Latitude Festival

Alt-J, Portishead, Noel Gallahers High Flying Birds and more set for Latitude 2015

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Latitude today announces the line-up for their 10th Edition which takes place Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th July 2015 in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk.

Ten years ago Latitude Festival creator Melvin Benn set out to rewrite the festival rulebook, showing that music lovers could also be culture lovers, by creating the UK’s first multi arts boutique festival set out to challenge the festival status quo

First to headline Latitude’s Obelisk Arena on Friday night is a band close to Latitude’s heart; Mercury Prize-winning art-rockers alt-J. Having delivered outstanding sets on smaller Latitude stages over the years, 2015’s triumphant return promises to be a special moment for all who have witnessed their incredible Latitude journey. With a recent sold out arena tour and two critically acclaimed albums, the Leeds trio will no doubt give the Latitude audience a stunning set.

Portishead will give a rare UK appearance as they top the bill on Saturday. Emerging in 1994 with landmark album Dummy, Portishead have remained adventurous and uncompromising throughout their 20-year career.  Compelling, provoking and moving; this will be an unmissable performance.

Closing Latitude this year is an outfit fronted by one of Britain’s most loved musical figures; Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Song-writing pioneer and out-spoken cultural icon, Gallagher’s relevance has never faltered and Latitude is delighted to welcome him and his latest band to their 10th anniversary Edition. Performing tracks from the recent critically acclaimed album Chasing Yesterday (which Gallagher produced as well as wrote), plus plenty of classic sing-along Oasis tracks, this will be a closing show to be remembered.

Quotes from headliners:

"We are hugely excited to return to Latitude for the third time. Playing there has always been so memorable. Latitude has always supported us, and to go from playing the smaller stages to this means it will be a night of celebration."

alt-J

“I've been to Latitude before as a festival goer and really enjoyed it I think the effort they put into their whole programming –  music,  comedy and  film  –  is what makes it a great festival to  be part of. And  I'm really looking forward to it.” Geoff Barrow from Portishead

“I love the vibe at Latitude and the location. Good forward thinking programming as well, I played a couple of years ago in the cinema tent with a silent film project I was doing and it was a really good experience…looking forward to this one very much.” Adrian Utley from Portishead

 “Well not only have I never played at Latitude before, but I’ve never even been there, ever. So yes, I’m really looking forward to headlining the Festival on July 19th” Noel Gallagher

Other special appearances on the Obelisk Arena will include a selection of some of today’s most exciting and respected British artists; we start off by welcoming Nicky Wire back to Latitude ten years down the line with the legendary Manic Street Preachers who will be performing a selection of loved tracks from their varied and extraordinary career, Canadian electronica-maestro Caribou, electronic auteur James Blake will return for a third time, and both soul sensation Lianne La Havas and folk singer-songwriter Laura Marling for a second and all with new albums to share. Festival favourites, Wild Beasts return to share their latest critically acclaimed album with us and we also welcome the soulful Mancunian JP Cooper to Henham Park for the first time.

Gracing us from all corners of the globe are four time Grammy award nominee Nigerian musician Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, transfixing Swedish singer-songwriter and Latitude favourite José González, American soul singer Benjamin Brooker, blues veteran Seasick Steve, and soul veteran Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens will be bringing us her Daptone released gospel music.

This year the BBC Radio 6 Music Stage will host even more exciting musical treats including headline sets from three accomplished British acts; top of the bill on Friday is pioneering sonic technician Jon Hopkins, platinum selling rock band The Vaccines will headline on Saturday, and a festival exclusive show from SBTRKT who will close the stage on Sunday night with his soulful and textured take on electronic music preceded by the highly acclaimed live show from La Roux.

Other acts set to play on the coveted BBC Radio 6 Music Stage include; Catfish And The Bottlemen who have risen up through the Latitude stages, all-female punk rockers Savages, acclaimed alternative pop group Django Django, London-based pseudonymous musical duo Public Service Broadcasting and Americana four piece The Districts. With forty albums under his belt King Creosote is back to perform songs from an extensive career and has previously graced both the Poetry Arena and iArena at Latitude, also announced today is American musician and legend The Thurston Moore Band and two-piece grunge band Drenge.

Esteemed artist Mark Kozelek brings Sun Kil Moon to Latitude, also announced are Years & Years with their eccentric blend of R&B and 90’s house, and Mercury Prize winners Young Fathers returning for round three, South London’s Kwabs, alternative rock group Wolf Alice, and BBC Sound Poller SOAK is also on the bill as well as exclusive performances from Toro Y Moi and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

Announced acts for the i Arena include one of electronic music’s most renowned talents, Warp Records cult artist Clark who headlines Saturday. Joining the festival to headline Sunday are London based musical duo Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) and Raf Rundell otherwise known as The 2 Bears. Also announced; the unique and the distinctive Adult Jazz, hot new talent Jack Garratt, multi-instrumentalist DM Stith, blues  rock experimentalist Duke Garwood hugely talented singer songwriter Shura, the incredibly refreshing indie rockers Gengahr, Texan gospel and soul songster Leon Bridges and folk-pop star Marika Hackman. .

Joining the eclectic line-up are; Icelandic ambient techno duo Kiasmos, hotly-tipped twin sister musical duo Ibeyi, post-punk indie rock band The Twilight Sad, captivating singer Nadine Shah, soul powerhouse Curtis Harding, Norwegian singer songwriter Susanne Sundfør and the brilliant, all-female Swedish pop-quartet Dolores Haze outrageous King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard who specialise in psychedelic tunes!

The People's Ear will present a line-up essential to create a heat to warm the ears from 11pm-3am every night on the iArena. Acts include self-taught musical craftsmen Ben UFO, three of the most innovative names in electronic music – untouchable London wordsmiths The Four Owls, Grammy nominated funk master Werkha (Live) and his live band, musician, three-piece DJ EZ, producer Monki and Alexander Nut and tropical bass heroes The Busy Twist. Expect and believe!

In an exclusive festival appearance at Latitude, Gareth Malone will this year be putting together a unique choir of Latitude festival goers. Ticket holders will have the opportunity to apply to be part of this 100-strong group who will rehearse at several points over the weekend, culminating in a Main Stage lunchtime performance on Sunday 19th July. In addition, Gareth and his Voices choir will be performing on the Waterfront Stage on Saturday 18th July.’                                                              

COMEDY AT LATITUDE

Over the last ten years Latitude’s comedy line-up has set the bar for summer festivals, offering the Latitude audience a unique opportunity to see some of the biggest names in the business all over the same weekend. It’s also the first chance to see the acts destined to make waves in Edinburgh later in the summer.

Headlining this special 10th Edition year will be national treasure Alan Davies, the longstanding QI panellist is well-known for his glorious insight into worldviews. Growing up in the ‘70s, losing his mother as a little boy, the vagaries of Facebook, sex toys and being a father are just some of the subjects he tackles.

Festival organisers are hugely excited to announce Jason Manford to headline the Comedy Arena. Renowned for his hilarious observations and loveable, friendly delivery, Jason has been a firm favourite with comedy fans of all ages since his first solo stand-up show earned him huge critical acclaim. The Perrier nominated comic won Chortle Breakthrough Act in 2006, Latitude’s inaugural year, and has risen to become one of the UK’s favourite TV comics.

2013 British Comedy Award Best Male Comic nominee, and Live At The Apollo star, Jon Richardson is one of the UK's brightest and immensely likeable stand up heroes. Back with a brand new stand-up routine to delight audiences, Time Out call him ‘Sublimely brilliant, stunning…He is a comic right on the verge of greatness. If you haven’t seen him yet, get your finger out and sort it!

Off the back of his hugely successful Channel 4 TV show ‘Catastrophe’ Rob Delaney brings his performance to the Suffolk setting. Voted the funniest man on Twitter, Latitude welcomes Rob’s hilarious but sometimes dark anecdotes and tales to the festival for the first time.

Australian comedian and television presenter Adam Hills best known for hosting The Last Leg on Channel 4 will bring his combination of positive uplifting comedy and rampant spontaneity to the Comedy Arena.

Another award-winning comic performing at the festival this year is Jack Dee. Best known for his sarcasm and deadpan humour, he takes a break from being everyone’s favourite grumpster to lend a helping hand to Latitude Festival goers with his side splittingly funny show Help Desk where he will be joined by a panel of star comedians from the festival line up to offer expert advice on the Latitude audience’s problems.

Perrier Award winning Irish comedian David O’Doherty will bring his stand-up routine to the festival this summer. Also on the bill is; Latitude’s resident prankster Josh Widdicombe, Canadian super comic Katherine Ryan, one of many stand out female comics programmed for the festival this year. With a formidable reputation on the live circuit and high profile TV appearances to her name, Katherine will pull out all the stops this summer.

This year’s festival will host; self-proclaimed “spit and sawdust” performer Shappi Khorsandi, Best Show nominee at the Edinburgh Fosters Comedy Awards in 2014 Sara Pascoe, brilliant Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss, top of the 2015 tipster list Dane Baptiste,  lyrical anti-lad, Liam Williams, the hugely popular Holly Walsh, the effortlessly talented Joe Lycett, fantastic bombastic star of the hit show ‘What Would Beyonce Do’s Luisa Omelian, ventriloquist Nina Conti with her popular puppet characters and Viral Tap star Matt Richardson who all join the 10th Edition celebrations.

WATERFRONT STAGE 

Following from his sold out Barbican shows, we are hugely excited to announce that piano virtuoso Chilly Gonzales will be performing his new album Chambers on the Waterfront Stage with the Kaiser Quartett. Switching gears from his 2013 collaborations with Grammy winners Daft Punk and Drake, Gonzales’ Latitude show will be an entertaining and intimate experience orchestrated especially with Hamburg’s Kaiser Quartett displaying his inimitable touch. This will be a stunning highlight of the festival and it is not to be missed.

Since 2008 Sadler’s Wells has presented a special programme of dance at Latitude Festival to audiences in excess of 40,000 people across the years. This summer the theatre returns for an eighth consecutive year, presenting a diverse programme on the outdoor Waterfront Stage that will appeal to audiences of all ages and that reflects the theatre’s reputation for presenting world class dance in all its forms. Full line-up to be announced.

POETRY ARENA

At the heart of Latitude the Poetry Arena showcases the very best stand up and beat poets, alongside laureates and literary legends. Headlining this year’s Poetry Arena will be the former laureate and award winning poet Simon Armitage CBE who is described by Poetry Review as “the front man of his generation”.

Tim Key, star and creator of Radio 4’s Late Night Poetry Programme Tim Key is as a poet, actor, comic and film star, appearing as Alan Partridge’s sidekick in Mid-Morning Matters and Alpha Papa. A brilliant poet and Edinburgh Perrier Award winner we are delighted he will be joining us in the Poetry Arena this year.

Children’s favourite and recently appointed professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths and presenter of Word of Mouth on Radio 4 Michael Rosen joins the celebrations. Last year Michael packed the Poetry Arena to the rafters. Number one poet of the parents, Michael was the subject of a recent viral campaign to hire him as Education Minister.

Punk Rock legend, performance poet and Latitude favourite the inimitable Doctor John Cooper Clarke is expected to bring a new collection of poetry. A seminal influence on punk the voice of Manchester and beat poets everywhere, expect a ferociously funny performance and make sure you get a seat early.

Smashing into the Poetry Arena to read his latest poems will be BBC Three’s ‘Uncle’ writer and star Nick Helm, his hilarious stand up style has been described as ‘brash and bullish’.

FILM & MUSIC STAGE

The first name announced for the Film & Music Stage is Brit Award nominated George the Poet. A poet for the people, George mixes social and political comment with humour to demonstrate his passion for poetry as a powerful tool to educate the masses.  George delivers an unforgettable live performance, which consists of a hypnotic blend of poetry and rap.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

The Kids Arena keeps children entertained all day and into the night with everything from pond dipping & astronomy to pizza making and night-time disco and fire-show. There’s something for everyone! Use traditional tools or pan for gold, explore the woods or ID animal bones!…investigate a crime scene or head to the Kids Theatre for shows, music, drama classes and puppetry. There are giant crafts from building with architects to shaping willow, working with clay, knitting, felting or getting busy with a million stickers! Amazing activities come from a range of trusted names, from Macmillan’s Children’s Books to the Zoological Society of London, Suffolk Wildlife Trust to the Woodcraft Folk and many more.

The Inbetweeners’ Teen Area is a hidden woodland wonderland-offering teenagers a packed weekend. Chose music, media, fashion and technology workshops, including; a live stage, new DJ Academy and chill-out area with Culture Works East and Access to Music. Or join our friends from Greenpeace; tackle wildlife, bush-craft and survival skills or get physical with climbing nets and a zip wire suspended high in the trees – a real walk on the wild side!

SPECIAL ADDITIONS

Other Voices will bring a little bit of musical magic from its spiritual home on the Wild Atlantic Way in the West of Ireland to Suffolk for this year’s Latitude Festival. Now in its fourteenth year, Other Voices has previously accepted invitations from Le Poisson Rouge in New York City, Wilton’s Music Hall in London and The Glassworks in Derry-Londonderry during their Festival of Culture in 2013. 

This year Latitude welcomes, Solas, a new spa area providing an oasis of calm by day and meticulous merriment by night. Meaning ‘light’ in Irish, Solas invites festival goers to learn the art of chilling out. Take refuge in the specially designed holistic area where expert therapists will soothe the mind and body with massages, yoga, treatments and workshops to ease and appease, while indulgence meets decadence in bubbling hot-tubs and seaweed baths. Dotted throughout the zone will be a hand-picked selection of installations; unwind under a canopy of reflective art and light and expand your mind as you investigate the sonic robotics of Indonesian inspired Gamelatron. 

As darkness unfolds, Solas will become an intimate​ tableau of late-night party corners. A piano bar sunk into the forest floor will entertain and ignite, while the ElectroShack spins a dizzying array of upbeat earworms. Jump on the furniture and make yourself at home at My Club House, peer across the festival grounds from the secret Hilltop Hideaway, or shed your 21st century cool and embrace the sunshine kitsch at Body Holiday.

Sky Arts returns for the 10th celebrations to bring fans highlights from the Latitude weekend. Two 120minute jam packed shows of performances, interviews and highpoints will be televised the weekend after the festival.

The final of Sky Arts ​Guitar Star, a major new competition to search for a world-class guitarist, will film the winning player performing on Latitude’s Obelisk Arena. For more information visit: http://www.sky.com/tv/show/guitar

This year for the first time ever Latitude will be partnering with ActionAid a leading international development charity who support women and children living in extreme poverty. They work to help empower women and children to fight for their own rights and to create lasting change.

By day, the new ActionAid tent will be home to creative craft workshops, games and festival fun activities and by night the tent will transform into a late-night party venue with DJ’s playing until the early hours. Look out for signings and guest DJ sets from some of the festival acts too.

With support from Festival Republic and Firebrand merchandise, ActionAid will also be teaming up with one of the 2015 Latitude acts to create a limited Edition festival item which will be available to buy exclusively at the festival. All proceeds will go towards supporting ActionAid’s work to change lives for good.

Latitude is synonymous with the perfect festival experience, and this year organisers are going one step further with Latitude’s Charity Concierge. Imagine someone going to the bar for you…putting up your tent….even holding your place in the queue for the Comedy Stage or Theatre tent. Latitude’s team of 100 enthusiastic volunteers will be offering these services throughout the arena and in some campsites, to raise money for the Kenyan Orphan Project. And Festival Republic will match fund every penny. The team are aiming to raise £50,000 so lie back in the sunshine and let someone else do the leg work!

Loads of acts added to Latitude Festival 2015 lineup

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L.A. four-piece Warpaint will make their Latitude debut at this year’s 10th anniversary edition, performing on the coveted Obelisk Arena on Sunday evening. Performing seductive grooves from their widely acclaimed debut album ‘The Fool’ and this year’s popular follow-up Warpaint, the Californian band’s swirling sound, full of mysterious buzzes and coos, will delight the Latitude audience.

 

Santigold is back! Straight out of Brooklyn, Santigold has become a unique and inspiring figure on today's electronic musical landscape. Having worked with Jay-Z, David Byrne, Major Lazer and the Beastie Boys, Santigold is established internationally as one of the most exciting and fearless artists to emerge in the last decade. Her albums are widely praised for their genre-defying sound and instantly memorable melodies and her performance on the Obelisk Arena this year is one not to be missed.

Celebrating the 15 year anniversary of Badly Drawn Boy’s Mercury Prize winning album ‘The Hour of Bewilderbeast’ Damon Gough will be performing songs including the much loved singles ‘Once Around The Block’, ‘Pissing In The Wind’ and ‘Disillusion’and it is a pleasure to have them performing at Latitude.

Since their triumphant reunion in 2013 The Boomtown Rats make their long-awaited appearance at the festival this year. Led by musical legend and philanthropist Sir Bob Geldof, the band has had a series of massive hits throughout their incredible career including ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ and ‘Someone’s Looking At You.’ Powered by high energy nostalgia and their front man’s prancing charisma, Latitude is hugely excited to welcome them to the Obelisk Arena this year. 

Latitude are delighted to welcome The Charlatans to the BBC 6 Music Stage. Stalwarts of the 90’s British indie scene who produced several iconic hits including ‘The Only One I Know’, The Charlatans are one of a handful of bands who have remained relevant since. Their twelfth album ‘Modern Nature’ was released earlier this year and received glowing reviews; even heralded as the best of their career. Fronted by national treasure Tim Burgess, whose solo set at Latitude 2013 was a festival highlight, we are expecting this set to be a lot of fun.

Additionally, British sing-songwriter, Kindness, who combines soulful sensuality with artful experimentation in his beautiful new album can be revealed as also appearing at Latitude, along with ambient music duo A Winged Victory for the Sullen who are one of the most prominent artists today bending the rules of contemporary classical music, the widely admired British rock band Tom Robinson and band who will perform songs such as their classic punk rock single, ‘Up Against the Wall’. Following the release of their debut album ‘Lost Souls’ in 2015, former Doves members bring their new band Black Rivers to Latitude.Often described as “Syrian Techno”, Syrian musician Omar Soulyman’s new album ‘Wenu Wenu’, produced by Kieran Hebden (Four Tet), distills Omar’s live performances into a fireball of Middle Eastern passion and excitement.

Latitude is the event of the summer to see the very best in new music. Tucked away in Latitude’s beautiful woodland area, this year the iArena will provide a magically intimate setting for the recently signed  Matador artist HÆLOS, whose melodramatic electronic sounds nod towards legendary headliners Portishead; London-based neo-soul champion Ben Khan and Canadian sombre folk act Timber Timbre.Mali’s Songhoy Blues will be performing  their critically acclaimed perpetual garage blues album “Music in Exile”, whilst punk-fired rock'n'roll classicist Ezra Furman brings his just announced album “Lousy Connection,” and we welcome both American indie pop band, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and returners Admiral Fallow from Scotland.

We’re proud to announce the final headliner for the The Lake Stage will be English singer-songwriter and pianist Rae Morris who’s already performed on tracks by Bombay Bicycle Club and Clean Bandit and is now stepping out into the spotlight with her solo material. Her debut album ‘Unguarded’ was released this year to brilliant reviews; expect to be seduced by her lustrous, emotive tones. Also announced for the Lake Stage is Welsh avant-pop singer Gwenno who creates home-fi keyboard sounds wrapped in echoed vocals and musique concrète-inspired beats. 

We are hugely excited to announce the first names for DIY presents The Alcove Stage. Latitude prides itself on nurturing new talent and The Alcove is the perfect place to listen to the most exciting new voices of 2015. We are thrilled to reveal that DIY Magazine are on board this year to augment the exposure these new bands will get. Australian singer-songwriter Josef Salvat deals in soulful, and sometimes sorrowful, electro-pop. His debut EP ‘Hustler’ garnered more than a million plays on Soundcloud and sparked comparisons to Morrissey, Lana Del Rey and Gotye. Joining him will be the post-punk elecronica LoneLadywith her critically acclaimed release “Hinterland”, and abrasive punks Bad Breeding who being driven by frustration at the lack of prospects in their hometown of Stevenage, broke onto the scene last year with dissident rock 'n' roll anthem ‘Burn This Flag’ and the subsequent album ‘Age of Nothing’ which has to be noted as an important reflection of disaffected young Britain.

Known primarily as a post-rock putting Vessels in same camp as Mogwai and Battles, the ever-evolving Leeds quintet chose a more dance-driven sound for their third album “Dilate”. Jane Weaver brings her self-penned pop abstractions while London electro pop band Real Lies purvey dreamy electronic dance music that deals in the dirt of real life and R. Seiliog’s music interweaves melodic threads of psych, experimental electronics and modulating drones via spectral flecks of psych-noise. The defining feature of Erased Tape’s Douglas Dare is his understanding that beauty is erratic and his beautiful misshapen melodies. Taking their name from a famous Bob Dylan song title, up-and-coming Liverpudlian trio Clean Cut Kid will be at Latitude to deliver truly mesmerising folk melodies. Two of America’s most exciting young contemporary singer-songwriters will also be joining the Latitude bill. 19-year-old Brooklyn troubadour Tor Miller is gaining attention for his combination of stark piano chords, stunning voice and gospel fervour. Joining him is 21 year old Iowian Max Jury; an impeccable song-crafter and guitarist with one foot in the cornfields and the other in a dive bar, NAO who is one of the hottest names in London right now, favoured by the likes of BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac and Zane Lowe and with a new EP out on Monday, the electronic soul singer’s debut headline shows were completely sold out. Her Latitude set will be the perfect opportunity to catch her in an intimate setting while you can.  Mixing lo-fi folk with choral harmonies and electronic elements, classically trained composer C Duncan is on the brink of great things. The young Scotsman’s highly anticipated debut album ‘Architect’ is out in July on FatCat Records.

Look out for newcomer Matt Woods with his beautifully produced pop tunes and a strong husky voice capable of hitting falsetto notes with ease, Woods is something special to hear early on and ones to watch, DMA’s who revisit Britpop with a twist in their double A- side ‘So We Know’.   

In the Film & Music Arena the groundbreaking drum & bass legend Roni Size reunites his seven-piece band with a line-up comprising of Dynamite MC, Onallee, Si John, Dave Amso and Yuval Gabay. Reprazent are widely regarded as one of the most important live electronic music acts of the past two decades, their debut album ‘New Forms’ won the Mercury Music Prize in 1997 and was followed by 2000’s ‘In The Møde’.

Restless innovator, sampling wizard, classically trained pianist and superstar collaborator, Matthew Herbertis one of electronic music’s most versatile and prolific figureheads The all new Herbert live show will be a celebration of the house music side of Matthew Herbert's work. Primarily playing material from new album 'The Shakes', it will also feature some of Matthew's best loved work from the ‘Bodily Functions’ era with two new singers, Ade Omotayo (Kindess, Amy Winehouse), Rahel Debebe-Dessalegne (Hejira, Eric Lau), and a small brass section. London-based electronica and techno producer Max Cooper weaves together a selection of tirelessly errant and inventive machine funk for immersive dancing. Joe Mcalinden performs his live score to Edit- A Short Film by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard.

There will be broken balladry from the remarkable Brighton duo Games providing cold, haunting and cracked vocals that lie delicately over an imperturbable and minimal piano ebb, a parallel to that of a Philip Glass movie score. Powerful melodies create a captivating urban soundtrack, a modern lovechild of Aretha Franklin & Portishead, and perhaps the third cousin of a few jazz divas. Euphoric and vulnerable is the vibe here as Games respite you into a solitary daze of wonder and longing and Gazelle Twin & Carla MacKinnon present Out of Body. Commissioned by The London Short Film Festival, this unique audio-visual collaboration between electronica artist Gazelle Twin and interdisciplinary filmmaker and animator Carla MacKinnon uses abstracted body-horror imagery alongside a glacial electronic score to explore puberty, phobia and transformation. Disjointed beats and disturbing animation sit well together in this visually stunning show, also accompanied by a selection of women-directed shorts that inform the work, including films by Sadie Benning, Allison Schulnik and Emily Richardson. Carla and Elizabeth (Gazelle Twin) will be on stage for a Q&A session following the performance.

White Mink is the zeitgeist-capturing speakeasy where the sounds and styles of the 1920s and 30s are turned on their head and smuggled into the 21st Century and they come to Latitude this year with The Electro Swing Speakeasy. More than just a night club and live music event, White Mink events collide the contemporary with the decadence of days gone by, delivering a whole evening of vintage inspired cabaret and entertainment for a thoroughly modern club night.

Hailed as one of the most innovative and intimate documentaries of all time experience Kurt Cobain like never before in the only ever fully authorised portrait of the famed music icon. Academy Award nominated filmmaker Brett Morgen expertly blends Cobain’s personal archive of art, music, never seen before movies, animation and revelatory interviews from his family and closest friends in Sheffield Doc/Fest Presents – Kurt Cobain: Montage (Film)

The brilliant Mark Lamarr’s God’s Jukebox takes over the Film and Music arena with guests announced so far including Horace Andy well-known as the sweetest voice in reggae and for his long association with British trip-hop band Massive Attack.   Andy is the only singer of Massive Attack's rotating group of guest artists to appear on each one of the band's albums. Horace Andy has promised the Latitude audience, ‘hit after hit of fine reggae music.’ Mark’s other guest announced so far is a queen of roots, rhythm and soul,Sister Cookie is a fixture of the vintage music scene, her debut album is due for release at the end of 2015 on FOLC Records.

Within The Little House, catch the screening of Kevin Allen's Under Milk Wood starring Rhys Ifans written byDylan Thomas adapted by Murray Lachlan Young, Michael Breen and Kevin Allen. With live performance with a choir and solo voices. Under Milk Wood will turn the Little House in the Woods into the Harbourside Chapel.  fFatti fFilms presents Kevin Allen’s radically updated film version of Dylan Thomas’s iconic peotic prose work, Under Milk Wood, as a specially commissioned performance. The adapted screenplay was written by Murray Lachlan Young, Michael Breen and Kevin Allen and stars Rhys Ifans and Charlotte Church.  This erotic, surreal cinematic interpretation explores some of the more visceral elements of the funny, filthily fluid magical dreamscape of this unique world.

And in The Faraway Forest, The National Portrait Gallery's Choir in residence, The Portrait Choir return to Latitude to perform a specially devised piece The Dawn Chorus – the trees come to life.  Performed within the Faraway Forest on the Saturday morning of the festival the piece takes inspiration from the recent Portrait Choir performance of the Poet, the Lover and the Lunatic.   Devised by Latitude's Tania Harrison,  Portrait Choir Artistic Director  Gregory Batsleer and Director Donnacadh O'Briain, as the dawn becomes day the woods comes alive with faces from the National Portrait Gallery's Collection, performances by the Portrait Choir as well as dramatic surprises from a company of Actors 

Keith Allen brings his legendary Establishment Club back to Latitude with exciting special guests across the weekend in The Alcove.  Watch, listen, learn and dance with Keith as he presents guests from Pere Ubu toDirty Soul Rockers, from the Hot Sprockets to Ruts DC, from Thabo and the Real deal to Jack Flash and Keith’s own legendary big band Grow Up.

It’s time to bring the dark side out of Latitude with a series of huge Late Night DJs.  Nestled deep in the heart of the neon lit In the Woods, festival goers won’t be able to resist the vibrations featuring a hedonistic line-up of mind blowing electronic talent from across the globe.

On Thursday night at 10pm Mucho Soul & Size Doesn’t Matter present The Vinyl Frontier, a strictly vinyl only sound clash! DJ’s Si Kurrage and Mr Shiver: Size Doesn’t Matter Collective and Ket Shah & DJ AKA with The Mucho Soul Show. A special opening night four hour sound clash session of strictly vinyl platters that matter with the Mucho Soul and Size Doesn’t Matter DJ collectives going head to head! Expect an up-front selection of glorious sevens from heaven and 12inch pleasures of Funk, Soul, Disco, Reggae, House, Techno, Eighties, Nineties and everything in between.

On Friday night at 11pm, DJ A.K.A & KET SHAH (Back to back FM) present: Mucho Soul with special guest DJ Abi Clarke (Soul Jazz Records & West End Girls) Purveyors of the finest soulful rhythms and beats, DJ’s Ket Shah & D.J A.K.A of Back2Back FM’s popular underground radio show Mucho Soul bring their superb take on Funk, Soul, Disco, Electronica and Deep Soulful House to Latitude with special guest Abi Clarke joining them with her Boogie, Nu-Soul, R’n’B and Rare Grooves selections!

On Saturday night at 11pm Ashley Beedle & Jo Wallace present: A History of Black Music. A unique four hour overview of the history of Black Dance Music with tracks chosen by legendary selector, Ashley Beedle & Motown connoisseur, Jo Wallace. Iconic tunes will nestle alongside obscure gems giving an insight into the diverse and wonderful world of black dance music over the last 70 years! From Swing to Motown, Funk to Hip Hop, House to Happy, you’ll be signposted through seven decades of joyous music in the superb woodland surroundings of Latitude 2015.

On Sunday night at 11pm Si Kurrage & Mr Shiver present: Size Doesn’t Matter. The Size Doesn’t Matter crew bring a very special repertoire of Reggae, Jamaican Ska and Two-tone to the stage with a big helping hand from the Zoot suited charismatic Natty Bo who’ll be adding to the brew serving up his inimitable brand of 50’s and 60’s Rhythm and Blues, Cuban Mambo, Latin, Soul, Boogaloo and 70’s firm Funk favourites to the Latitude Sunday night finale!

Other Late Night entertainment includes United Vibrations, inspired by the beats and harmonies of the world. They are a product of a cultural fusion. Brand New Wayo will take you on a magic carpet ride, covering breadth and depth, from Dub to Jazz to Hip Hop via UKG, Disco, Afro beat and the cosmos.Nérija is a reflection of the search for individual strength in the face of external expectations through the form of music. Guilty Pleasures, an unashamedly glorious all-singing, all-dancing renouncement of pop music and an antidote to modern day clubbing fatigue created by Sean Rowley; Buttoned Down Disco, the largest indie dance party in the UK, coming to Latitude to rock the night, armed with ace music and glitter cannons to keep you dancing until 3am! and Pandora’s Playground wouldn’t be the same without the Disco Shed pumping out big tunes from their small home until the small hours.

Latitude Festival 2014 Review

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The 9th Latitude Festival in Suffolk, England drummed up great interest after winning Best Line-up at the 2013 Festival awards.  Trying to live up to expectations this year, they enlisted big acts like Damon Albarn, the Black Keys, Robyn & Röyksopp, as well as up and coming bands like Jungle, Childhood, and Bondax. Aside from the comprehensive bill of musicians and bands, Latitude also had a wide variety of cultural offerings ranging from theatre, comedy, cabaret, to literature, poetry, and dance. 

Photo courtesy of Latitude Festival – Marc Sethi

Day 1

The festival opened with a huge surprise last Thursday but not exactly of the good kind.  Friday headliner and crowd favorites Two Door Cinema Club cancelled the very last minute leaving plenty of fans heavily disappointed. Vocalist Alex Trimble was reported to have collapsed at Seattle Airport en route to England due to stomach problems.  With many traveling from as far as Japan just to see the trio, the cancellation led to an uproar and a huge pile of heatbreaks.  TDCC was the first band to be announced to headline the festival– as early as December 2013. It was supposed to be their first festival headline after touring for 5 years and climbing up the ranks.   

Filling up that glorious headline slot, Lily Allen agreed to step up to do the job; but not without getting loads of backlash from disappointed festival goers.     One twitter user compared the change as paying to sleep with Keira Knightley and ending up with Susan Boyle.  Tired of the negative reaction the change elicited from fans, Allen wrote on twitter:  “If you’re going to be rude about my replacing @TDCinemaClub on here, can you just un @ me please ? I’m so exhausted by the nastiness”

Despite that, Lily Allen’s courage to still show up was commendable.  She paid tribute to the trio by wearing a Two Door Cinema Club shirt and doing a cover of ‘Something Good Can Work.’  This seems to be an olive branch offering to TDCC fans and it was gracefully received.  The main stage didn’t end up a disappointment and the night ended with the crowd chanting her name. 

At the BBC Radio 6 Stage,  festival goers were treated to some excellent show of guitar skills starting with Anna Calvi and Slowdive.  Calvi treated fans with some new songs from her album ‘One Breath’ and with classics such as ‘I’ll be Your Man’ and ‘Desire’.  There was a silence of deep awe during the last few songs, and the following band, Slowdive proved worthy of the momentum.  The band from Berkshire had their own strong following with their announcement of a comeback this year after more than a decade of absence.

Headlining on the same stage was Scotland’s well- respected guitar band Mogwai.   The set was expected to be an attack to the senses and they certainly lived up to expectations.  More than an attack to the senses though, it was also an attack to the ear drums, with Stuart Braithwaite cheekily saying “I hope any children in the audience are wearing earplugs” before playing 'Master Card.' 

Other acts to note on the first day was the surprise show by Rudimental on the main stage and the highly energized performance by the Editors.  

 

Day 2

The second day provided some dilemmas to festival goers as to which stage to go to.  It started early with Simon Amstell packing the Comedy stage with almost triple its capacity.  The Essex local gave fans a peek of the show he will be touring this coming autumn. It was slightly peppered with some past materials but it sure didn’t leave fans short of laughter. 

After that, all roads led to the BBC Radio 6 stage where the legendary duo Hall & Oates were welcomed with much gusto after almost 10 years of absence in the UK.  They started with ‘Maneater’ which got the audience and even the BBC cameramen up to their feet.  They followed it up with huge hits like ‘I Can’t Go For That’ which included a breathtaking 5-minute solo (forgive the pun)  by saxophone player Charles "Mr. Casual” DeChant.  They came back for an encore playing  ‘You Make my Dreams Come True’ which prompted mass sing alongs from the old and young alike. 

Photo courtesy of Latitude Festival

It was also a big day for Swedish musicians, with First Aid Kit bringing sunshine to the Oberlisk Arena with some delightful harmonies from their new album and a beautiful rendition of Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘America’.  Swedish singer Robyn & Norwegian electronic duo Röyksopp also fired up a party at the BBC Radio 6 stage.  The 2-hour set probably saw the most excitable crowd that day and they proved worthy of the adulation.  The audience danced along to  the long string of hits and went wild to ‘Dancing On My Own.’  The light show and production were far from bad too.

The night ended with some thunderstorms and with Damon Alborn capping the night by bringing Blur band mate Graham Coxon onto the stage, much to the delight of fans.  They played a captivating performance of the Blur song ‘Tender’ amidst all the lightning and heavy downpour.  Simply memorable. 

Photo courtesy of Latitude Festival

Day 3

The thunderstorms from the previous night didn’t seem to dampen the spirit of festival goers.  The last day of the festival saw the new chart-topper George Ezra croon fans at the BBC Radio 6 Tent.  The 21-year old seemed to be overwhelmed by the amount of people who came to see him, but managed to meet and beat all expectations with beautiful melodies from ‘Budapest’, ‘Cassy O’, and ‘Leaving It Up To You.’

Hardcore fans of American bands Phantogram and Tycho didn’t mind the muddy trek up to the iArena stage to watch the bands from New York and San Francisco do their take on synthpop music.  Sarah Brathel of Phantogram unleashed her inner beast and performed singles like ‘Falling In Love’ and crowd pleaser ‘Black Out Days.’  They were immediately followed by Tycho, aka Scott Hansen, which along with his band, brought his design works and projected them on the wall to accompany their music.  To say it was a hauntingly beautiful set was to say the least.

The big responsibility of closing up the festival was left up to The Black Keys.  The backdrop to this much-anticipated show was an elaborate set-up including multiple screens and painted theatre curtains.  The crowd which was eager for a great send-off sang along to hits like ‘Lonely Boy’, 'Howlin' For You' and ‘Fever’.  Although the set was mostly well-received, it was also noticeably lacking in energy compared to the previous nights’ headliners.  One festival goer quipped, “They don’t seem to have much chemistry between the two of them tonight.”

Overall, it was a successful festival. It had minor glitches and the wellies were certainly put to use, but what would be an English music festival without those? 

Latitude add more names for this years festival

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Latitude is absolutely ecstatic to welcome the universally acclaimed and much loved Alison Moyet, one of Britain’s most successful female music stars ever, to the Film & Music Arena this year. Renowned for her famously sultry vocals that have seen her nominated for a slew of awards and propelled her into the spotlight; Moyet has enjoyed a wonderfully diverse and creative career to date; from reinventing British dance music in Yazoo to touring with Academy Award-winning French composer, Michel Le Grand. In 2013 Alison returned to her electro roots with the release of her first Top 5 album in 26 years and eighth solo album the minutes. Moyet’s electro performance will bring festival goers of all ages together for a sensational set.
 
Taking to the BBC Radio 6 Music Stage after four hugely acclaimed, much loved albums with the award-winning band Doves, Jimi Goodwin will perform as a solo artist. Embarking on a solo career, Jimi’s debut album Odludek showcases his trademark, doleful, baritone and twanging melodic bass lines. Playing almost every instrument on each track, spectators can look forward to a performance highlighting that award-winning talent. Bath Garage rockers Archie Bronson Outfit are back with entirely new material. Recently releasing their new LP Wild Crush, it is packed with raw-romance, brutal hooks and groovy soul reflections. Following on from release of their last LP Coconut, which won recognition and reverence around the globe, their latest music venture is a journey of sonic re-discovery and a simultaneous new adventure. 
 
Following Latitude’s stellar line-up of exclusive festival performances and eclectic range of music, the avant-garde pianist Hauschka will set the iArena ablaze with a selection of his experimental, prepared piano pieces. Hauschka is celebrated for his compelling live shows that reimagine the expressive possibilities of the piano through an array of imaginative ‘preparations’ on its internal mechanisms. Also performing on the iArena will be dance fusion sensation Phantogram. The duo, comprising of childhood friends Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter, first burst on to the scene with a unique fusion of hip-hop meets dream-pop. Since the pair’s inception, they have gone on to collaborate with music heavy weights Big Boi and Outkast and promise to wow audiences with a lush and evocative performance. London's most intrepid and adventurous psychedelic troupe have traversed a whole new plateau of synapse-shredding euphoria in the wake of their cataclysmic third album MASTER. Blurring the synth and disco odysseys of the 70s, the guitar-noise fuelled infernos of the 80s, horrorscore schlock and a whole mess of other cathode-ray and speaker-stack birthed epiphanies into one futuristic and fearsomely compelling whole, Teeth Of The Sea continue to spin in their own unique orbit.
 
New Zealand’s acclaimed sibling duo Broods will take to The Alcove with music form their debut EP Bridges. With a profound talent for emotional storytelling, the pair’s music mixes distant instruments with stammering beats and synthesisers to create a unique brand of alternative pop. Following Broods’ performance in The Alcove, will be the exciting Swedish songstress Seinabo Sey who will enthral festival goers with her euphoric blend of soul and pop music. Leeds based artist Joseph Lyons aka Eaves also joins the line-up on the stage. He has swiftly evolved from self-releasing a bunch of demos online into providing one of the most engaging live sets taking place in London, supporting Nick Mulvey, Slow Club and Keaton Henson.

Music company Transgressive is hitting its 10th Anniversary and celebrating in style with a host of its own events and parties, curated by the team. Hijacking the Film & Music Arena on Saturday night, the event will feature exclusive sets from electro veterans Simian Mobile Disco, the massively tipped Snakehips, a total festival exclusive from Two Inch Punch, as well as DJ-ing courtesy of the Transgressive and Bless teams. Live visuals on the night will be provided by Fay Milton from the band Savages. More surprise appearances are guaranteed on the night!

 Keith Allen returns to Latitude this year with Keith Allen’s Establishment Club on The Alcove with very special guests,23 Skidoo, DJ & producer Richard Norris, post-punk band Vic Godard & The Subway Sect, punk poet Jinx Lennon,soulful Thabo & The Real Deal folk rock band The Raglans, rock ‘n’ roll brothers The Hot Sprockets, left-wing comedian and author Mark Steel and Keith’s inimitable Latitude’s Got Talent.

 
BBC Radio 6 Music is proud to host the Sunday night closing party In the Woods. For over 12 years, Craig Charles has set the groove on 6 Music on Saturday evenings with his legendary Funk and Soul Show, he returns to Latitude with his Trunk of Funk – featuring the best in funk and soul from the roots of black music through to the current club sounds.  Renowned UK house duo X-Press 2 are regular hosts of the 6 Mix on 6 Music. DJs Rocky and Diesel first rose to underground prominence in 1993, with their tracks Muzik Express and London Xpress; and later enjoyed mainstream success with their Number 2 smash Lazy, which featured David Byrne from Talking Heads. On playing Latitude, the duo said 'We're pretty excited to be playing at Latitude this summer, and to be a part of the BBC 6 music crew- doubly excited!'
 
Lance Horne and Nigel Richards will perform The Night Of My Wedding, with words by Neil Gaiman. This spectacularly poignant piece uses the words of the love poems Neil Gaiman wrote to his wife, Amanda Palmer. Lance Horne set Neil’s unpublished poetry to an original score for the stage, which will debut in the Film & Music Arena. The National Portrait Gallery’s choir in residence, The Portrait Choir, will be joined by a team of actors and New Century Baroque to performAnonymity, an exploration of the themes of isolation and loneliness within wartime. Performed under the striking backdrop of images from the National Portrait Gallery, this multisensory event combines the evocative and powerful music of Handel with poems and correspondences from soldiers, politicians and members of the public dating back from the Great War up until the present day. The National Portrait Gallery’s Choir in Residence Programme is the first ever in-house music programme at a UK Gallery or Museum.
 
BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction returns to Latitude this year on the Lavish Lounge.  Beginning on Friday with anarchic Mancunian experimenter Paddy Steer; vocal harmony trio Lady Maisery with their take on the English folk tradition; and a rare visit from psychedelic Cumbia band Meridian Brothers, direct from Bogota.  Saturday features Mariam the Believer, one half of Swedish alt-pop duo Wildbirds & Peacedrums; Late Junction’s very own Mara Carlyle in collaboration with electronic composer Anna Meredith and a set from MOBO Award-winning jazz quartet Sons of Kemet. Finally on Sunday expect Balkan brass from London’s Balkanatics; the gorgeous voice of singer-songwriterEska performing material from her new album; plus Italian duo Satelliti bring their heady mix of krautrock, jazz and electronica.  Highlights from all these sets will be broadcast on Late Junction the week after the festival, along with sessions and interviews recorded on site.
 
An icon himself, Latitude is delighted to welcome David Bailey, photographer of some of the most iconic images of the last five decades, to the Film & Music Arena to talk about his work with Tim Marlow,  art critic and director of artistic programmes at the Royal Academy. Bailey’s work and recent exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, Stardust,includes revealing, intimate and unforgettable portraits of the faces that have defined multiple generations, from the infamous Kray Twins and the starlets of the 60s, to the faces we see everywhere today; Kate Moss, Jack Nicholson and Damon Albarn. Beyond photography, Bailey is a filmmaker, sculptor and painter, and his appearance at Latitude will offer the audience an insight into the mind of a man whose work has shaped our image of the world. Multi-award winning filmmaker Nick Broomfield also joins the Arena to discuss his work, including his new documentary film Tales of the Grim Sleeper, examining the apartheid and class system in the US.
 
Additions to the film programme include Sheffield Doc/Fest who present Love is All, a climatic journey through the 20th-century, exploring the themes of love and courtship on screen in a century of unprecedented social upheaval. This is the celluloid story of love and courtship since the birth of the movie camera; told with spellbinding footage from the British Film Institute archive. Directed by Kim Longinotto, edited by Ollie Huddleston and set to a stunning Richard Hawley soundtrack.
 
Film 4 presents a number of film shorts across the weekend. Pitch Black Heist by John McLean – BAFTA winner for Best Short Film, starring Liam Cunningham and Michael Fassbender as professional safe crackers who meet on a simple job to relieve an office safe from its contents. Jonah by Kibwe Tavares – a big fish story set in Zanzibar about a beach boy with big dreams and the human cost of progress written by Jack Thorne and directed by Kibwe Tavares, starring Daniel Kaluuya. Dr. Easy by Shynola – the first fiction short from music video collective Shynola, sees Michael (Tom Hollander) as a broken man with a gun, surrounded by armed police. A robot with a medical degree is dispatched – but can it save him? London Short Film Festival will present a programme including shorts from Matt Kirkby, Felix Massie andLouise Paxton. Other short films across the weekend come from Brian Crano, Ben Bee, Eleonore Pourriat, Josie Long & Doug King and Tim Key & Tom Basden.
 
Latitude is incredibly excited to announce that everyone's favourite grumpster, and two-time Comedy Award winner Jack Dee will appear at Latitude, taking a break from moaning about the smallest of annoyances to help his fellow festival goers. In Jack Dee's Helpdesk the grouchy comic is joined by a panel of brilliant comics including Jeremy Hardy, Seann Walsh and Katherine Ryan to offer advice on audience members’ problems. He promises that “in no way'” will your issues be “ridiculed in front of a live audience”. Here’s hoping!
 
Also joining the comedy line-up is comedian, author, sports pundit and husband Mark Watson, duly recognised for his endearing wit and quirky remarks, and multi-talented comedian, actress, singer, musician and winner of The Soho Theatre One Night Stand Up Award Vikki Stone. Up and coming stand-up Ed Gamble started out doing sketches at university and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, going on to co-present the Peacock & Gamble Podcast. A permanent presenter on BBC Radio 4 Extra, festival goers can look forward to his ad hoc material.
 
Winner of the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year in 2012 the Welsh wonder that is Matt Rees joins the eclectic mix of award winning performers in the Cabaret Arena. The Pin bring their reformed double-act to Latitude. Comprising of Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen the pair have enjoyed a sell-out run at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and won theBest Show award at the 2013 London SketchFest.  Having generated a huge buzz on the comedy circuit with his unique brand of well-crafted gags and acerbic delivery, Matt is deserved of high praise from audiences and critics alike. Making waves on the plateau of eccentric comedy sketches Massive Dad might just be the funniest thing you ever see and they make their festival debut on the Saturday morning. The Monster Comedy Shed, perhaps the smallest comedy venue in the world, will set up base hosting its own concentrated line-up to an intimate crowd of 3-4 people. Rising star Sean McLoughlin who, referred to as the “Albert Steptoe of stand-up” (Chortle), is a rare and humble breed of comic also joins the bill and Fancy Chance, one of the UK's premier burlesque clowns and performance artists, and the reigning Alternative Miss World comes to Latitude with I heart Bush: The Kate Bush Movement. 
 
On the beautiful Waterfront Stage  will be winner of eight Tony Awards, four Drama Desk Awards and a Grammy, the Broadway smash hit musical Once heading to Latitude with highlights from the musical, having reached worldwide recognition. Each actor doubles as a musician bringing the soaring score to life, including Falling Slowly, the Oscar-winning song from the original film. The combination of the show’s heart-warming story and exuberant tunes is sure to warm you through and through. Audiences will be further mesmerised by the sultry performance of German Cornejo & Gisela Galeassi in a contemporary rendition of the Argentinean Tango. Specially commissioned by the prestigiousSadler’s Wells, their critically acclaimed performance promises to be one of the highlights of Latitude’s dance programme. Showcasing an intricate and beautifully delicate piece Historic Royal Palaces: Glorious Georges is an intriguing performance of the secrets revealed through dance in the Georgian era.
 
Added to the ever-expanding Theatre programme at the festival is a Paines Plough and Birmingham Repertory Theatre production, Hopelessly Devoted by Kate Tempest.  Chess is in prison. Facing a lengthy sentence, her cell mate becomes her soul mate, but when Serena is given parole, Chess faces total isolation. Hope comes in the form of a music producer looking for a reason to love music again. She finds a powerful voice in Chess, but to harness her talent, Chess must first face her past. Lyrical fireworks. Live music. This is a story of love and redemption. Inspired by a dream, the revelations of whistleblower Edward Snowden, and the debate surrounding State Surveillance, Theatre Ad Infinitumcreates a nightmarish future where the state is secretly watching citizens’ minds in the Theatre Arena with Light, the codename given to metadata. Fusing graphic novel and cinema inspired sci-fi visuals and sound with non-verbal physical storytelling, Light brings to life a very disturbing future. In accordance with the arresting themes of other theatre performances, audiences are invited to delve into the Kafka-like world of Strike! and explore man’s desire to break free from bureaucracy and the constraints of work. Directed by Keziah Serreau and devised with a company of five highly skilled performers, Strike! uses intense physicality and humour, innovative aerial structures and a deluge of cardboard boxes to blur the boundaries between circus and theatre.
 
In Pandora’s Playground Forward Theatre Project presents BIRD – a piece of outdoor theatre about flight, freedom and the relationship between humankind and nature. A lonely young boy makes friends with a fledgling bird, and his eyes open to the natural world around him. An unusual and heart-warming modern fable, appealing to adults and children alike. In line with Latitude’s theme of Secrets & Lies Meridian, an immersive theatre experience by Cross Collaborations for Theatre Delicatessen's SPACED2014 invites, challenges and dares you to enter a new world. Inhabited by an eclectic array of performers they will take over Pandora’s Playground in an elegant and exquisite performance. Renowned for its iconic Black Box theatre installation for an audience of one, Bootworks Theatre will present a specially commissioned piece titled The Redboxes for Latitude this year.
 
This summer, chance upon a unique, celestial experience in The Faraway Forest as the award-winning Undeb Theatreshares a magical tale under the night sky. Comets is a play about love, lies and the expanse of the galaxy, following two teenagers on the cusp of adulthood, how growing up is changing their present, but the profound and unchangeable effect their relationship and life together has had on them. Also attending Latitude will be the non-government funded charity Stonewall who are renowned for campaigning and lobbying for the equal rights of gays, lesbians and bisexuals in the UK.  Recently Stonewall has helped secure civil partnerships.
 
Joining the Literary Arena will be Executive Director of Greenpeace Jon Sauven, Frank Hewetson one of the Arctic 30 activists who was arrested in international waters off northern Russia after staging a protest against oil exploration and the much loved British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood with her strong passion for ecological issues and protecting the planet. They will host an event on Save The Arctic, the Greenpeace campaign launched by Westwood which hopes to create a global sanctuary in the Arctic and to ban offshore oil drilling and industrial fishing in the wider Arctic region.  
 
In partnership with Latitude the New Statesman will host a panel discussion across the weekend on the subject ofSecrets & Lies, starting with Literary Dystopias. The panel features Meg Rosoff, award-winning young-adult author best known for the brilliant post-apocalyptic novel How I Live Now, which went on to be made in to a film, New Statesman columnist, author, and sci-fi fan Laurie Penny; and winner of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists 2003 Toby Litt,whose repertoire of books include Journey into Space. Chaired by Tom Gatti, New Statesman’s Culture Editor, the second panel on gaming will include the Associate Features Editor at Eurogamer Ellie Gisbon, Kotaku UK's new Editor, writer and author on video games Keza McDonald, Media Molecule’s Siobhan Reddy and Barry Meade from Fireproof Games.
 
Joining the roll of prominent authors in the Literary Arena Josh Cohen will be taking part in the WHO ARE YOU? panel. With some fascinating insights into the way that the modern world, with its 24 hour media, social networks and reality TV, is altering the way we think of ourselves.  Also in the Arena will be the prominent journalist, author, documentary maker and broadcaster Sarfraz Manzoor chairing a panel of Extraordinary Women with author of Mrs Hemingway Naomi Wood, and New Statesman TV critic, journalist and author Rachel Cooke.
 
In the Shed of Stories author of Moondust and Totally Wired Andrew Smith will talk about the Bitcoin’s mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Winner of The Thwaites Wainwright Prize for UK Nature and Travel Writing 2014 Hugh Thompson brings excerpts from his award-winning book The Green Road into the Trees. Having written books about Peru, Mexico and the Indian Himalaya, Hugh sheds light on the most exotic and foreign country of them all – his own. In partnership with Latitude Litro Magazine, publishers of literary short fiction, nonfiction and poetry, will host enlightening talks throughout the weekend, starting with editor-turned-writer Luke Brown in a conversation with his contemporary James Miller. Joining them in the shed will be author of the dystopian novel Fallen Land Patrick Flanery talking with historian and TV presenter Kate Williams and finally the novelist, editor, publisher and translatorBen Fergusson in discussion with new literary voice Rebecca Swirksy.

Latitude announce iArena late-night line-up!

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We have the latest news about the iArena lineup that will hit Latitude this year featuring some of the worlds top electronic music artists.

Headlining the late night stage on Friday will be the explosively talented electronic king and UK tunesmith Lone. Lone’s Friday night set will get the party amped up with his unique synth-soaked adventures through house, techno, and instrumental hip-hop. With props from fellow iArena artist James Holden, and Kode9, Rustie and Alex Nut, Lone is well respected as one of the most exciting young producers on the scene. Receiving critical acclaim for his dream-hop début opus Lemurian he is back with a bang for 2014, with new album Reality Testing set to drop this June.

Fuelling the crowd for Lone will be killer house music DJ and Resident Advisor recommended Leon Vynehall. New EP Music For The Uninvited has been described by RA as “one of the most eclectic and rewarding house records you’ll hear this year”. Vynehall will be preceded by Dan Shake, the first artist to be signed to Kenny Dixon's cult House label Mahogani Music label outside of Detroit in a decade. Expect the percussive rhythms of afrobeat, soul-drenched vocals and dark, dense grooves from this talented young producer. After producer, DJ and wunderkind James Holden finishes his set leaving the crowds wanting more, London based duo Voyeur will take to the stage with their dusty house music overlaid with fat house grooves. Recent signees to Kerri Chandler’s Madhouse, their debut single Blame It on the Youth was picked up by Annie Mac after tearing up last year’s legendary FOUND Street Party and the pair will bring the same summer vibes to Latitude this year.

Headlining the Saturday will be MOBO nominated Best Producer, Ericsson Best Newcomer Award Winner and UK Garage pioneer Wookie. Wookie has reproduced tracks for the likes of Sia, Justin Timberlake, Roll Deep, Ray Foxx and many, many more.  Having taken a break from the scene Wookie is back playing out his favourite 2-step tracks and mixing up his sets with different genres. With new single Higher, which sees the producer take a smoother, more house direction than ever before, the crowd will be kept on their feet throughout his set.

Building the buzz and excitement will be East-London’s beatsmith Champion who will take to the decks with his low-end basslines and dazzling rhythmic patterns. Despite only being in the early stages of his career, he is already producing music that incorporates House, UK Funky and Grime with a natural attention to detail. Champion has garnered support from tastemakers including The Quietus, FACT and XLR8R, setting him up as one of the UK’s next generation of leading producers.  Respected DJ, accomplished producer and label owner, Matt 'Jam' Lamont has been an intrinsic part of the UK Dance scene from its very inception. DJing across the globe, his skills are versatile and engaging with sets featuring House, Garage, breaks, dubs, & D&B to keep the crowd fully entertained. A champion of the British music scene, and great garage music irrespective of origin, it's no misnomer to class Matt 'Jam' Lamont amongst dance music's real pioneers. One of the most original production talents of recent times, Auntie Flo will open the iArena’s Saturday night of musical hedonism. His unique afro-futurist sound, encompassing classic house, disco, techno, electronica influences alongside afrobeat, kwaito, cumbia, South American rhythms and outsider music from all around the world offers a gateway to lesser-known strands of music.  Following on from two Radio 1 live sessions at Maida Vale and two Boiler Room sets, Auntie Flo is ready to bring his unique world dance sound to Latitude. 

Headlining on Sunday will be modern UK legend MJ Cole, a hugely respected Garage artist who released some of the most important UK dance records of the past decade. His intricate, heart-wrenching garage productions did more to expose the genre to the mainstream than any other artist. Having racked up a Mercury Music Prize nomination, a MOBO Best Producer award and a Silver Disc for UK, his often soulful sound hits the mark. With a commitment to emotive, brave club music expect to experience beats and bass that will stretch your musical boundaries.

Mo Kolours will join MJ Cole in the iArena with his eclectic mix of soul, new funk and broken dubstep. Having only released his self-titled debut album at the start of 2014 Mo has already been making waves with Gilles Peterson, Hot Chip's Joe Goddard and Friendly Fires' Jack Savidge. Tipped as an essential listen by many music blogs in the past year, Latitude welcomes Ghanaian-British artist Andrew Ashong, with his psych-soul grooves. Following his first solo release on Theo Parrish’s label, Sound Signature, the title track,Flowers won Track of the Year at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards last year. Ashong’s intricate tracks and layered vocals have drawn comparisons to “an R&B-influenced Richard Ashcroft” [Resident Advisor]. Opening up the dance floor on Sunday night will be BadBadNotGood, a formally trained trio who have torn up the rule book on improvised instrumental music and taken a fresh look at the jazz tradition. Renowned for their unique interpretation of popular hip-hop tracks, the three bring together jazz, hip hop, punk, and dance music into vigorous balance.  Don’t miss their raw talent and unique take on jazz.

Dave Seaman & Friends present The Naughty Forest at Latitude 2014

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 the anticipation builds for the opening parties in Ibiza, Latitude is proud to reveal a very special DJ announcement. The internationally renowned DJ Dave Seaman will be headlining a special late night set In The Woods on Saturday at Latitude this year: Dave Seaman & Friends present The Naughty Forest.  

 

One of the original pioneers of the UK house movement, Dave has been DJing for over 25 years and Latitude can’t wait to rave in the woods to his set. Having remixed and produced music for huge names including David Bowie and the Pet Shop Boys, Dave is a formidable force in the world of dance and house music, credited with being the first editor of the clubbing bible Mixmag and releasing over 30 mix compilations for the likes of Renaissance, Global Underground and Radio 1's Essential Mix. As well as all this, Dave is a regular at Latitude and so his first set at the festival is guaranteed to bring the sunset sounds of Ibiza to the sunrise coast.  

Alongside Dave, one of Ibiza’s most adored DJ’s, the critically acclaimed Mambos resident Pete Gooding, will also be bringing his brand of balearic house music. Living and working on the island, Pete has just mixed the new Mambos album which is set to be one of the biggest compilations of the summer whilst also running his own management agency and presenting his weekly global radio show. And to complete the line-up, Steve Parry, Dave’s label partner in their new venture Selador Recordings, will also take to the decks. One of the most talented and influential DJs to come out of Liverpool, his unrivalled music knowledge has filled dance floors across the globe for over 20 years whilst he also runs a music management company looking after the likes of Sasha, Sander Kleinenberg & Bushwacka. 

Get ready for an Ibiza inspired party at Latitude and experience all that The Naughty Forest has to offer!

 

New additions Paul Heaton, Jacqui Abbott, Chrissie Hynde and more join Latitude lineup

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We are excited to let you know the next phase of lineup announcements for this years Latitude Festival which include Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, The Jayhawks, Chrissie Hynde and more.

See the additions below:

Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott (formerly Beautiful South) – LP out 12th May

The Jayhawks

Chrissie Hynde

Augustines

Rhodes

Tycho

D.D Dumbo

Vaults

Solomon Grey

Years & Years

Elliphant

Childhood

Future Islands

MNEK

Syd Arthur

Danni Nicholls

Quote from Augustines

We are super proud to be playing the BBC 6Music tent at Latitude festival this year. We've spent many months improving our live show so expect some nice surprises! Festivals are very unique and each one has their own little charm. Latitude 2012 was really fun for us. Not only was it slightly humorous to see the pink sheep wandering around but we all enjoyed the quaint little boat ride which we were privileged to take to get us to the stage. The great thing about Latitude is it’s vibe. It’s a big festival but there is a great sense of community and intimacy. Hopefully the weather will be as glorious as it was the last time. If you see us walking around, come and say hello…. if not, we’ll see you down the front.

Quote from Chrissie Hynde

“Latitude is turning into one of the great British festivals. The site and the atmosphere really make it a very special weekend, so of course I am particularly looking forward to playing there this year. When The Pretenders played there in 2009 it was amazing and this year should be even better. I’m very happy to be back!”