Live Review

Latitude Festival – Henham Park, Southwold

• 20th Jul 2011

Latitude is a special festival, with something for everyone, and a mixture of artists on a mixture of stages, but most importantly it is extremely well organised. Where else would you find multi-coloured dyed sheep, and some of the greatest bands of all time, next to an enchanted wood, lessons on foraging and a poetry tent?

It really is like a mini-Glastonbury, a real warm hearted hippy-fest, minus the annoying hippies. There was a kids area, which I guess is appealing if you want to have your children occupied at a festival, but it’s my personal idea of hell, seeing as I work everyday with children, festivals are my escape from them! There is almost too much going on at Latitude – I have a severe case of artist envy so it’s a difficult festival for me!

Arriving on Friday and not looking forward to the weather forecast, myself and my entourage took things very slowly, I mean 4 hours and one cider slowly! We went to see The Duke and The King, who played a great set, for quite an unknown band they held themselves well. (They’re also playing the Summer Sundae next weekend, go watch!). then we had a wonder to take in the amazing site. The multi-coloured sheep and the interesting artwork. Everything Everything, playing their 21st century sex music was the next act we saw, weening our way out of the working week slowly, and aside from being jam packed, it was incredible.

Bombay Bicycle Club were also good, but almost disappointing in that it seemed that they hadn’t really progressed from the festivals of last year, but don’t get me wrong, it was still fantastic, a great alternative to the Headline act for Friday – The National. I don’t really get them, but everyone else seemed to be enjoying them. they had a festival sound, but in hindsight didn’t really deserve a headlining slot. Yes, they fit the bill, but they lacked the charisma and excitement of the other headliners, that almost made them seem begrudging.

A cold, almost wintery night, of spooky searching in the forest, and bonfires (I can not tell you how much entertainment there is at Latitude) left me feeling slightly less than refreshed, and Latitude being so chilled out made me feel like I didn’t want my vodka breakfast of festivals gone by!

Seeing Ed Sheeran live really converted me, I mean he is very likeable, and his single is only just getting to the overplayed mark, but live he is hilarious. Not like laughing at a ginger kid in the playground funny, but his songs are humorous AND UPBEAT, joy, and he’s a funny guy – the new single is great, and I think he was my biggest festival surprise. Think a slightly politer male Lily Allen. (That’s a good thing in my mind by the way).

Echo and The Bunnymen need to quit. I know I’m offending thousands of fans out there when I say it, but the set was missable, though I’m sure it would have been epic for a huge fan. As for frontman Ian McCulloch, he came on and looked like a past-it rock star, smoking a cigarette, looked like he was drunk and wearing sunglasses in a dark place, not on. Then he started cracking out the dance moves and songs, looking like, well, my dad souped up on a jar of whiskey accidentally on stage.

Something alternative and ever exciting was Jason Byrne in the comedy bit. A massively full tent, he was being hilariously funny, and mid punchline the power goes, so, the trooper that he is, after a little kerfuffle, got the audience, fully excited like 6 year olds at the prospect of no power, to continue his joke and to sing ‘Popcorn’ so that he could finish his joke and his set. What team spirit, it was superb, except that the poor kids in the room had no idea what popcorn was!

The poetry was interesting, I went to have a gander as it would be rude not to, and I wanted to say that I had experienced Latitude fully, and although I don’t know who I saw or what on earth he was on about, I really did quite enjoy the experience. It is a great way of bringing the festival together and a way to chill out from the madness of a festival, and the rain in 2011’s case.

I Am Kloot are another of those bands that I know, but have never seen, and they were spectacular. Very Mancunian, and if you could translate it, they had great interaction with the crowd and were perfect for Saturday!

Now, if you didn’t know, there is a very large place in my heart for Seasick Steve (Hey, Steve, if you read this, I love you). He and his band, compromising of John Paul Jones from the one and only Led Zep played a spectacular set. Yes it was rainy, but at that point I didn’t care. It was easy to get into even if you didn’t know the songs, and everyone seemed to be enjoying it! I just wish I was the girl he pulls up on stage with him!! Massively weird crush aside though, Seasick Steve is my one recommendation for you to see live, at a festival, on tour, wherever, it is just phenomenal.

Adam Ant was dressed like a twat – but a bloody sexy old man one at that. Playing all the hits (can I call them hits at 23? My mum would), and surrounded by about as many drunk middle aged women as Latitude could find, he was superb.

They Might Be Giants, best known for theme tune for Malcom In The Middle, were brilliant! It was raining (are you noticing a common theme to the weekend?), but it was great fun! Everyone was dancing, well, in-between umbrellas, and although my friends, and the bored looking kids belonging to the pissed parents disagreed, it was brilliant!

Foals were exceptional. I cant explain just how brilliant they were, yes the crowd was tame, and the tent was extremely sweaty, but the mix of songs, the links between them and the pure talent from the stage made them worthy of Obelisk material for next year.

There is always something happening at Latitude, from the weird Waterfront Ballet, to the wonderful Outdoor theatre, bonfires, face painting, foraging and art, it is a wondrous festival, and after experiencing it some more we went to take our places at the stage for Mr Headliner.

Paolo was lucky that it wasn’t raining, although whatever the weather you still would not have been able to understand a word he was saying throughout his set! It was brilliant, great songs, great covers and he ended with Pyro and a jazz funk version of Last Request. What I love about popular bands and artists like Paolo is that by the time it’s headline time, and everyone wants to see them, the sing-alongs give me goosebumps, and this was again the case today. A fantastic end to a brilliant middle day.

My miss of the weekend? Wanda Jackson, word on the street was that she was an absolute legend, I am truly gutted!

By Sunday there was a common feel of ‘rain, rain, go away’ but it didn’t affect the atmosphere too much, just the ability to sit down unless you were wearing waterproof trousers!

Crystal Fighters played a fabulous set, chilled out, folky and beautiful, you could imagine pixies wondering across the stage. My problem? I thought I’d read Crystal Castles in the line up, so I was confused, bewildered, and luckily really impressed!

Sunday lunchtime’s ‘alternative headline act’ were Scala and Kolancy Brothers. I ate my sceptical hat. It was brilliant. I was not expecting anything great but was blown away by the simplicity but beauty of a choir singing some of my favourite indie rock songs! Have a look on YouTube for some of them, it’s exceptional, and on the Obelisk stage, a sound you can’t get from your computer, truly remarkable. I almost felt guilty, like I shouldn’t enjoy it, or that I should apologise for thinking that I wasn’t going to enjoy it anyway!

OMD. OMG. 1st time at a festival over here in 25 years, and they rocked it. I must admit my excuse for watching them was that it was torrential rain, and they were playing in a tent, which may be why it was so full, but when the blistering sunshine came out they all stayed! The dance moves were the best bit!

Suede, they may not have fit the bill, but they played out with style and enthusiasm. They were worthy headliners, loud, rock an roll and my performance of the weekend!

You cant underestimate Latitude, such a mix of activities and acts, and even weather this year, from blistering sunshine to torrential rain (and some snow in the forest!), Latitude is a festival that increases each year. Signed on for at least the next 15 years it is well worth a visit. It increases your social worth and your life experiences, I mean how many times can you say you’ve watched a great rock band just after watching an afro-carribean dance troupe, or witness poetry after some BAFTA award winning comedy, just after watching one of the most up and coming bands of the moment?! Latitude. Thank you.