Latitude - who to see
Death Cab play the Obelisk Arena on Friday June 18th
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Wednesday, 16, Jul 2008 02:47
After the genre-bending triumph of Glastonbury 2008, the celeb-laden gloss of O2 Wireless and a festival that prides itself on its attendees' capacity for drinking in the shape of T in the Park, this weekend presents a rather more sedate prospect.
Now in its third year, Latitude is being increasingly seen as the 'mature' festival with bands such as Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros and Interpol sitting proudly on the bill alongside the comedic brilliance of Andrew Lawrence, Bill Bailey and Ross Noble, performances from the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company and literary shows from such high-minded agenda-setters as Mark Steel and Mark Thomas.
But even with the wonderfully diverse Latitude lineup making the fledgling festival a real competitor to the eccentricities of Glastonbury, there's still some fantastic quality to be had in its musical offerings.
inthenews.co.uk's Lewis Bazley takes you through the highlights of the eclectic Suffolk event.
Friday July 18th
Franz Ferdinand headline the Obelisk Arena on day one but if you're understandably irritated by their art school smugness then give psychedelic Beta Band offshoots the Aliens a go.
Tom Baxter, Howling Bells and the 80s-tinged Black Kids are worth a look in the Uncut Arena while things get progressively more intense with Natty, Emmy the Great and Crystal Castles in the ambiently-named Sunrise Arena.
But for sheer, can't-miss greatness, Death Cab for Cutie are the pick of the bunch.
Check out the video for the epic I Will Possess Your Heart below:
Saturday July 19th
Seasick Steve won over the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury and his world-weary delta blues is sure to do the same in the Obelisk Arena on day two -
For a free Seasick Steve download thanks to inthenews.co.uk, click here
If experimentation's your bag, then Wild Beasts and the utterly bonkers Mars Volta are worth a look in the Uncut Arena while highlights in the Sunrise Arena include Christmas curmudgeon Malcolm Middleton, nu-folk troubadour Johnny Flynn and electro brilliance from Metronomy.
However, Saturday night offers a truly live-changing experience, as anyone who has seen Heima will testify - head to the Obelisk Arena for Sigur Ros and the most beautiful music you'll ever hear.
Have a look at the video for Hoppipolla - which rather wonderfully translates as 'jumping in puddles' - below:
Sunday July 20th
If you've seen any advert featuring a low-key female singer-songwriter in the past few years, then chances are that singer has a great debt to Joanna Newsom, one of the highlights of the Obelisk Arena on day three.
Nick Cave's wry garage rock side-project Grinderman will bring their No Pussy Blues to East Anglia while there's also hotly-tipped intelligence from math-rockers Foals.
Buoyed by the success of recent singalong hit Five Years Time, Noah and the Whale get things going in the Uncut Arena - just don't call them "twee" - while the amazing Glasvegas will attempt to break your heart before Debbie Harry shows she's still got it with a set from Blondie
Tindersticks celebrate their return and there's quirky Scandinavian pop from Lykke Li wise-beyond-her-years folk from Gallic chanteuse Soko in the Sunrise Arena but for a suitably dramatic close to your three-day stay in Suffolk, go for some good ol' fashioned doom and gloom in the form of Interpol - if you like Joy Division, that is.
Check out the video for The Heinrich Maneuver below:
Comedy highs (performance date not confirmed)
As well as the aforementioned talent of Andrew Lawrence, Bill Bailey and lord of the surreal Ross Noble, there's also near-the-knuckle wit from Mock the Week favourite Frankie Boyle, quickfire gags from Lee Mack and Milton Jones, a spot of belly dancing from Omid Djalilli, exuberant improvisation from Russell Howard and angst-laden hilarity from Simon Amstell.
Latitude takes place in Henham Park in Southwold, Suffolk, from Friday July 18th until Sunday July 20th.
Lewis Bazley