After a slow but sure start, the 2009 Latitude Festival has once again become one the UK's most intriguing and interesting musical events of the year.

From their many middle-of-the-night, middle-of-the-woods surprises, some of the best smoothies known to man, an entire army of coloured sheep, water and light displays, good food, a good atmosphere and tonnes of great bands, if you still haven't decided whether it's worth going or not this year (some tickets are still available), we thought we'd sway you a little with a preview of what's to come in just two days time.

Not only is there fantastic music to enjoy but the film, comedy, art and literature tents are an absolute necessity to visit, so make sure you've got enough time for everything (massage tents and all).

Here is the Strangeglue preview of the tens bands you just can't afford to miss this weekend:

Doves

Saturday 19th - Obelisk Arena

Once again blowing up Britain's music scene with more force than an Abrams tank, Doves latest record Kingdom Of Rust was not only a fantastic venture into broader musical territory for the trio but also showed just how adept they were at sophisticated indie-rock. Their live performances are breath-taking so, considering they've a managed to grab a slot on Latitudes main Obelisk Arena stage this year, you'd be silly not to place these guys right near the top of your list of bands to see.

Doves - Kingdom Of Rust Review: HERE

Thom Yorke

Sunday 20th - Obelisk Arena - Noon

Without needing much of an introduction, the Thom Yorke announcement was possibly the most unexpected of all of the artists confirmed to play at this weekend's festival. Filling the mammoth shoes of Joanna Newsom - who put on a cracking show at lunchtime last year, was always going to be difficult, but a solo show from Mr Yorke is a rare and special occasion in its own right so coupling that with the laid back atmosphere and beautiful surroundings of Latitude, what you have is mid-afternoon delight that you'd be mad to miss. Fingers crossed for some Radiohead classics all on his lonesome.

Thom Yorke Video Of The Week: HERE

Manchester Orchestra

Sunday 19th - Uncut Arena

After releasing one the best records of the year so far, Manchester Orchestra are a success story if ever we heard one. Fusing emotional rock with alternative, catchy melodies, the band are flying ever skyward and yet still somehow remain perfectly grounded, never once letting their growing popularity get in the way of their passion for creating music. They'll be playing over at the Uncut Arena so if you have yet to experience the power of their musings in a live atmosphere then we honestly can't recommend checking these guys out enough. A word of caution though: it will be pretty intense.

Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing Review: HERE

Mew

Friday 17th - Uncut Arena

With their fifth and newest LP on the cusp of release, Danish collective Mew are widely seen as one of the best Scandinavian outfits to ever hit the alternative music scene. Gradually building a worldwide fanbase and sticking a middle-finger up to conventional musicianship, their impressive, progressive and always experimental art is a must see, especially in a Festival setting. This will be incredible.

Mew - No More Stories EP Review: HERE

Casiokids

Sunday 19th - The Lake Stage

Up and coming in the biggest and best way possible, Casiokids are said to be one the most enjoyable new Festival bands to witness. Fusing intelligent dance beats with unbelievably catchy melodies and plenty of cow-bells for good measure, the band are known for their energetic stage presence and pogo-stick oriented antics during songs. Though the stage is small, their music most certainly is not so if you're looking to get your 'dance on' this weekend, then these guys should not be missed.

Casiokids Live At Loop Festival 2009: HERE

Fight Like Apes

Sunrise Arena - Sunday 19th

Alternative Irish collective Fight Like Apes entered 2009 with the intent to break out of their underground constraints and we're proud to say that they have whole-heartedly achieved it with their debut full-length Fight Like Apes And The Mystery Of The Gold Medallion. Holstering other EP's with names including David Carridine Is A Bounty Hunter Whos Robotic Arms Hate Your Crotch and How Am I Supposed To Kill You If You Have All The Guns?, the band are obviously more about the fun side of indie-rock. Catch them if you can.

Fight Like Apes - Fight Like Apes And The Mystery Of The Golden Medallion Review: HERE

Bombay Bicycle Club

The Lake Stage - Saturday 18th

After a two year wait from debut EP to debut LP, Bombay Bicycle Club finally delivered with their recent and very first full-length I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose. Their laid back, care-free charm was replaced with a more mature, darker and rockier presence that was knitted wonderfully into their already recognisable sound. If genuinely decent, well constructed indie is your thing then you simply must stop by The Lake Stage and check them out on the Saturday.

Bombay Bicycle Club - I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose Review: HERE

Pulled Apart By Horses

The Lake Stage - Saturday 18th

Swiftly growing Leeds rockers Pulled Apart By Horses are pretty hardcore for a band about to explode with hype, and they don't seem to be giving up any time soon. Known for their raucous, borderline insane live performances (vomit and all), the band are as crazy as they are fantastic musicians and though we managed to catch them live late last month in Cambridge, we're still looking forward to witnessing their thunderous musings in an outdoor environment.

Pulled Apart By Horses Live At The Portland Arms, Cambridge: HERE

Dear Reader

Sunrise Arena - Saturday 18th 

Hailing from Johannesburg South Africa, Dear Reader are a strange combination of folk characteristics, pop sensibilities and alternative song-writing. Calm and gentle one minute, the band then twist their sound into darker territory, tinting their sprightly music with shadowy strings and unsettled rhythms. They're fantastic on CD as their debut LP Replace Why With Funny clearly displayed.

Dear Reader - Replace Why With Funny Review: HERE

Dear Reader Exclusive Latitude Interview: HERE

Of Montreal

Obelisk Arena - Friday 17th

Being thrown straight in at the deep-end so to speak, Of Montreal are set to play on Latitude's rather large Obelisk Arena on the Friday, proving that they're really a much bigger band than some give them credit for. Time after time they've delivered wildly experimental and thoroughly enjoyable music and their live personalities are supposed to be even more theatrical than the music itself. ATP last year was crazy..... You'd be a fool to miss this.

Of Montreal Myspace page: HERE

And if all of that fine music wasn't enough for you, then the Comedy and Literary tents will certainly appeal to the middle class-person trying to escape from you.

Comedy wise you you've got big names such as Ed Byrne, Jo Brand, Sean Lock and Dave Gorman as well as the 'Latitude New Act Of The Year' which displays fresh-faced comedians getting their chance to perform in front of a bigger audience.

The Film tent boasts a host of impressive screenings as well as a few Q&A's, one of which is with Shane Meadows and Paddy Considine. If that's not a reason to explore around a bit, we don't know what it is.

There's Scabble Sunday in Pandora's Playground, hidden art displays buried deep in the woods, 2AM movie screenings by the lake and plenty of random trails to follow that may or may not lead you to some pretty magical things. Either way, you've really got to be there to witness just how well organised and unforgettable the entire event truly is.

Make sure to check back over the coming weekend where we'll be covering the entire event from start to finish.