This site is operated by Fizzwig Designs publishers of Ipswich24 magazine and operators of www.ipswich24.co.uk and www.eastanglia24.co.uk. It is intended to assist participants and visitors to the Latitude Festival at Henham Park, Suffolk. We are based in Suffolk and therefore have a wealth of local knowledge to help make your festival experience even more enjoyable.

We will endeavour to include all the latest Festival News which will regularly be updated, plus you will find links in our "General Information" section to local information and places of interest.

 2008 Pictures

Friday 18th July: FRIDAY PICTURE GALLERY»
including: Franz Ferdinand, Beth Orton, The Go Team, Bearsuit and The Black Kids


Sunday 20th July: SUNDAY PICTURE GALLERY»
including: Debbie Harry (Kerry Wilmot) and others

Saturday 19th July: SATURDAY PICTURE GALLERY»
including: Coral, Gavin Osborn, Mark Thomas, Seasick Steve, Kabeedies.

The totally sold out Latitude Festival 2008 was a success!!! The Music Arenas burst with fantastic eclectic line-ups, encompassing established bands and artists alongside up and coming talent from all over the world, Latitude was THE place to be this summer. Providing the perfect soundtrack to the weekend’s festivities, these bands have been handpicked especially and are an incredibly exciting element to the festival as a whole. As if to tease those who didn’t manage to get a ticket in time before they sold out, these following acts can now be announced across the Obelisk, Uncut and Sunrise Arenas:
Southend-on-Sea’s pop-punk quartet These New Puritans come to the Obelisk Arena for Sunday afternoon. Experimental and challenging, live they add a new dimension by integrating other parts of their songs in to each other. With a sound all of their own - references include the beats of hip hop giants Wu Tang Clan alongside the punk fury of The Fall – their debut album ‘Beat Pyramid’ received glowing reviews with the NME quoting: “Truly, this band is leagues ahead of the competition”. Check them out for yourself!
Early Saturday afternoon, the Obelisk Arena will play host to the budding and hotly tipped Team Waterpolo. Their music is an amalgam of a wide spectrum of influences including hip hop, dance, punk, indie, new wave and a lot of pop. Their harmony-drenched, sample-led power pop is a party for your feet, ears and brain all at once and with their debut album pencilled in for a release later this year, this Preston trio’s set will be one to watch!
Over on the Uncut Arena, Canadian singer songwriter Patrick Watson will be joining the line up on Sunday afternoon. Together with his band, Watson’s excitingly experimental brand of cabaret pop, classical influences and indie rock has earned him comparisons to Rufus Wainwright, Jeff Buckley and Pink Floyd. He has toured with the likes of John Cale, The Dears, The Cinematic Orchestra, Feist and James Brown and has become a formidable live performer. Playing songs from amazing album ‘Close To Paradise’, catch Patrick Watson before they disappear to write new material.
On Saturday the fantastic Captain bring their alt.rock indie pop to Latitude’s Uncut Arena. Captain have whipped up a storm since the release of debut ‘This Is Hazelville’ two years ago. This five-piece fronted by Rik Flynn create joyful, clattering music full of divergent mood swings and jubilant crescendos of male/female vocal sparring and are a welcomed addition to the line-up.
Having fronted The Housemartins in the 1980’s and then The Beautiful South in the ‘90s and ‘00s Paul Heaton is forging a solo career that sees him take on a fresh new direction and return to his lyrical best. New album ‘The Cross Eyed Rambler’ released this month is a fantastic return to form with his trademark deadpan, Northern wit and pop melodies at the fore. Potential hits from his back catalogue alongside his new solo songs will make this set worth watching.
Noah And The Whale’s quirky folk charm come to the Uncut Arena on Sunday afternoon. With influences of The Smiths tinged with Neil Young, Bonnie Prince Billy, and Jeffrey Lewis – their melancholy is married beautifully with jangly pop sensibilities and folk fiddley-ness. With an incredible new album on its way this summer their live performance at Latitude is simply not to be missed.
Texan singer-songwriter Micah P. Hinson plays Latitude on the Friday afternoon. With brand new album ‘Micah P. Hinson and The Red Empire Orchestra’ on its way in July – this will be one of the first times to catch these new tunes live. His turbulent life – drugs, jail and painful back surgery – all add to the wealth of his lyrical and song writing talent and makes his folk/country songs have a real edge.
Swedish all girl five piece Those Dancing Days will be pleasing audiences in the Uncut Arena on Sunday with their sugary twee pop. Obvious comparisons can be made to Swedish pop legends ABBA and with song ‘Hitten’ (translating to The Hit in English) they have exactly that – a song that will have you singing along instantly. Come and get your summery pop fix with Those Dancing Days.
North London singer-songwriter Natty was raised on everything from Neil Young to Stevie Wonder. His beautiful mix of indie, soul, reggae and afrobeat discusses themes of love, loss and political issues which will make you think as well as dance. He has a new album just under his belt that features his hit song ‘Bedroom Eyes’ so come check out Natty at the Sunrise Arena on Friday evening.
Ex-Arab Strap singer Malcolm Middleton will be playing the Sunrise Arena on the Saturday on the back of a successful 2007. The Falkirk born singer-songwriter released album ‘A Brighter Beat’ and also had a campaign for Christmas Number 1 with ‘We’re All Going To Die’ which was backed by Radio 1 DJ’s Edith Bowman and Colin Murray. Although the song only charted at Number 31 the song won many fans for the passionate and pained songwriter. Come and watch Leonard Cohen for the next generation.
Acoustic outfit Punch Brothers have been accused of revolutionising the bluegrass genre with the release of their progressive album ‘Punch’. The album features the epic long form composition piece – ‘The Blind Leaving The Blind’ – a 40 minute folk/bluegrass/jazz masterpiece that incorporates mandolins, banjos, guitars, violins and bass. Come and check out Punch Brothers in the Sunrise Arena on Saturday to witness a one-of–a-kind performance you don’t want to miss.
Alt pop three piece The Shortwave Set caused a stir in 2005 with debut album ‘The Debt Collection’ getting rave reviews and radio play from Zane Lowe and Lauren Laverne. The band have toured with the likes of Goldfrapp and Gnarls Barkley and describe their sound as “Victorian Funk” – a mix of traditional songwriting and instrumentation. With new album ‘Replica Sun Machine’ out this year, now is the time to check out The Shortwave Set in the Sunrise Arena on the Sunday.

 

Alt – Indie rocker Gary Go will be pitching up at Henham Park with guitar ready to perform in the Sunrise Arena on the Friday. With an ear for a tune and powerful, heartfelt lyrics, Gary Go is sure to go far. He will be playing songs of last year’s debut four track EP and with new material on the horizon he may treat you to a new song or two as well!
Delightful French folk singer Soko got her break while acting in various French films. She started out as an actor but soon found a love for singing and started approaching various directors with her desire to sing in the films she was in. 2007 saw Soko write and release debut EP ‘Not Sokute’ featuring the song ‘I’ll Kill Her’ which has made Soko a household name in Denmark and Belgium. She is now ready to win the hearts of the UK with her delightful song writing and quirky folk pop so catch her in the Sunrise Arena on the Saturday.
The Little Ones infectious summery guitar pop will be playing out at the Sunrise Arena on Saturday. The band will be playing songs from recent release ‘Morning Tide’. Expect handclaps and pop hooks as the band mix influences including The Flaming Lips and fellow Latitude performers The Go! Team to form their loveable sound.
Indie electro two piece YACHT burst onto the UK scene last year with the well received album ‘I Believe In You. Your Magic Is Real’. Influenced by the likes of LCD Soundsystem (whom YACHT have supported) and Beck, the band’s blend of electronica, dance and rock have won over many fans. Be sure to check them out at the Sunrise Arena on the Saturday afternoon.

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More Than Just a Music Festival

Latitude is so much more than a music festival. This year’s Latitude can boast the exclusive involvement of BAFTA in the Film and Music Arena; a quite astonishing comedy line-up including Bill Bailey, Omid Djalili, Ross Noble, Frankie Boyle, Rich Hall and Simon Amstell in the Comedy Arena.
The Literary Arena is packed full of top authors including Simon Armitage, Hanif Kureishi and Iain Banks as well as Latitude favourites Vox ‘N’ Roll, WordTheatre and Marcus Brigstocke’s Early Edition. The National Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, RSC and The Bush all bring exciting new shows to the Theatre Arena. Plus stellar poets Adrian Mitchell, John Hegley and Carol Ann Duffy are all confirmed for the Poetry Arena hosted by Luke Wright. The Cabaret Arena welcomes the ever hilarious and inventive Vauxhallville with plenty more exciting performances to announce in the pipeline. And that’s not to mention the awe-inspiring Sadler’s Wells who will perform their world class dance on a beautiful stage floating in the middle of the lake as will The Irrepressibles with their orchestral brilliance.

Jon Dunn who curates the music says:

“The programme of music at last year's festival ranged from the emotionally charged, with the melancholic yet uplifting The National, the rousing Rodrigo Y Gabriela and the most remarkable band of last summer the mighty Arcade Fire, to music press must-sees such as Bat For Lashes, Patrick Wolf and New Young Pony Club, then add to this the blues man Seasick Steve with his worldly tales and two string guitar.
Now in its third edition Latitude has defined its musical personality. It’s music that is interesting and exciting; great bands, brilliant artists and the music that I love. I’m excited with our headliners for this year’s festival and looking forward to announcing further great acts over the forthcoming weeks. Franz Ferdinand will be phenomenal, Interpol will rock and captivate and the beautifully ethereal and epic Sigur Ros will soar.”

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Working towards a greener festival and with help from London’s Arcola Theatre, this year the Theatre Arena at Latitude is to be entirely fuel cell powered. It will be an area positively buzzing with creativity and inspiration, hosting a wealth of bespoke productions and performances exclusive to the festival, some of the biggest names in contemporary, physical, classical, performance and local theatre are coming to the Suffolk coast.

The National Theatre will be bringing a play chosen from their New Connections project to Latitude Festival - an ambitious new writing programme for young actors creating theatre. Established 15 years ago in response to a widespread demand for challenging new plays for young people to perform, the National Theatre New Connections commissions 10 new plays every year, penned by some of the hottest talent in world theatre. The plays are then brought to life through hundreds of productions, created by thousands of young actors, technicians, designers and directors, from across the UK, Ireland and further afield. This year’s writers are: Moira Buffini, Frantic Assembly & Bryony Lavery, Anna Furse & Little Angel, Abi Morgan, Mark Ravenhill, Peter Tabern, Jack Thorne, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Nigel Williams and Nicholas Wright.

Probably the most famous classical theatre company in the world, the Royal Shakespeare Company, brings to Latitude a selection of specially commissioned mini epic plays. These new works take the form of a series of 5 minute works of concentrated energy, passion and vibrancy. Each penned by a different writer, the writers, directors and actors will fearlessly wade in to investigate the wildest topics and areas of thought, each of the plays taking on a handful of essential classical themes including love - war –competitive insults – music – kings – queens – paupers – harlots – religious types – ruptured families – heartbreak – mistaken identities – journeys – shipwrecks – cross dressing – ghosts – fools. This new commission is an enlightening introduction to anyone who thought the RSC was only about preserving Shakespeare. Be prepared to be very surprised!
Walter Raleigh’s School Of Night was a clandestine and arcane underground sect of artists, thinkers, writers, scientists and spies, who some scholars believe wrote Shakespeare's plays.
Now, maverick genius Ken Campbell and his team revive the School of Night for the 21st century, improvising plays and poems from any period, always in pursuit of their first secret commission. The School of Night has been known to explore Elizabethan humours by performing them in modern styles, and examine great acting via master classes on gastromancy. Audience members may have impromptu sonnets created for them or be taught "the secrets of crowd scenes". The show mixes Ken’s unique and infamous surreal monologues with a team of highly skilled improvisers capable of playing in any theatrical style and keen to rise to any challenge.
The award-winning nationally and internationally renowned touring theatre company, Paines Plough and the new writing theatre company nabokov, present the brilliantly buzzy Crazy Love by Che Walker. A blast of fresh air, this 50 minute play is set at a wedding reception. The bride is Billie (Phoebe Whyte), a posh Notting Hill trustafarian about to marry one of her own. But with the help of her bridesmaids - Cordelia (Julia Sandiford) and Shiv (Suzie McGrath) - she recounts the period leading up to the wedding as a Bonnie-and-Clyde-style adventure with a man from the wrong side of the west London tracks. Paines Plough specialise exclusively in commissioning and developing contemporary playwrights and the production of their work on stage. nabokov is dedicated to commissioning, developing and producing backlash theatre - new work for the stage that offers an antagonistic response to contemporary agendas, trends and events.
The Operating Theatre Company, a network dedicated to the development of new writing for theatre, brings ‘I’m a Minger!’, to Latitude. Written and performed by Alex Jones, Jones plays his own 15-year old daughter, complete with pram-face and wig. ‘I’m a Minger!’ is a funny journey through the mind of a 15-year old girl – full of fizz, jokes and bittersweet rites-of-passage.
The Theatre Arena will host an enormous selection of stunning plays and shows from Royal Court Theatre, The Bush, Picks of the Pleasance plus so much more.