Sun-Dodgers grace Latitude

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.

What's right in Twitter World?

Welcome Tweople to the Twitterverse for a tweethearts view on life and Twitter...

Now, if most of that first sentance didn't make sense to you, and you think that I have in fact joined a bizzare cult and learnt a whole new language, then you probably don't enjoy the 140 character life updates that are allowed on Twitter.

I've often wondered why some people tweet (for the uninitiated thats an update on what you're doing in the confines of 140 characters) what they do tweet, and if there are some subjects that are just avoided on principle. I know I don't talk about work, or where I live, or more personal things, but I must admit that it is very cathartic to just rant away in such a small little white box, you can work out just what you are feeling, and let everyone else know. I like that I can discuss my political viewpoints and some key issues to me and not worry that I am going to be judged for it, I can for all intent and purpose, by myself, but a more concise and interesting me.

Is there anything you wouldn't tweet about? And is it the same and things you wouldn't not be comfortable talking to your friends about? Or are you really fully aware that strangers can read just what you're thinking or doing.

Some people are quite happy to tweet that they just stepped in poo...

"Have given up on eve stroll because a) I'm being bitten alive b) I've trod in cow poo c) I need the loo..." (@Leedsbird)

Some people are quite happy to tweet about things you probably wouldn't ring someone just to tell them...

"Bought my phone a sock, it's time my communication device has *real* comfort" (@MissPeg)

And some celebrities just forget that they have a vast following who might die a little from happiness at the next tweet...

"Well I can check "strip in a Louisiana bar while writhing around on Ty Burrell's lap" off the ole bucket list." (@Olivawilde)

Twitter seems to have an over arching theme of acting like friend, counsellor, judge and jury all at once, you can get feedback on any comment almost immediately, and you can offer someone else a word of encouragement (or 140 characters) if you think they need it. For the most part though, it seems to be happy, political, and active, its about getting involved, and having your say, even if its just by who you are following. (I am choosing to ignore that there is 'celebrity bashing' or 'fake people pretending to be celebrities' on twitter as so far i've avoided these 'lovely' people.)

Soon someone will make money out of creating a personality test for your 'i follow' list, and you'll worry about whether you should admit to liking a celebrity just because everyone can see, but for now many of us revel in the geek status it affords us. We can see what 'such and such' is doing next week, and who 'so and so' is having dinner with this Friday, and you might even find out that your 'real life' friend is coming to visit.

Now, there are two things about twitter that I would like some clarification on...

Trending topics: now, how the chuff do these work? Do people just spend all their time typing one word? Do you have to hash tag, or will it work without one? I have no idea how somethings get on there, is there a set number or times it needs to be mentioned? Or is it the right people tweeting about something, I'm obviously not cool enough to get something trending, so I shall, for now, just sit on the outskirts and laugh at how often, and how irate, the argument between pro JB'ers and anti JB'ers gets on trending topics!

Retweets: I get the whole, lets show support for important/funny events, and retweeting people you are following is cool, that’s a given, but why when you write something that bears no resemblance to anyone else’s life (its time and person specific) do random tweople retweet it? I don't know you, and I don't know why my ability to do something is now newsworthy... (though as a flip side when someone 'important' in twitter world re-tweets your comment to them, that is a GOOD feeling!)

Now the next step is to harness the power of twitter for the business, if someone has worked out how to do this, please let me know, I don't have a business, but if I can harness twitter I might just get one to be cool!

So, to mark my ability to get lost in the twitterverse, and even write a blog about it, I wrote a poem about Twitter. Why don't you have a go, see if you can beat me and do it in 140 characters?

I chose to tell the world today
About my biscuit fascination
I told them of my favourite kind
And when I like to eat them,
And then I constantly update
With a picture of my plate.

I tell the world about my good days
And more so when it’s bad
I tell the world about my sad days
And when I’ve got a little mad.

I chose to tell the world today
About the list I have of chores
About my plans to do it all
And when I just get bored,
And then I constantly remind
What a mess I’ve left behind.

I chose to tell the world today
About everything I do
And then I might even update
On what, I haven’t got a clue.

(c) Itinerant Poet 2010