Latitude 17th - 20th July 2008

What can you say about Latitude? - they certainly pulled it out of the bag with this one, a rare treat and a very chilled out festival with so much on offer that people are truly spoiled for choice. Latitude has filled a gap that I don't think we knew really existed.

Following its inaugural year in 2006 Latitude was voted number 4 in the Guardian's best festival poll - quite an accolade for a brand new festival. On top of that they won the won Best Festival, Best Alternative Festival and Best Overall Facilities in the BBC 6 Music Poll.

As if that wasn't enough Latitude then got itself voted Best festival by The Independent On Sunday End Of Year Review - this is a very special festival.

Latitude is billed as 'more than just music' and it certainly is, Latitude has a really chilled out ambiance where people can marauder and wander from music to comedy to poetry with art and politics thrown into the mix as well. A real eclectic and clever mix that goes into ensuring that this really is a festival with a difference and that difference makes it quite unique as it defies all the usual genre stereotyping.

Now the ground breaking Latitude Festival returns to the sunrise coast in Suffolk for its incredible third year - organisers Festival Republic are promising another truly spectacular event.

Last year’s sold out festival hosted a line-up of the highest quality acts across all arenas. With the sun making a rare appearance during the flood-filled, rain-soaked summer, Latitude shone brightly, a glittering and shimmering sun - drenched oasis by the coast.

Discovering and exploring new things is a big part of the Latitude experience. Whether it’s encountering a thrilling live band on one in one of the many Music Arenas, discovering new musical talent on the Lake Stage, being engrossed in a brand new novel at the Literary Arena, unearthing the next Wordsworth at the Poetry Arena, side-splitting laughter in the Comedy Arena, quirky freaky experiences in the Cabaret Arena or being blown away by an exhilarating production at the Theatre Arena, Latitude always has something fresh, vibrant and exciting to offer from the vast world of creative arts.

Latitude’s now trademark diversity of art, entertainment and attractions has re-written the rulebook of traditional festivals, creating a truly innovative event that continues to inspire and influence. Offering the festival goer the full spectrum of art with individual arenas dedicated to film, theatre, poetry, literature, cabaret, comedy and of course music, it is a pioneering approach that has established Latitude as a peer-less and unique experience.

Latitude Festival 2008 will push things further with an incredible, exciting new line up that will guarantee another wonderful weekend in the beautiful surroundings of Henham Park.

"Edition 3 of Latitude. I cannot wait. It has so much in store that July 17th cannot come quickly enough for me. Latitude has, as I had hoped, re written the rule book of what a festival might be and can be and of course therefore, immediately influenced other existing festivals and spurned copy cats. I am hardly surprised except that it has happened so quickly. It is a great compliment but it is only that. The real true festival of musical harmony, artistic and creative beauty is on the sunrise coast and is Latitude."
Festival Republic Managing Director Melvin Benn

Latitude and The Arts

Latitude has always been more than just a music festival with a wonderful line up from the world of creative arts. Across 6 separate arenas Latitude offers an incredible line up of the most gifted comedians, film makers, visual artists, poets, writers, actors and dancers around. Spanning the lush Henham Park site the Comedy, Poetry, Literature, Theatre, Music + Film and Cabaret Arenas are neatly positioned excitedly awaiting your arrival.

Last year someone said to me that for them, Latitude was a cultural adventure and I love the idea that people are coming to Latitude to ride on the arts rollercoaster, so to speak. At Latitude the audience can get the chance to sample the whole plethora of the arts, enjoying artists’ work that they already know and also discover a whole new world of artists, actors, poets, writers, film makers, not to mention dance moves that they’ve never done or even seen before! The audience at Latitude are particularly enthusiastic about getting involved and the Bollywood and mambo dance classes last year were full, as was the ‘embrace your inner drag queen’ workshop, which was quite possibly one of my favourite moments from last year. It’s great that people can take home a goodie bag filled with new experiences along with a new found ability to lindy hop! This year, I hope to bring something exciting and different to the festival experience and have booked what I think are some incredibly stimulating and quality artists into each of the arts arenas. I’m also delighted that we have coming to Latitude some of the best arts organisations that the UK has to offer, with the Royal Court Theatre, The Bush, Paines Plough, Nabokov and The Pleasance bringing stunning plays and writers to the festival and I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Sadler’s Wells who will be presenting world class dance. I can hardly contain my excitement at some of the acts that are coming to Latitude and I just can’t wait to see contemporary dance performed on the lake against the beautiful backdrop of Henham Park.
Tania Harrison Arts Programmer