Wow where do I start when describing the Latitude experience? Maybe a few thank you’s would be as good as anywhere - first of all to Dan at the Press Counsel and all others involved in making it possible. Special thanks also to Jon Dunn from Live Nation, whom I believe played a role in the special treatment we recieved. If any other festival in the world comes close to Latitude in both diversity and quality, please let me know. There is everything you can possibly imagine! Most of all it has a special atmosphere. I have been since it started 3 years ago and it’s grown, but in a good way.
The family-oriented theme helps to keep it especially friendly and with such a fantastic vast setting you never feel crowded. I could tell you all about the headliners but I’m guessing you all know about Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros and Interpol. I covered a lot of the smaller arenas as well as catching the big acts. Here in the UK, Jon Dunn is renowned for putting together balanced lineups as well as being at the cutting edge of excting new acts, so this weekend gave me the chance to check out some emerging talent - some of whom I’ve posted before and some I had not.
Before I go on to tell you who I think will be tearing up your turntables, I have to mention Sigur Ros. The guy’s had me mesmerised from the first note. It was a total performance that ebbed and flowed just like their beautiful music. I was shooting photos from the pit and by the end of the first song I had to sit down. It was stunningly beautiful. Even when I left to join the crowd it felt just as intense. The whole of the festival was buzzing about it the next day, from artists to journalists. I have never felt such an overwhelming feeling before at a gig.
© Kerry Wilmot
So back to some of the mere mortal acts who I enjoyed, starting with the main stage. Grammatics opened the main stage confidently on Friday. but for me British Sea Power ruled the arena. Other highlights of Saturday’s main stage other than Sigur Ros where White Lies and Seasick Steve. Now I’m not a big Seasick Steve fan but I kind of admired his stage craft Saturday. Sunday, These New Puritans, Nada Surf and Grinderman ruled the roost. I’m cross that I missed some of Grinderman to watch Blondie!!! But more on that later in part 2…
MP3: Sigur Ros - I Gaer
- Mark
