Latitude Festival 2012: Review

Friday 13th to Sunday 15th July 2012 - Latitude Festival @ Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk. Words: Amanda Mace

Latitude 2012 began much like any other major British festival. Excited revellers in their thousands arrived at the Southwold site, dragging their weekend supplies through the grass and cursing their decision to pack four extra pullovers. As they chattered excitedly about the line-up, Latitude fans prayed for a dry weekend. That is, until the first spots of rain came as the campsites began to fill. So far, so ordinary. And yet, in the three days that followed, Latitude proved itself to be an extraordinary festival.

In total, seven stages listed musical acts of varying popularity and genre. The literary and poetry stages offered an incredibly diverse programme that included spoken word, book readings, and discussions. Throughout the weekend, two theatre stages hosted the newest and most interesting in performance and drama, while a mix of events could be found in the Faraway Forest. Both the comedy and cabaret tents offered quality acts on all three days.

While much of the arena was arranged in typical open-plan festival fashion, a large section of the site suggested that the planning process involved a great deal of creative thought. The i stage, for example, sat in the middle of a wooded area. As they waited for the first band to begin on Friday, slightly soggy music-lovers perched on logs and immersed themselves in what can surely be considered the ultimate in British festival relaxation. The festival’s peaceful, friendly atmosphere prompted many parents to feel comfortable bringing along their little ones, who could take advantage of a family campsite and large children’s area. Such a huge selection of acts and an impressive line-up meant that for festivalgoers of all ages, plenty of planning was absolutely essential.

!

On Friday, London-based company Theatre Ad Infinitum eased attendees into the performance atmosphere with ‘Translunar Paradise’. The award-winning group brought to the theatre stage a fascinating exploration of life and love through mime, masks, and an accordion accompaniment. On the poetry stage Tim Key proves that Latitude made the correct decision by providing him with a long slot with his short, bizarre verse and baffling delivery. In The Word tent, Malian musician Fatoumata Diawara combined soft, textured beats with expressive vocal skills to create tunes as vibrant as her personality.

!The first day of Latitude was undoubtedly the best day for comedy, with an impressive line-up throughout. Zipping about the stage exuding glee and breathless energy, the impossibly giddy Russell Kane managed, despite insulting much of his audience for their middle-class values, to remain a crowd favourite throughout. Doc Brown proved that combining rap and comedy can be done with his lyrics about improperly-made cups of tea, while musical comedy virtuoso Tim Minchin, who begins with ‘Rock and Roll Nerd’ attracted a huge crowd. Cabaret duo Frisky and Mannish squeezed oodles of giggles from the sizable audience with their unique take on pop music. The hilarious pair both have great musical capabilities, which makes their parodies all the more successful. The highlight of the duo’s Latitude show was a brilliantly fun mix of Kate Bush’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ and Kate Nash.

While the hype surrounding Lana Del Rey is unbelievable, her vocal talents are, as demonstrated during her set on The Word stage, genuinely striking. There remained on Friday several musical delights; foremost, an incredible performance from tUnE-yArDs. It would be a great shame to be put off by the fiddly name, as this musical project really is exciting and creative. tUnE-yArDs is the brainchild of Merrill Garbus, who loops her astoundingly powerful voice and drum beats live to create something wonderfully unusual. As one of the most anticipated acts of the festival, Bon Iver had plenty to live up to. Thankfully, the last Friday performance on the Obelisk stage met the high expectations of many with a pleasing and comprehensive set. The performance included ‘Calgary’, the phenomenally popular ‘Skinny Love’, and the gorgeously intricate ‘Blood Bank’, all of which highlighted the stunning melodic range of founder and front-man Justin Vernon.

!

Saturday began brilliantly with a live recording of BBC R4 show Infinite Monkey Cage, which features an unlikely collaboration between particle physicist Brian Cox and humour writer Robin Ince. The duo were joined by comedian Al Murray and cosmologist Andrew Potzen to pit art against science, which led to an insightful and thoroughly entertaining debate. One of the first musical highlights of the day was Sussex pair Smoke Fairies, whose thoughtful, quietly powerful tunes were both pleasing to the ear and captivating. As the second major downpour of the day threatened, Team Me retaliated on the i stage with their sunny, cheery tunes. The same stage later hosted harmonious trio The Staves, whose incredibly well-matched voices result in music that is both comforting and unashamedly delicate. On the In The Woods stage steampunk outfit Jarmean? were an absolute delight, boasting so much ukulele-led, brass-peppered merriment that they ought to come with a warning: may cause impromptu dancing.

!In a thoroughly enjoyable performance on the Obelisk stage, soul musician Michael Kiwanuka treated the Latitude crowd to his marvellous vocal strengths and lush, layered tunes. With her intriguing voice and warming melodies, Laura Marling shone. Electronic enthusiasts flocked to The Word arena for SBTRKT, a notorious remix artist who delivered a terrific, energetic performance that included several tracks from last year’s release. British rock outfit Elbow closed the Obelisk stage, proving their overwhelming popularity by attracting an immense audience. The Bury band played a selection of tunes from their extensive back catalogue, such as hugely popular favourite ‘Grounds for Divorce’ and the gentle and enduring ‘Lippy Kids’. With tunes that are simultaneously humble and grand, and a natural, affectionate rapport with an audience who were in equal parts soggy and enthusiastic, Elbow were an ideal festival headliner.

Saturday was a fantastic day for poetry fans. Rosy Carrick tugged listeners through velvety verbal wormholes that twisted into the sinister and strange, while Mab Jones’s witty verse told of lively working-class scenarios in Cardiff. Leeds-born poet Tony Harrison performed a selection of his work, which is smattered with astonishingly lucid childhood anecdotes and excellent pace. A definite highlight of the line-up, and, indeed, the whole day, was stage headliner and spoken word extraordinaire Scroobius Pip. That the performer is tremendously talented is clear, as words dripped from his tongue with fluid ease, conjuring entire personalities and worlds effortlessly.

!

François and the Atlas Mountains kick-started the final day of Latitude splendidly, providing tunes fun enough to take the minds of the audience off the disagreeable stench that surrounded The i Stage; an unpleasant mix of lukewarm mud and unwashed skin. For sleepy festival-goers, a trudge through the muck to the wondrous Waterfront stage for Lang Lang was worth it. At midday, the talented Chinese concert pianist performed an hour-long set that included Schumann and Chopin pieces. An eager audience, both young and old, lined the riverbank to witness an astounding performance. Further musical wonders came from the glorious Rufus Wainwright, who was accompanied by a full band. On the Obelisk stage the singer and composer delivered an extraordinary performance which included ‘Barbara’ and several other tunes from his latest release. With a voice that is ludicrously luxurious, Wainwright’s musical prowess is utterly staggering.

!With their well-crafted, funk-riddled tunes, blues outfit Alabama Shakes were ideal for an early afternoon slot. They were followed by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, who drew in a younger crowd with their light, summery tracks. To The Word stage St. Vincent brought her fascinating blend of superb song-writing skills and eerie melodies, pleasing admirers both old and new. On the poetry stage, Benjamin Zephaniah was a wonder to witness as he delivered his vibrant verse regarding political and social issues. Another spoken word highlight was Helen Mort, who demonstrated her skill for enthralling verse through thoughts on strikes and heritage.

The brilliant Bat for Lashes, with her strong vocal skills and beautifully layered, mysterious compositions, rightly remained a crowd favourite throughout her Obelisk stage set. M83, meanwhile, treated the audience to their enthralling package of ambient loveliness, sleek beats, and enigmatic vocal delivery. In the theatre arena, ‘Swamp Juice’ inspired and intrigued children and adults alike. In a wonderfully imaginative show, gifted puppeteer Jeff Achtem brought several peculiar characters to life using homemade shadow-puppet props and 3D effects.

Of the three excellent Obelisk stage headliners at this year’s festival, it can be said that Paul Weller gave the most well-rounded performance. From the former front-man of The Jam came a great mix of old and new songs, all delivered with the energy and genuine love for music that has ultimately allowed his career to span several decades. The weekend was drawn to a close by widely adored Salford-born poet John Cooper Clarke, whose engaging and gorgeously fantastical verse has attracted fans since the 1970s. Clarke’s brilliant performance on Sunday evening concluded a wonderful weekend in Suffolk. With its diverse and varied programme, a refreshing eagerness to satisfy every ticket-holder, and tranquil atmosphere, Latitude is truly an incredible festival.

GALLERY: Latitude Festival 2012 in Photos

Photos: Marc Sethi, Pooneh Ghana, Andy Sheppard, Caitlin Mogridge