Now in its
seventh year, Latitude is shaping up to be one of the most culturally relevant
festivals the UK has to offer. With headline sets from the incredibly talented
Justin Vernon, à la Bon Ivor, Elbow and the Modfather
himself Paul Weller, you might ask yourself why it is Latitude brands
itself as ‘more than just a music festival’? The answer to this invitingly
posed question is provided by the wealth of authors, poets, comedians,
filmmakers and artists which can be found amongst the vast array of musical
talent.
What’s more,
the music which Latitude has on offer is as far from ordinary as the beautiful
Suffolk landscape which the festival calls home from the 12th to 15th
of July. Rufus Wainwright and Laura Marling bring their acclaimed sound to the
main stage alongside artists who have achieved an unflinching amount of recent
success such as Lana Del Ray, Alabama Shakes and the suitably soulful Michael
Kiwanuka. Lest we forget Latitude’s eclectic attitude towards the
festival-going experience as you will be sure to find a wide variety of Opera
and Cabaret performances on the weekend’s bill alongside the likes of SBTRKT and
Zola Jesus.
If all this
isn’t enough then Latitude is also famed for its startling interest in Theatre.
A reputation which is well deserved, you would have to agree, considering the range
of theatre which is showcased at the festival each year; Shakespeare, Nabokov
and a provocative interpretation of Medea which takes place from midnight ‘til
dawn provide entertainment unlike that at any other festival. Further cultural
stimulation is provided by the world-renowned poetry of Tony Harrison and the
performative Benjamin Zephaniah appearing in the Poetry Arena with festival
favourites John Cooper Clarke and Scroobius Pip of Dan le Sac fame.
With such a
diverse festival as this one, the pundit’s problem isn’t finding entertainment,
but finding the right type. With just a weekend to soak up the festivities
careful choices will have to be made as to whether you immerse yourself in the
Faraway Forest where acoustic sets are a-plenty, the Literary Salon which
offers a hands-on approach to festival going, or the numerous amounts of
exhibits, live musicians, gymnasts and more that are waiting to be found. In
fact, with every year that goes by Latitude festival has expanded its offerings
in the fields of music, theatre, comedy and literature making for a luring bill
of quality entertainment.
All-in-all,
this isn’t a festival solely for families, as it is often labelled, but a
gathering of some of the most exciting artists from around the world for the
person who wants something different from their festival experience this year.
