bon Iver, St Vincent and Mumford & Sons, to Tinariwen, Tunng and Imogen Heap. With only a couple of EPs to her name, she has made progress by playing the live circuit, building up her illuminating and seductively superb songs. 

From perhaps the unlikeliest hotbed in the UK, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Tom Williams & the Boat are an exceptional sextet. They've already had the ivory tinkling stamp of approval from the singer-songwriter Chris T-T and it seems they now have the immense, influential weight of Huw Stephens' respected opinion.

New Rough Trade signings Wilder are an exciting proposition. A four-piece named after 40’s film noir legend Billy Wilder, they are a fusion of Friendly Fires, The Whip, The Rapture and Gossip with a digital groove akin to Talking Heads and Captain Beefheart. With such an eclectic set of influences they have attracted a lot of attention in a small amount of time, having already supported The Strokes’ frontman Julian Casablancas and The Maccabees. They will play The Lake Stage on Sunday afternoon.

Electronic shimmering and glitch-addled beats are the stock-in-trade of Kel McKeown, otherwise known as Kelpe. Last year’s third full-length ‘Cambio Wechsel’ is packed with Prefuse 73 and Flying Lotus minimalism. It's clear time spent supporting Aphex Twin, To Rococo Rot and the like hasn't been wasted. With a constant slew of remixes and mixtapes from the restless cerebellum of Kelpe, he and live drummer Chris Walmsley aren't likely to rest on their laurels – least of all for their anticipated set for Huw Stephens. 

Glasgow foursome, Mitchell Museum dish out a rollicking burst of brazen chanting across a hazy pop mirage. Their delightful sky-gliding tunes are picturesque pop perfection. They’ll fill the lakeside with an especially sunny outlook.

With many more bands to be announced over the weekend – The Lake Stage is the place to discover tomorrow’s stars today!