Latitude Festival: Tim Burgess, Yard Act, Jeshi and more reveal their tips on what to see and do this weekend
Pink sheep, synchronised swimmers, gourmet chefs and banging tunes, it must be Latitude Festival time again. Whether your dream day is back-to-back bands at the main Obelisk Arena, pissing yourself laughing at the UK’s top comedians, knocking back gin cocktails at the Bombay Sapphire pop-up bar or playing a random piano in the woods, you’ll find something there to tickle your fancy. But what will the people who are performing and working at the Suffolk Festival get up to in their down time? They share all with HUNGER….
See The Charlatans frontman at the Listening Post stage on Sunday doing a live Listening Party with comedian James Acaster.
“It’ll be my third time at Latitude Festival, and I’m looking forward to making a weekend of it! I’m most excited to watch Siouxsie (BBC Sounds Stage on Sunday), it will be a dream come true for me. Saturday’s highlight on my list is Young Fathers (BBC Sounds Stage), and Metronomy and Pulp on Friday on the main stage (Obelisk Arena) should get things off to a good start. My top recommendation would be James Acaster’s Listening Party on Sunday – I’ll definitely be there for that! Like any festival, though, it’s those amazing things you find while meandering around that live long in the memory.”
Olivia Hardy – Wasia Project
Catch Olivia and brother Will Gao (of Heartstopper fame) hit the Sunrise Arena first thing on Friday.
“It’s our first time at Latitude! We’re looking forward to seeing Men I Trust at BBC Sounds Stage on Friday, their music is very laid back and classy, and we’ve been fans of theirs for a long time. We’re excited to explore the different food: check out Street Feast and the Guest Chef restaurant (Richard Curtis, Don Letts and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, to name a few of the guest chefs) and try out guided mindfulness in the Zen Den to catch a break in our day. If you’re at Latitude, don’t miss us: Wasia Project at the Sunrise Arena for some refreshing alt-pop sounds and hints of jazz! Oh, and if the weather is good, we might go swimming or paddle boarding in the lake!”
James Smith – Yard Act
Join the Yorkshire indie rockers for high-energy, chant-a-long anthems as they headline the BBC Sounds Stage on Friday night.
“This will be my first time at Latitude Festival, and I’ve heard it’s lovely, so let’s see what Suffolk has to offer. Pink sheep, apparently! I’ll be checking out Panic Shack (The Alcove on Friday), who supported us on a few dates last year and came close to blowing us off stage (close but not quite). Very up for seeing Mandy, Indiana (Trailer Park Stage on Friday), who have released one of the albums of the year. And thankfully, our set on Friday at the BBC Sounds Stage finishes just before Pulp come on the Obelisk Arena, so we can just dive off stage and see the masters at work.”
Sway along to the soulful and lyrically gifted songstress at the Alcove on Saturday.
“It’s my first time at Latitude, and I feel honoured to be part of such an immense line-up!! I’m definitely going to catch Young Fathers (BBC Sounds Stage on Saturday); they have such unrestrained exciting energy that I can’t wait to be enveloped in. I’ll also be making a beeline to watch Wunderhorse (Sunrise Arena on Saturday), one of my favourite artists that I’ve been wanting to experience live for a while now. The same goes for Gretel Hänly (Sunrise Arena on Friday). Floating around and letting my ears stumble on something new is also on my agenda so if you also happen to be floating around Latitude, come and catch my set at the Alcove on Saturday. I would love to see you there!”
Ed Lilo – Latitude Festival Team
Ed knows what he’s talking about; he’s a talent buyer for the festival and responsible for many of the acts on stage this year.
“Don’t miss Bar Italia (Sunrise Arena on Sunday), making a modern take on indie; each track has a hook, and there are rays of, if not sunshine, at least warm enough to make the listening experience not miserable. Fresh from prominent slots at major rock events around the world, High Vis headline Friday evening in The Alcove (don’t worry, finishing in plenty of time to make it to Pulp] with their hardcore-adjacent art-punk, and in lieu of a Gallagher at this year’s Latitude, frontman Graham Sayle makes a strong case for stand in. Also, look out for Siouxsie, the icon of the weekend (BBC Sounds Stage on Sunday), Okay Kaya, with the perfect third album (Sunrise Arena on Friday) and how could we not invite former US soldier, activist and whistle blower Chelsea Manning, who is also an accomplished DJ, to play the Sunrise Arena on Thursday evening?”
David Powles – Common People DJ
Dance the night away to Common People’s set of 90s Britpop, indie and dance In The Woods from 11pm to 3am on Friday.
“I’ve been to every Latitude Festival except the very first one, and I love the fact that it’s so easy to roam around the site enjoying such a great variety of acts. I’m most looking forward to seeing headliners Pulp (Obelisk Arena on Friday) because they’re my favourite band in the world, and Jarvis is Godlike in my eyes. Away from the main stage, I’d recommend Red Rum Club at the Sunrise Arena on Sunday, they’ve built up a great live reputation, and in terms of other stuff, go and check out Luke Wright (Theatre Arena on Saturday), his poems are at times hilarious, often moving and occasionally painful to listen to. Meanwhile, my favourite Latitude tradition is to spend the first few hours of Sunday supping a few recovery beers whilst watching whatever comedy is on in the wonderful Comedy Tent. Finally, don’t forget to catch our Britpop DJ set: Common People, straight after Pulp, over in The Woods.”
Catch powerhouse tunes like ‘Protein’ and ‘3210’ from the storytelling rapper at the Sunrise Arena on Sunday.
“It’s my first time both playing and being at Latitude. I’m looking forward to seeing Warmduscher (Sunrise Arena on Saturday), Black Midi (BBC Sounds Stage on Sunday), and Men I Trust (BBC Sounds Stage on Sunday). I’m buzzing to play my set at Latitude on Sunday – I’ve been playing a long run of festivals this summer, which has been life-changing. I’ve always loved being in the crowd and losing my mind at festivals, so it’s been wild being on the other side.”
Kirsty Taylor – Latitude Festival Team
Latitude’s Arts and Special Events Promoter spills the beans on her highlights to catch at the festival.
“Party Ghost (Theatre Arena on Saturday and Sunday) is a gorgeous contemporary circus by two unbelievably talented performers and just screamingly funny. Every visual gag comes back funnier moments later. Grumms: Something in the Water (Theatre Arena on Saturday and Sunday) is a one-person show inspired by performer/creator S.E. Grummett’s experience coming out as transgender; it’s completely enchanting in its feel. It has light and pathos and some wonderful details in its overall format. Head to the Listening Post stage on Saturday to hear Annina Van Neel and Peggy King Jorde talking about their work to protect the world’s most significant burial ground of enslaved Africans, documented in the film A Story of Bones. I would also recommend seeing Avant Garde (Waterfront Stage on Friday). Scrum is their dance theatre show set in a future – closely connected to our present – where dance is illegal. This will be rousing, riotous hip-hop and contemporary dance, and finish each night in the Outpost area; there’s no better place for inclusive anarchic sexy chaos.”
