Kraftwerk at The Catalogue Tate Modern. Picture PETER BOETTCHER PHOTOGRAPHY.

Electronic band Kraftwerk and indie-rockers Foals and Bloc Party have been named as the headliners for this year’s Latitude Festival.

Foals will be among the headliners

The three bands were among the acts unveiled this evening at a launch party in London.

Among the other music performers announced for the festival, which is held at Henham Park, near Southwold, were Norfolk’s Beth Orton, Hot Chip, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jessie Ware, Laura Mvula and Mercury Prize-winning Alt-J.

Comedy performers will include Dylan Moran, Daniel Kitson, Seann Walsh, Tim Key and Lee Nelson, with poets Carol Ann Duffy, Murray Lachlan Young and Liz Lochhead, writer Germaine Greer, the National Theatre Wales, artist David Shrigley and a celebration of David Bowie’s breakthrough year of 1973 in a programme of screenings, talks and live performances.

Festival founder Melvin Benn said: “As it enters the eighth edition, Latitude is now firmly established as the most artistically ambitious event in the UK summer calendar, with a line-up that goes from strength to strength each year.

“We’re delighted to welcome the forefathers of electronic music, Kraftwerk, to Latitude with their 3-D show who, along with Bloc Party and Foals, will headline an incredibly strong music programme that already includes some of 2013’s hottest acts.

“As always, however, music is just part of the experience, and our eleven arts arenas will play host to a selection of comedians, theatre companies, poets, writers and other performers that really do make Latitude much more than a music festival.”

The Obelisk Arena, which is the main music stage, will be headlined by British band Bloc Party on the Friday, German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk on Saturday with their ‘3-D concert’ and Oxford quintet Foals will close the festival on the Sunday.

Yannis, from Foals, said: “Latitude is always exciting, because they offer a very tasteful selection of acts. For our band, it’s an honour to headline alongside someone of the calibre of Kraftwerk – they can do whatever they like, they’re unique and you know they’re going to put on an incredible show. Bloc Party will be fantastic headliners too.”

There will be 12 exclusive UK music performances, including Hot Chip, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Mark Lanegan Band, while the festival has announced a new partnership with BBC Radio 6 Music and have named the second stage after the station, with Mercury Prize-winning Alt-J among those set to perform.

There will also be 11 dedicated arts arenas, stages and spaces for the festival with top names from comedy, film, dance, theatre, literature, poetry and cabaret on offer.Latitude Festival takes place from Thursday, July 18 to Sunday, July 21. Weekend adult tickets are £182.50, with 132.50 for teenagers, and £5 for a child’s ticket (aged 5-12). To buy visit www.latitudefestival.com or call 0871 231 0821.

For the full list of artists announced so far click on the links at the top of the page.