JUST over a week to go to Latitude, and arguably the bill of the summer - as detailed in the recent missive.

Several additions to the line-up too, with three Essex artists on the bill - Colchester's Luke Wright, Domino outfit These New Puritans from Southend and XL signings Magistrates from South Woodham Ferrers.

Check www.latitudefestival.co.uk for the full line-up.

One of the biggest draws of Latitude is the environment in which it is staged - a stunning country park with a lake, multi-coloured sheep, vast woodland areas, erm, squirrels, grizzly bears, the lot.

Here, some of those who are playing the festival offer their thoughts on various aspects of Latitude; indie rock legend Julian Cope, top comedians Stewart Lee and Bill Bailey, and local representatives Magistrates and Luke Wright all deliver their views ahead of what's guaranteed to be a top weekend in the countryside...

Julian Cope:

Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year's Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?

I don't go to festivals to see anyone in particular. For myself, what makes a festival great is not who you saw but who you missed, as it is evidence that there was so much going on you could not hope to take it all in.

What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?

The name of the festival is its most essential aspect, for its title sums up everything about living here in these islands.

We are lucky to be in a geographical location where food is guaranteed through our highly temperate climate, and where there is some kind of balance between the sexes.

What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?

People can expect a beautiful array of instruments, including two Mellotrons and several marching drums plus the strangest percussion rack this side of a Harry Partch composition.

There will be epic amplifiers and extremely pretty guitars, plus anecdotes and strange tales. Also, I shall be playing both old and new material at the festival.

If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?

I'd be researching for my next book, which is a study of the Ancient Law.

What is your favourite colour sheep?

I'm interested only in the black sheep.

Stewart Lee:

Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year's Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?

Julian Cope, John Hegley, Ken Campbell and Steward Lee, who is listed on the ads as being on in Robin Ince's Book Club. He has almost the same name as me so I am looking forward to seeing what he is like.

What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?

The fact that you can go in the theatre, comedy and spoken words tents and actually hear what people are saying, which never happens at any other festivals.

What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?

I will be doing 20ish mins of old material on the big comedy stage and lots of little sets of new stuff at the Book Club.

If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?

Staying at home working.

What is your favourite colour sheep?

Black.

Bill Bailey:

Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year's Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?

Elbow, Sigur Ros, Interpol, Phill Jupitus doing Porky the Poet, Mark Lamarr doing God's Jukebox, Rich Hall.. John Hegley, Elbow, because they are wonderful, Sigur Ros cos I love the grandness, the huge sounds, the slow build.

Interpol cos they continue the spirit of guitar indie punk that I grew up on, Phil is doing poetry again, which is great, what he did before anything, his first love, Mark is playing records - what he loves - and Rich Hall is doing Otis, but also just stand-up - we've toured together, and it's always good to hear what he has to say. John Hegley is performing who was an early inspiration.

What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?

I love the mix of stuff, the great bands, and the fact there is a Poetry Arena.

Good vibes all round.

What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?

I will bring my Bouzouki-Saz Hybrid and I will act on the impulse of the crowd.

If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?

Holding up shells to my ear.

What is your favourite colour sheep?

Blue.

Luke Wright:

Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year's Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?

Stewart Lee is always a treat, so I'm hoping to catch him in the comedy arena. I've also never seen Blondie so I'm looking forward to that. As programmer and host of the Poetry Arena I'll be spending a lot of time there and I'm really looking forward to Carol Ann Duffy, Adrian Mitchell and my fellow compere Tim Clare, who is always tip-top.

What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?

I love the fact that it's as much about poetry and the other art forms as it is about music. I love the fact that a punter might come along to see a band like Franz Ferdinand and end up spending four hours in the Poetry Arena. The number of people who have contacted me saying that Latitude was there first introduction to live poetry is huge and they keep coming back.

What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?

I'll be compering for about eight hours a day in the Poetry Arena. I have a stack of new poems planned and the late night Aisle16 & Friends sessions are always a shambolic joy.

If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?

Going on holiday. But who needs sun loungers and trashy fiction anyway?

What is your favourite colour sheep?

Pink!

Magistrates - Uncut Arena Saturday - Essex:

Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year's Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?

Well hopefully we will be about on the Sunday so we can see M.I.A. she is an amazing talent we always have her playing in bus, also I don't know what day he is playing but I love Ross Noble. there are so many people playing. I think I will actually head over to the comedy tent as its not often you can play and then watch comedy.

What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?

That there is so much going on. it seems different to most festivals. music poetry film, a nice mixture for everyone. you could take you mum and dad, brother and sister to Latitude.

What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?

That's a tough question to answer, we will bring the sun and good music that will make you feel great for the rest of the weekend.

Nothing special planned just of yet we tend to think of these things the day before that way its extra special.

If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?

Continue recording our album most possibly.

What is your favourite colour sheep?

I speak for myself, no idea what the other guys favourite sheep is. In my mind I like the idea of a black sheep with white stripes. In fact that's what we have planned, we are going to bring on stage a sheep with white stripes, not Jack and Meg, however that could be interesting!