I must start this blog by just stating that Latitude was awesome... FACT! It was full of fun times, and music, and drink, and food, and comedy, and poetry and literature and lazy afternoons... I think that makes the perfect long weekend!
We saw so many great artists that its ridiculous to even consider it, but I shall try and break it down for you all. Before i talk about the brilliant artists, I shall venture into the relms of self-publication... There was an open-mic event in the poetry tent and I was stupid enough to sign up... this video is the harrowing (for me) evidence.
But enough about me and my escapades, here's a little breakdown into what and who we saw:
This is not technically an artist but we did see a mini Dr Who who was dressed up perfectly, with his sister doing a very good impression of a small Amy Pond, it was ridiculously cute, especially as the little Dr Who had a shock of ginger hair and they looked like the love children of the Dr and amy pond.
The Sunrise Arena was this perfect little tent hidden up on the hill in the woods and was a brilliant venue to see Lissie and First Aid Kit in the days, and Darwen Deez in the evening. I've like all these bands before but hearing them live has really got me excited about their stuff, and them as musicians. Lissie was astounding and certainly a voice that is going places!
Florence and the Machine on the Obelisk arena was the perfect way to end the first day at the festival. She previewed a couple of new songs, suitably dark and exciting and it was so much fun jumping around in the dark to all the classic songs. We even sung happy birthday for her little sister.
Frank Turner is an old time favourite for us and it was so much fun yelling political songs in the sunshine of an afternoon.
Mumford and sons were epic... i love these guys probably more than i should and the banjo always makes me dance, so to see them live was brilliant.
To contrast all these afternoons spent with male bands Laura Marling and Corrine Bailey Rae were peaceful, and beautiful and such a lovely way to chillax with the lady love with a cider in the sun.
Moving away from Music we probably managed to spend 40% of our time living by the lake, or in the two tents! We saw some beautiful ballet by Sadlers Wells by the lake and despite the crowds it was awe inspiring.
The poetry tent was a hot-bed for new talents and it was really good to see how new people are doing their thing... Joe Dunthorne and Luke Wright were especially good (go check them out!) and we even got to see Phil Jupitus as Porky the Poet (and comedian) for a whole hour of hilarious stories.
A highlight for the lady (and myself) was to see Sebastian Faulks speak and read from his two new books, he even managed a rather wonderful rendition of Alan Bennett for his Pistache book... (if this is not on youtube it should be!)
So this may not be quite as succinct as my normal blog posts, but take it as a representation of the madness and ad hoc nature of a festival.
To end i shall leave you with my poem about the whole occasion.
* * *
If the monsters came I knew I could find you
with your torch and your whippy sign
against the mist of the fountain
a projection of our destination
The daring sharp showers interrupted
a perfectly sedate sunshine
against the grass and tent collage
countless lost souls calling keep coming where?
in the forest at the top of the hill
as the guitar picks away as a soundtrack
the trees are whispering echoes of laughter
and mini-me doctor with his shock of ginger hair
dances with his sister and self
yesterday socks and wellingtons soak up the beer
from the animal hat-ed groups
their neon paint smeared across their faces
There’s those sneaky groups of couples
who don’t register the queue
and the families who use their kids
as their reason to go first
before the middle class find the need
for a helpful chalky rennie
and as the music begins to fade
the lights dance across the sky
I find you took away my pillow
and now my heads under my heart.
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