Okay, I've posted a load of photos but not put many words up about our weekend in Suffolk.
I've been to a few festivals down the years.. glastonbury (5 times), Reading (um 4 times, i think, definitely 3 times though), Leeds (once), Green Man (twice), V (once).
Latitude, now in it's 8th year. From it's first year it's always had a line-up that appealed, and the reports suggest the site is a cracker.
We diverted from our usual Green Man festival because of a plan (that since went awry) to go to Latitude with in-laws that live in Naaritch. As it turns out we went just us 4, but had the very useful offer of the in-laws as a stopping off point both before and after. Much appreciated, and only an hour off-site so we still had that Green Man 1 hr to the shower option.
We arrived on the thursday, bang early. Drove straight on, one of the first to pitch up and look sharp for the loos and shower locales. It's attention to where the toilets are in relation to your tent that can be the difference between winning and losing at this festival game. 'specially with kids.
First impressions? This was probably the easiest arrival at a festival. Great weather. Great location, dead easy to get going. Comfiest festival, too. Washing up places, showers, amazing toilets. Really amazing toilets. Cleaner than ours at home. Always being cleaned, regular visits by attendants, loads of sinks and taps and that.
Another winning point? Best programme by a mile. A5 size, with fold out timetables and maps. Colour. Matt print with that sweet sweet print smell. I fucking love that smell. You know the one? The one you get on arty matt rough paper spine bound handbooks/brochures? fap fap fap. I could've sat all weekend in my camping chair smelling that smell and skipped the bands. (a few typo's in the band notes, though).
The first sign that the weekend was going well? We couldn't find the kid's multipack cereals the first morning. So I retraced my steps all the way back to the car....and what did I spy on a table by the wristband exchange? Only the frickin rice krispies et al! Someone had handed those bad boys in. Okay, they might not have been ours, but that's not the narrative you write in your head.
So the festival began. The kids field was great, loads to do. Didn't end up seeing a band till tea time on the friday (Villagers). Then went on a crazy multi-stage-see-one-song-at-each trip round the site. An early turn in that night.
Saturday. The big 3D experience with the techno-teutons, Kraftwerk. Another day in the kids field, N went to see Dylan Moran. Saw an interesting q+a with Paddy Considine. Hot Chip got the main field dancing... lost track of N and C. Me and E stayed on for some 3D heritage act headlinery finery. The 3D effect? Kind of okay if you stared long enough. The crowd drifted off very quickly which was a shame. I think after Hot Chip's show they were up for a party that Kraftwerk couldn't quite get started. Enjoyable, though.
Sunday. Good start to the day, meeting Stuart Maconie at a book signing. N saw some Eddie Izzard (she was our comedy tent rep for the weekend). We saw a bit of Foals, and rolled along for some catering van classics; pizza (kids) pie minister (us). Sun setting, shadows lengthening, a good end to a good festival.
One of my pre-conceptions of Latitude was that it would all be a bit Norwich Union middle-management. A bit "Tabitha, Eugenie, your pollo alla farfalle with grated white truffle is ready!". It did't disappoint on that front. It set my teeth slightly on edge and there were quite a lot of lah di dah folk in the family area. But by the end, on the last night, when it was all going a bit feral in the general camping (huge groups of people arsehole-pissed round raging infernos of plastic cups), I was quite grateful for showing my family camping wristband and seeking refuge with Tarquin and Hermione and their ilk.
And.. y'know maybe I'm the snob. Who am I to say that Aviva management can't like indie music? And who am I to not think I'm a bit middle class too? I'm no frank gallagher, eh. Live and let live.
Latitude gets a thumbs up. The line-up was slightly below par overall but there was plenty to keep us entertained. Shame it's north of 4 hours away. Maybe we'll head that way again in a year or two.
And for Al, the new band discovery of the weekend?
Have a look at 'Diiv' on your music streaming site of choice. They were quite impressive in a grunge version of Explosion in the Sky way. *taps nose theatrically*
