If you’ve ever read anything about Latitude Festival before, chances are you will have been given a slightly cynical account of how ‘middle class’ and ‘un-festival’ like it is. This is … kind of true, but looking past the Cheese and Wine stalls, book shops, and Costa Coffee vans, there is an incredibly eclectic array of entertainment on show and it seems that the festival is beaten only by Glastonbury in terms of variety and activity.
Opening the main stage on Friday in glorious sunshine is Indie-Legend and all round nice guy Edwyn Collins who provides a truly inspirational and celebratory performance. The set includes songs from throughout his career as a solo artist and from Orange Juice, all sounding as fresh as the day these classic tracks were released. It is clear to see that Edwyn Collins has lost none of his captivating allure and energy as a performer as he delivers a truly triumphant set.
Next up, it’s raucous garage two piece Brown Brogues over on the Lake Stage who provide a thoroughly entertaining set, bashing their way through their songs as loudly and ferociously as possible until the drummer gets tired and they have to stop. Deerhunter play a little later in the Word arena and provide a set of highs and lows as a struggling Bradford Cox just about manages to make his way through the set with a fading voice. The band seems to be relying a little too much on atmospherics which slightly detracts from the masterful craft of their actual songs, although they are still able to hold a large crowd. After this, it’s a quick dash over the river to see Crocodiles in the Sunrise Arena who play a set that bristles with fuzz and feedback whilst Brandon Welchez becomes immersed in the swirling torrent of noise that accompanies the bands hazy Velvets-like sound.
Headlining the Friday night are The National who I have not listened too all that much but am assured by my friend that they are the band who will bring me closest to a musical out of body experience. Although this doesn’t happen, the band are certainly stirring and emotional and their Interpol meets Arcade Fire choruses are able to uplift the crowd and confirm their status as a headline worthy band.
Despite the onslaught of rain that greets us on Saturday, the sunny sounds of Y Niwl’s surf rock cheers us all up before we take cover in the Word Arena to watch British Sea Power who play a set so powerful you can almost grab hold of the sound waves coming off of the stage. As with all British Sea Power performances, the words to their songs are sung back by their hordes of adoring followers and the climax of the show comes with a thunderous and relentless version of Waving Flags, which caps off one of the sets of the festival.
A Johnny Marr-less Cribs perform over on the Main Stage with a set spanning all four of their albums with the most stirring moments coming from the more grandiose, brutal and epic songs such as Be Safe and closer City of Bugs. There’s nothing that really appeals to me in the line up on the Saturday night so I check out the guilty pleasures tent and hear Paul Simon’s You Can Call Me Al playing. Is that a guilty pleasure?
On Sunday we are treated to more torrential rain but the power of music is such that it can make you forget about wellies with tears in them or a leak in your tent that seems to have drilled a hole into your forehead overnight. Os Mutantes are the perfect antidote to this as their music exudes sunshine. A Minha Menina is positively radiant in its ability to spread joy and the band is able to disperse a little bit of Brazilian sunshine throughout Henham Park.
Mazes play a set that is unfortunately plagued by technical difficulties and the second guitar is barely audible throughout, Jack Cooper however is a charamsmatic enough performer to keep the crowd fixated. Fixers follow but are unable to deliver the anthemic explosions that their music threatens and are a bit of a disappointment.
Perhaps the main attraction of the festival is Suede who headline on Sunday.. Bernard Butler is typically flamboyant with an open necked shirt snaking his away across the stage which is sometimes alluring, but sometimes a bit like watching your Dad dance at a wedding.
If you know where to look, Latitude can be an exciting and mind expanding place to go, if you don’t - you might end up watching Dermot O’Leary play an “Indie Disco” set in the Woods and come out feeling a little violated. Expanding every year, the festival is definitely one to check out before it gets too huge