Duran Duran to play Lovebox event

Simon Le Bon says Duran Duran are big fans of the festival

Pop legends Duran Duran and hip-hop group NERD will join festival founders Groove Armada as headline acts for London event Lovebox.

The gig will be the only UK festival that Duran Duran, best known for hits including Rio and Planet Earth, will play this year.

Singer Simon Le Bon said they were "thrilled" to have been asked and added playing will be a "real highlight".

The two-day event takes place in London's Victoria Park from 18 July.

'Delighted'

"The band are big fans of the festival and we were delighted to be asked by Tom and Andy [Groove Armada] to take part," said Le Bon.

"We were on the road for the whole of 2008 and are now back in the studio working on new music," added the musician.

Groove Armada asked Duran Duran to play after bumping into them at a party in Ibiza.

Hotly tipped act Florence & The Machine have also been added to the Saturday night bill, along with Friendly Fires and New Zealand outfit Fat Freddys Drop.

This year the festival will take place on an expanded 40 acre site.