Latitude 2010

[Matt]

The festival certainly seemed a lot busier this year, which is understandable if the rumours of 5,000 extra tickets being sold this year are true.

Having said that, I'd argue the line-up was stronger than in previous years, certainly on the musical side (I only made it to a couple of the comedy and film events). It was still possible to get near the front even for the headlining bands with a bit of forward planning anyway, probably indicative of the fact that there were so many alterantive options for people to go to at any one time.

My biggest bugbear was the number of oikish, badly behaved teenagers this time. One particular group completely ruined Laura Marling's perfomance for myself and those around me by screeching and fighting throughout the set (they were there waiting for Empire of the Sun to come on), and throwing the tins of Gaymers theyd somehow got hold of. This led to a quite nasty confrontation when they were told to STFU. All of them had on the "family camping" wristbands. Honestly, I blame the parents...

My top 5:
1.The National
2.Midlake
3.Black Mountain
4.Belle and Sebastian
5.Mumfords

[Pete]

Latte-tude, more like teen-a-tude this year at the Latitude Festival, held in Henham Park in the Suffolk countryside.

The increase in capacity to 35,000 was the intial shock followed by, the realisation that most of that extra allocation was made up of teens (with a lack of an ability to handle their booze) kicking off their college holidays. At times over the weekend the festival more resembled a Reading or T in the Park rather than anything, Latitude once was.

Having attended the festival for the previous four years from its inception and being a regular festival goer, I can honestly say that I have never seen the face, vibe and culture of a festival change so much over one year.

The site particularly Friday and Saturday was absolutely rammed. The idea of Tom Jones in the woods brought the crowds in early on Thursday night, most of whom ended up disappointed once capacity had been reached at the stage (Tom & festival organisers made up for that by playing the main stage on Sunday lunchtime).

The volume of drunken teens around the site on Thursday night must have meant a few sore heads on Friday morning. Quite what the stroller brigade retreating from the Tom debacle made of this, I have no idea.

To compare the festival crowd wise to a mini Glastonbury would be unfair. This year it was said that at Glasto, you could strike up a conversation with almost anyone and get a kind response and I would agree with that. At Latitude there was a very edgy atmosphere (reported crimes cast a dark shadow) and constant clashes at the front of stages.

For example, as say when a band was followed by a Radio One playlist type band such as Midlake, followed by Temper Trap. The kids turn up 3 or 4 songs before Midlake finish and push through for a place at the front with no interest in who is playing on the stage or, any concern for who they are shoving out of the way to get to the front.

Believe me the music and arts at the festival were stunning, perhaps it was the booking of Florence and Vampire Weekend that brought the kids in but to be honest, I think festivals are just ‘the thing to do’ at present and are certainly cheaper than a week in Ayia Napa!

I hope I am not sounding like a ‘grumpy old git’ but, when something you love is trampled on by uncaring souls it is hard to swallow. The question now is what does this festival become in the future, a companion to Reading & Leeds or weekend in Newquay or, is it returned to those appreciative of the music and arts (would they even sell 35,000 tickets to that demographic?).

I fear with the event increasing capacity, driven I am sure, not just by the bottom line but also by the amount bigger bands are requesting to play these days, that the former may take precedence.

Being there for the music however, that was superb as was the company I was with, so all the good bits will be remembered!

As for next year, all will become clearer once we know who the bands being booked are. I don’t think I will be parting with my cash blind for any early bird ticket offers though.

Pete

[Pete]

Top 5

Pete:

1. The National
2. Jonsi
3. Midlake
4. Kirstin Hersh
5. The XX

Leslie:

1. Mumford & Sons
2. Wild Beasts
3.Midlake
4. John Grant
5. Noah & the Whale

[Pete]

Headliners for 2011 designed not to attract the 6th formers ...

Fri: Elbow

Sat: Kraftwerk

Sun: Pavement


Pete

[Matt]

To put it in a bit of perspective, Inebriated teenagers aside I had a great time. The lineup was fantastic, and there were some great performances, particularly in the Word Tent.

If letting 5,000 chavs in is the price to pay to get that sort of quality in a festival of a much more manageable size than the behemoths like Glastonbury then maybe it is a price worth paying?

[Pete]

FRIDAY 16th July

OK, all the whinging over about the 10,000 increase in capacity and the ‘tangoed’ kids.. It’s now down to the sublime music on offer over the three main days of the Latitude Festival 2010.

Matthew P. a local lad kicked off proceeding on the Sunrise stage in the woods with a very able singer/songwriter set swiftly followed by, the unbelievably, unsigned, Kurran & the Wolfnotes, whose blend of musicianship and song craft was perfect for a sunny morning in the woods.

The newly rechristened ‘Word Tent’ played host to the Scandinavian Kissaway Trail who put on a great impression of being a Canadian collective during a high beat and storming’ set.

Over (short walk) to the Obelisk stage for Here we Go Magic, who seemed lost perched up on a raised (?) Main Stage. A number of the cooler bands, without major lighting effects suffered the same problem over the weekend.

London rockers Yuck hit the Lake stage and put in a grafting set. Black Mountain next and the first ‘heavy hitters ‘of the day. Powerful rock including, new tunes which were gratefully received. Black Mountain was the first time that I noticed the usual shortness of the typical Latitude set. We could have done with more!

I missed the Middle East as the Sunrise tent was shut for a while to mend a fallen tent pole but had adequate replacements in the shape of Spoon on the main stage who delivered a slice of ‘class’ rock music.

Laura Marling was as divine as ever and not daunted by the main stage. In total contrast next was a Welsh band on the tiny Lake stage called Islet. Not a band who you would ever buy a record of but, the live experience was something else, Fragmented songs (I use the term ‘songs’ loosely) mainly consisting of every band member screaming into a mic whist on Guitar, keys or banging a drum or whatever object came into sight. Failing to leave the stage at their allotted time. The stage crew started taking apart their kit whist; they were still playing as one band member legged it off into the audience, whilst banging a beer bottle with his drum stick!

Richard Hawley crooned his was through a 45 minute set in the Word tent after which, The National stole the day and actually the whole festival with a stunning headline set.

Revelling in their headliner’s spot they tore into Runaway and Mistaken for Strangers and never looked back. The only thing missing was Matt’s excursions into the audience but, I think the band was just determined to get as many songs in as possible during their 90 minutes set.

‘Bloodbuzz Ohio’, ‘Brainy’, ‘Fake Empire’, ‘Mr November’ all just brilliant together with, the surprise inclusion of ‘Available’ from Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers. The set list also showed ‘About Today’ from Cherry Tree (If there is time).. there wasn’t Brilliant set!!!

National Set:

Runaway
Mistaken for Strangers
Anyone’s Ghost
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Brainy
Baby we’ll be Fine
Squalor Victoria
Afraid of Everyone
Available
Conversation #16
Apartment Story
Abel
England
Fake Empire
Mr November
Terrible Love

Pete

[Pete]

The National:

Afraid of Everyone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCA_--vURhk

Abel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogjmq5yx-fU

Available/Cardinal Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97fVCgzkehg

Mr November
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqgCdlXo8Zg&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hjdcf4eBfs

Interview with AbsoluteRadio.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zT2blFE8Ycg

[Pete]

Saturday 17th July

The campsite awoke to a couple of heavy rain showers but as soon as they passed the sun was out and stayed out for the rest of the weekend.

LA Band Chief was first on in the Word Tent and were a great surprise. Expecting a straight forward rock band, they showed enlighten harmonies, great tunes and a pleasant attitude and humour even being first on.

Now a positive word for the kids … well, this group only looked around 9-10 years old but, a group of them were on the front rail for the whole set clapping, waving , whooping etc … this got noticed by the band’s drummer who rewarded the kids with some drumsticks at the end of the set .. Nice touch!!

School of Seven Bells are a great band and showing progression album by album. They played an excellent set. John Grant (ex Czars) has a wonderfully honest and lyrically intense album out in the shape of Queen of Demark. Better suited to the Word tent, he was on the main stage. Up close, very nice set, further back, it must have all be lost.

Corinne Bailey Rae and her super band were in fine fettle and were the first group I saw who command ed the Obelisk stage. Radiant as ever, this lady is a star!

Warp signing lonelady followed the Kasabian/Doves like local boys The Lost levels who failed to shine on the Sunrise stage. Lonelady on the other hand is someone with a great deal of potential. Electronic based songs, decent backing, mysterious (by not communicating with the audience, which is only interesting for so long) and an album ‘Nerve Up’ already released.

Noah & the Whale had the inspiration to have a Bohemian Rhapsody sing-a-long before they came on stage to massive applause and a really ‘up-for-it’ crowd. Not quite the’ Neil Young & Crazy Horse- Tonight’s the Night’ era show from the Green Man festival last year, but a confident band that continues to mature. Songs from both albums, the band went down a storm!

The Horrors next up, played a fun filled power laden set on a stage cloaked for the entire time in dry ice and dark lighting. Rock n Roll excellence. That difficult 3rd album awaits.

The supremely beguiling XX had the Word Tent headliner spot and they didn’t waste it. Understated lighting, extreme volume and mighty songs, this was my first XX live experience and I came away very impressed indeed.

A great day!

Pete

[Pete]

Sunday 18th July

Sunday, is the hottest day and the campsites are starting to show the signs of three night’s habitation.

The Antlers are the first band up and one well worth further investigation; this was one of those times when I tried to split myself between two stages with, The Strange Boys being on the main stage at the same time.

The Strange Boys (and girl) from Austin never seem to spark although did have a off beat charm about them. I did abandon them after two songs to get back to the Antler who alas, had already finished.

NME's new ‘best thing’ Egyptian Hip Hop seemed fairly average on the Sunrise stage but it took a superb solo performance by Kirstin Hersh at 4.30pm to really get the musical day started. I find Kirstin a bit like the female equivalent of Warren Zevon. Massively talented and, able to bring raw power out of songs with just voice and guitar. Her new book/downloadable album, ‘Crooked’ is excellent and well worth your attention.

Midlake were superb on the main stage, again we were close up front, before the kids arrived for Temper Trap mid set but, we held our ground and enjoyed yet another great show from Midlake.

This was one of the main problems at the festival … when the kids arrived to see the next band, mid way through the preceding band’s set, there was no regard for either the band on the stage on the audience watching in their desire to get to the front. Some more genre based stage timings next year perhaps?

Jonsi put in a ‘National’ style festival stealing performance. The voice, the songs, the presence, the band (The drummer was as entertaining to watch as Jonsi himself). Not quite a Sigur ros feeling after the gig but almighty close!

Grizzly Bear rounded off the festival and as my that time we were all shattered, their music just washed over us. The last great American band of the weekend.

Overall a truly great musical feast. The extra 10,000 punters on site? … well, that was not so good!

Pete