With the ever burgeoning plethora of festivals being brought to us this year it's hard to pick out the best of the bunch. But we at Safeconcerts think that Latitude - now in it's second year - is assuredly going to be the coolest of the bunch. There is absolutely no doubt that Latitude is so über cool that it's the festival that any self respecting festival connoisseur worth their salt will want to be seen at this year.
Latitude have grabbed the whole festival concept and turned it on it's head - the traditional rough and ready approach of some of our most well loved festivals is already being done in abundance - Latitude dares to be different and Latitude dares you to be different too - expect the unexpected is the watchword for this one.
Bursting at the seams with weird and wonderful sights and experiences, Latitude embraces and showcases an eclectic array of art, entertainment and attractions for all generations. Not a bad word has been heard about Latitude - and that's quite an astonishing accolade for a festival - even the best of them have their faults and with that those who are ready to shout about it - not so with Latitude - Latitude has a lot of very happy customers.
Held in one of the most stunning settings - and although just a fledgling infant - the award-winning and ground-breaking Latitude Festival is returning to the Sunrise Coast of Suffolk for its amazing second year. Hosted once again in the breathtaking grounds of Henham Park Estate, Southwold. Make no mistake about it - this is the festival you won't want to miss.
Latitude boasts three main music stages; The Obelisk, The Uncut and Sunrise stages, all showcasing an eclectic range of alternative, leftfield music spread over the three days. The music is specifically hand-picked for the festival; bands and artists chosen with the essence of Latitude in mind. Older, more established bands playing in harmony alongside Britain 's freshest new acts. The most recent additions to the line up add a new dimension to a festival already brimming over with a superb range of entertainment that can't fail to delight even the most discerning amongst us.
The Obelisk Arena has Hot Club De Paris completing the full line-up here - set to delight as they are currently enjoying success with their debut album Drop Till It Pops. Fresh from their now infamous show at SXSW in Austin, Texas, their angular and sometimes frantic fuzz-pop with occasional beat-boxing is a welcomed addition to the Friday afternoon. And Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist and lyricist Andrew Bird who has just released his tenth album 2007’s Armchair Apocrypha, brings his astonishing live show to the Sunday afternoon Obelisk Arena. With comparisons to Jeff Buckley, Thom Yorke and Rufus Wainwright, he also adds to the mix his unnatural whistling ability and an improvisatory aspect to his performance.
Popping over to the Uncut Arena - now really taking shape and bringing a stunning wealth of exciting and varied bands and artists . London based acoustic duo Turin Brakes will be bring their haunting, harmony-driven tunes to the Saturday night while the unique mix of hip-hop, rock, country, soul & gospel courtesy of Soulsavers who feature the unmistakable vocal stylings of Mark Lanegan will bring Sunday night alive. Elsewhere, Super Furry Animals front-man and guitarist Gruff Rhys with his solo acoustic pop songs; two-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist, musician, and songwriter from the United States Rickie Lee Jones; the folk/rock blues fusion of singer-songwriter Scott Mathews; Montreal-based The Dears who often have their complex arrangements and vocal style compared to The Smiths, Serge Gainsbourg and Joy Division; the enchanting and often melancholic Aqualung; the “indie generation's Dusty Springfield” (Guardian) Joan As Policewoman; and the summery, whimsical indie-pop of Glasgow’s Camera Obscura all join the line-up.
 The Uncut Stage is also bringing you: the legend that is the grey-bearded, lumberjack shirt-wearing bluesman Seasick Steve; the electronica wizardry of Maps; the beautiful and soaring Cherryghost; the string-laden troubadour Tom Baxter; the indie upstarts from Syracruse, New York Ra Ra Riot; off-kilter folk rockers Illinois; and the melancholic folk rock of Elvis Perkins.
All that not enough for you then? well how about: LA’s sumptuously summery Silversun Pickups; alternative/’60’s Americana from Liverpudlian Sonic Hearts; classic piano pop rock ‘n’ roll by Julian Velard; the grandiose post-rock singing, dancing, clapping and shouting of The Strange Death Of Liberal England; melodic-rock from London based five-piece Grace; and 1960’s psychedelic rock from Detroit-based The Satin Peaches - all now confirmed and raring to go in the Uncut Arena.
The full range of acts being brought to you here is quite magical and guaranteed to be more than just a little memorable.
And so to the Sunrise Arena a vast array of emerging talent will play over the festival weekend with I’m From Barcelona already confirmed to headline the Saturday night; synth-indie nu ravers New Young Pony Club whose day-glo robo-pop earned them a spot on the recent NME rave tour with Lily Allen and Klaxons, head up the Friday night and the brooding, intense, and dark soundscapes of Howling Bells set to close the stage on Sunday.
Throughout the rest of the weekend the Sunrise Arena will showcase the extraordinary talent of violinist Final Fantasy aka Owen Pallett who co-wrote the string arrangements for Arcade Fire on both their albums; as well as the lo fi home-recording styles of Simple Kid; Ex-Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci frontman Euros Childs; the rootsy blues rock of Alberta Cross; London-based anti-folk singer songwriter Emmy The Great; string-Laden psychedelia from South London's The Lea Shores; the beautiful vocal stylings of youtube-famed singer-songwriter Terra Naomi; and the laid-back, acoustic jazz-infused troubadour Ruarri Joseph.
As well as all the these; the Aphex Twin meets The Beatles melodic pop from Jeremy Warmsley; synth-heavy robotic pop from How I Became The Bomb; indie folk rock from Glasgow’s Make Model; Swedish twee pop from Hello Saferide; mid-60s Beach Boys and Byrds-esque space-pop from Norwegian The Lionheart Brothers; dreamy acoustic folk from Passengers; the intense experience of classical, folk, electro from Get Well Soon; the charming and dreamy kitschy folk of Paris Motel; and the simple yet heartfelt melodic acoustic songs from Andy Gower complete the latest additions to the Sunrise Arena.
The magical difference with Latitude is that it's not just all about the music here - there's so much more to thrill, delight and entertain, Latitude can boast the exclusive involvement of BAFTA with Screenings, Directors Q and A's and Alfred Hitchcock's The Lodger accompanied by a live orchestra; Mark Lamarr curating his own night of music with The Beat and Alabama 3, comic and satirical stars from the world of Radio and TV including Bill Bailey, Alan Carr, Dylan Moran, Phill Jupitus, Lee Mack, Stewart Lee, Mark Steel , Russell Howard and The Early Edition with Marcus Brigstocke and Andre Vincent, a vast array of authors including Ali Smith, Don Letts, and Niall Griffiths involved in the legendary Vox ‘n’ Roll book readings come to the Literary Arena as well as Louis de Bernieres, Book Slam and Robin Ince’s Book Club with guests Simon Munnery , Josie Long and Jo Neary amongst many others. Royal Court Theatre, Bush Theatre and Nabokov Theatre Company as well as Paines Plough bring exciting new shows to the Theatre Arena plus stellar poets Roger McGough and John Hegley as well as Polar Bear, Luke Wright, Scroobius Pip and Lemn Sissay are all confirmed for the Poetry Arena. And that’s not to mention The Puppini Sisters, Moulin Rouge Cabaret at the Cabaret Tent and a headlining DJ set from Radio 1’s very own Rob Da Bank at the In the Woods stage! Plus so very much more…
 At Latitude you could just sit back soaking up the fun and atmosphere, laughing with the sheer joy of being alive and being there, you can relax at the waiter-service bars, sipping a beer or you can even enjoy a glass or two of champagne. Latitude has absolutely everything you could possibly desire and then some.. there are secret pathways leading into the fairytale woods, pastel-coloured sheep grazing lazily, and a wooden ‘floating’ bridge crossing the lake. During the day this is a perfect place to explore the trees and woodland, take a gondola ride down the lake or soak in the sun while relaxing in deckchairs.
Latitude is a very different festival experience - it's a big step away from the norm but it brings with it something quite amazing and strangely unquantifiable - if you miss this totally unique and über cool festival you'll live to regret it.
More Info
Latitude Interviews
Latitude Website
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