COUNTDOWN:
HOME | MUSIC | LITERARY |CABARET| COMEDY | FILM |THEATRE | THE LAKE | GENERAL INFORMATION |
16th - 19th July 2009
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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.
Friday 18th July: FRIDAY PICTURE GALLERY»
including: Franz Ferdinand, Beth Orton, The Go Team, Bearsuit and The Black Kids
Saturday 19th July: SATURDAY PICTURE GALLERY»
including: Coral, Gavin Osborn, Mark Thomas, Seasick Steve, Kabeedies.
Now in its fourth edition Latitude continues to inspire and innovate offering the very best from the worlds of music, film, comedy, theatre, cabaret, dance, poetry, literature and art. With stunning individual performance spaces dedicated to each of the arts, the arenas are treasure troves of talent, with open doors and inviting atmospheres. Sit back and be entertained by over 700 performers or participate and learn a new skill in the many workshops on offer, there are new experiences round every corner. Latitude encourages you to open your mind, embrace the unknown and try everything; a fun-filled, cultural adventure by the sea; the ideal weekend away.
It is this ethos that has set Latitude apart from its contemporaries and helped win many awards over the past three years. In October last year, Latitude Festival was delighted to win The Stage Award for Special Achievement in Regional Theatre at the coveted TMA Awards (Theatrical Management Association). The Stage Newspaper, main sponsor of the ceremony and of the award Latitude won, praised the festival's efforts to take theatre to new audiences. This is a massive achievement that places the theatre programme at Latitude, up there with the great and the good of the performing arts world.
This year’s line-up is already boasting a wealth of exciting acts across all arenas, and with so much more to be announced over the next five months this year’s event will no doubt shape up to be yet another glorious slice of cultural heaven. So why not book the time off now and rest assured that you’ll have the time of your life, being entertained on the Sunrise Coast at Latitude Festival 2009.
Festival Republic Managing Director, Melvin Benn says:
“Latitude Festival really is a focal point of the summer calendar now, and it’s only in its fourth edition! The level of success is fantastic and it never fails to please me that people have embraced it as much as they have. Being able to bring together all the different aspects of the music and arts worlds is a fabulous achievement and it’s that commitment that sets Latitude apart from the other festivals around. This year we are excited to announce the involvement of some truly incredible performers and companies that inspire, innovate and entertain.
Latitude Festival boasts four principle music arenas all dedicated to the very best from the music world catering for all tastes and moods. Throughout the whole weekend the Obelisk, Uncut, and Sunrise Arenas and The Lake Stage will showcase eclectic line-ups consisting of some of the nation’s most cherished performers alongside the cream of emerging new acts. Enjoy musical styles ranging from electro to rock, dance to indie, classical to reggae, and from world to jazz; witness breathtaking headlining appearances and all in picture-perfect surroundings.
Jon Dunn ~ Music Arenas Booker, says:
“The perfection and spectacle of Sigur Rós, the chaos in the tent for Crystal Castles, the moment Blondie took to the stage, the rush of Foals at the Obelisk Arena, the arrival of Elbow as a band breaking through to the big league, the sonic power of The Mars Volta, the emergence of White Lies for the first time, Seasick Steve and his three string guitar and bottle of whisky ,the diminutive figure of Joanna Newsom wooing 15,000 people at midday on the Sunday…
…My own highlights from 2008.
I’m excited for this year’s event more than ever, our three headliners Pet Shop Boys, Grace Jones and Nick Cave epitomise where Latitude is at, challenging, iconic and visually stunning.
Over the next three months we'll be announcing over 100 more artists for this year’s event, an event that has grown every year, and one that I feel will be our strongest musically yet.”
OBELISK
ARENA
~ Grace Jones ~ Pet Shop Boys ~ Nick Cave & The Bad
Seeds ~
The open-air Obelisk Arena has been the stage of some epic performances
over the past three years and Latitude 2009 will be no different. Lay
out your picnic blanket, bask in the sunshine and get down to some of
the best music around.
The iconic, hard-hitting, disco icon Grace Jones is currently enjoying
a revival in popularity and mainstream success, her recent album ‘Hurricane’,
(her first in nearly 20 years) has positioned her on the frontline of
popular culture once again. Recently named Q Idol at the 2008 Awards,
Jones is a model, actress, performer, entertainer, singer, producer,
writer and enigma - a superstar that exudes style and talent. Her music
career, spanning 30 years, incorporates late 70’s disco, early
80’s new wave, dub reggae and present day jagged pop. Carving
out her own niche is her most exciting attribute, and her live shows
that often descend into mayhem and anarchic performances are the essence
of her appeal. Expect the unexpected!
Electronic dance pioneers Pet Shop Boys will be bringing their astounding
live show to Latitude’s Obelisk Arena. Fresh from winning a BRIT
Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, Neil Tennant and Chris
Lowe come armed with tracks from their brand new album ‘Yes’
and a back catalogue that includes 22 Top 10 hits and four number ones.
They have sold a staggering 30 million records worldwide; giving us
such classics as ‘It’s A Sin’, ‘Heart’,
‘West End Girls’ and ‘Always On My Mind’ to
name just a few. Their influence can be heard in tracks from Madonna
to The Killers, and they are as relevant and important today as they
were 20 years ago. Masters of incredible visual displays while pumping
out fantastic club anthems – this will be a headline set to remember.
Be sure to wear your dancing shoes!
After a fantastically frenetic show last year with Grinderman, the phenomenal
figure of Nick Cave returns with his band The Bad Seeds. Recent album
and masterpiece ‘Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!’ which was voted
Album Of The Year by Mojo sees Cave at his snarling, darkly humorous,
and decadent best. Lyrically unparalleled, musically stunning, Nick
Cave & The Bad Seeds have produced 14 incredible albums to date
in a career spanning three decades. Lovingly remastered and repackaged,
the first four classic albums are being re-released in March 2009 highlighting
the prolific and infectious songs from one of Australia’s musical
legends.
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| More Than Just a Music Festival |
Tania Harrison ~ Programmer of the Arts Arenas, had this to say:
“Last year's festival surpassed all my expectations - it was truly a spectacular weekend. Latitude's success is in its breadth and variety of attractions and I think the audiences are really starting to get into the swing of it now - trying out new things, watching performances they'd never normally see and letting go of their inhibitions. It's fantastic to watch and last year’s conga line led by Ross Noble and the Royal Shakespeare Company zombies emerging from the woods were my two of my highlights. But equally I could have spent hours in the Film and Literary arenas and Sadler’s Wells just blew me away with their beautiful programme of dance. I could only ever dream of making some of those shapes with my body!
It's an enormous privilege to work with the some of the best arts organisations that the UK has to offer, with The Bush, Paines Plough, nabokov and The Pleasance bringing stunning plays and writers to the festival and this year I’m absolutely delighted to welcome The Royal Opera House who will be presenting some world class dance and music to Latitude's repertoire.
I'm extremely excited about Latitude 2009 - the summer cannot come quick enough."
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• It's More Than Just a Music Festival •