LATITUDE festival organisers have announced more acts for this summer's event and revealed that tickets are selling better than last year despite the current economic downturn.

LATITUDE festival organisers have announced more acts for this summer's event and revealed that tickets are selling better than last year despite the current economic downturn.

British musician Newton Faulkner, space rock band Spiritualized and Arkansas trio Gossip are the latest acts to be confirmed and will join headliners Grace Jones and the Pet Shop Boys at the event on the Henham estate between Beccles and Southwold.

Howard Devoto and his post punk pioneers Magazine also join the festival line-up which will include performances from indie rock bands Doves and Editors and indie songwriter Bat For Lashes. Irish singer and cabaret artist Camille O'Sullivan is also set to perform at the event which runs from July 16-19.

Over the last few years Latitude festival has garnered a reputation as one of the best places to see cutting edge music, comedy, poetry and theatre.

Radio DJ and presenter Mark Lamarr will be presenting his BBC Radio 2 show God's Jukebox in the music and film arena, while Sadler's Wells and the Royal Opera House will be showcasing stunning performances on the waterfront stage.

The Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and The Bush Theatre will also be in attendance as will the English Touring Theatre who will present Latitude's first musical, Been So Long.

The Britten Sinfonia will be performing in outdoor spaces and top authors in the literary arena will include Blake Morrison, Geoff Dyer and Robin Ince's Book Club, as well as workshops from the School of Life. Poets Andrew Motion, Brian Patten, Jackie Kay and Simon Armitage will be in the poetry arena, while the cabaret arena will welcome artists including Zimbani, Deborah Francis-White and Holly Walsh and Sophie Black.

A festival spokeswoman revealed tickets are selling well. “Latitude festival tickets have sold 50pc more than last year and are continuing to sell better than last year at this point in time,” she said.

Weekend tickets cost �150 plus booking fees. Day tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are �60 plus booking fee. Weekend tickets include car parking and camping. Day tickets include car parking only.

To book, call the credit card line on 0871 231 0821 or visit www.festivalrepublic.com, www.seetickets.com or www.latitudefestival.co.uk