Latitude Festival 2011

Going on the official Latitude Festival website will tell you that there's just under 100 days to go until the event starts. No, Mitchell and Webb Look fans...not The Event. You may think it's a long time, but we're on the home straight now. Those 100 or so days will fly by. I've only been once, last year in fact; and I loved it. It captures a very distinct atmosphere. It's bright and cheery, euphoric, genuinely entertaining, and very very very memorable. On paper the line up is never particularly impressive; although the Suffolk festival has previously managed to attract the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Snow Patrol, Elbow, Vampire Weekend, Florence and the Machine, Tom Jones and Thom Yorke. Plenty of other decent acts have performed too - and I dare say that the line up does a pretty good job of catering to most people's tastes each year. So long as you're prepared for a long list of bands, duos and soloists that 99% of the population have never heard of. I guess that's part of the attraction though; it's the Latitude ethos. While the Arctic Monkeys and Foo Fighters are playing pretty much every significant music festival this year, Henham Park in Southwold gets something different. And though it's significantly lower key, it certainly isn't bland. There's a hell of a lot going on at all times, and there's such a bustle to it all. A calm bustle though, if that makes any sense...which it doesn't. The atmosphere has to be experienced, it has to be tasted, it has to be soaked up to be fully appreciated. It's all rather jolly. The line up this year, again, is a little bit tepid. The National played the festival last year, and were somewhat sort of quite good ish. Paolo Nutini is surely going to be the perfect man for the Saturday night slot - livening everyone up for the evening, before the young-uns get their sleep and the older go off into the woods and rave that shit up...good times. And as for Suede? I couldn't possibly comment. From what I've heard they're the fallen band of britpop. The ones that never really competed with Blur or Oasis. It'll probably be a nice set to end the weekend on, but I'll admit that I highly doubt it will be anywhere near as awesome as Vampire Weekend's closing set was in 2010. Epic. And there's so much more to Latitude than the music. There's comedy, poetry, drama... Bloody hell I do like a bit of comedy; my arse will be firmly rooted in the comedy tent this year, I know it. And no, I'm not some freak with a freely rooting rectum...I'm no plant/human hybrid. No no, 100% plant I am. I think what I'm trying to say is that I love Latitude. It's a brilliant experience, and worth every penny. The thought of its upcoming opening is one of only a few things on my mind right now that seems to get me through the monotony of college life and the fear of impending exams (doom). I hope whoever's reading this will be able to attend this year's event, because I guarantee you'll seriously enjoy it. And what better way to pop your festival cherry? Sorry for the sexual metaphor. But seriously, if like me you like in Norfolk/Suffolk, it's a local festival, it's got an amazing atmosphere, a decent line up (all things considered) and is sure to give you plenty of happy memories. I know I won't be forgetting my first Latitude for a very long time. One final request? No rain this year, please.


Now if only the organisers could  book Muse next time...

Check out the official site for information; maybe buy a ticket?! http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/2011/