Latitude Festival announce 2018 lineup with The Killers, Solange, Alt J and more

Latitude Festival have announced the line up for their 13th Edition, which takes place on Thursday 12th – Sunday 15th July 2018 in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk. Recently awarded Best Major Festival by UK Festival Awards, Latitude returns with an all-new look for 2018 – a refreshed programme and emboldened vision retaining everything you loved about the festival, but also moving in an exciting new direction that looks to the future.  Tickets are available from here.

 

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter of A Seat at the Table fame Solange performs her first –ever festival headline slot at Latitude in a UK exclusive. It’s been over a year since she released the critically acclaimed album that she has called “a project on identity, empowerment, independence, grief, and healing”.  Since its release she has introduced the work to new audiences as dynamic and daring performance art. Bold, exciting and innovative with a creative energy like no other, Solange crosses and combines artistic genres in a way that most artists wouldn't dare and is the perfect Latitude headliner.

 

Latitude loves a success story, and is famed for breaking new talent and nurturing artists so it’s truly thrilling to host Alt-J as headliners once more. From performing on the Lake Stage in 2012 as an up and coming act, returning to headline the BBC Music Stage in 2013, and then closing the Friday night of Latitude’s 10th anniversary in 2015, we are delighted to welcome them “home” for what promises to be an exciting show – with the possible premiere of brand new material, this one is going to be unmissable.

 

 Alt-J said, “We are over the moon to be returning to Latitude for a fourth time. It's a festival that's nurtured us beyond any other, taking us from the Lake Stage to the 6music Stage and then to headlining in 2015. To do so again is a huge privilege. See you in Suffolk!”

 

The Killers, fresh from the success of chart-topping comeback album Wonderful Wonderful, headline Latitude for the first time. Part-rock show, part-art extravaganza, The Killers, led by charismatic frontman Brandon Flowers, are sure to bring something very special to this year’s line up with much loved hits ‘The Man’, ‘When You Were Young, and of course ‘Mr Brightside’.

 

Latitude has never been just about the music – it’s a culturally enriching experience and this year’s comedy, theatre and arts roster is set to be the festival’s most diverse and forward-thinking yet. Two exciting comedy headliners are both performing at Latitude for the first time, award-winning stand-up and star of BBC Radio 4’s Utopia, Bridget Christie makes a rare festival appearance, while national treasure Harry Hill brings a career’s worth of comedy gold to our stage. Elsewhere on the comedy bill, catch the only comedian co-signed by Drake and Stormzy, Mo GilliganTim Key's new blend of poeticals, talking, spotlights, cables, old school wistfulness, Megadate; viral-video star and news satirist Jonathan Pie; brand new BBC Radio 4 panel show Where’s the F in News; Mock The Week regular James Acaster and rising star Lauren Pattison. There’s much more still to come, so watch this spotlight!

 

Harry Hill said, “I like latitude, I like longitude, but which is better? There’s only one way to find out – play the comedy arena at Latitude! I can’t wait!"

 

Latitude has a reputation for having one of the most eclectic line ups in the UK, and 2018 is no exception: Sadler’s Wells return to Henham Park presenting dance companies still to be revealed, whilst the first shows of the theatre bill include a spectacular headline performance by an international sensation: Recirquel Contemporary Circus: Paris de Nuit will transport the audience to the roaring 30s. Other highlights include Bryony Kimmings previewing her first solo show in 10 years, I’m A Phoenix, Bitch, Lyric Hammersmith presenting How To Fail At Being Perfecttheir wise and witty look at through the eyes of forever children, with an all youth cast, and Scottish Dance Theatre, who present Fleur Darkin’s Velvet Petal. Among the very first speakers in The Speakeasy, BBC3 investigative journalist Stacey Dooley will talk about her new book, On the Front Line with the Women Who Fight Back.

 

There’s so much happening at Latitude in 2018, some serious refuelling will be in order, and the festival is upping the grub game. Latitude will become the first major festival to do away with ‘fast food’ with the Arena now catered entirely by Street Food organised by London’s Street Feast.  Explore buzzing street food arenas across the site where festivalgoers can re-fuel, wind down and eat the world without leaving Henham Park. Look out for Fundi’s mighty hand-built ovens for melty, wood-fired pizzas, then dig into crispy cornbread Arepas from Venezuelan street food heroes Petare – don’t forget to order a side of their Cassava Chips topped with fiery salsa. For a mighty, meat-free meal, say hello to Club Mexicana – their vegan To-Fish Tacos and BBQ-Pulled Jackfruit Burritos are NOT to be missed. Also new to Latitude is the Theatre of Food, a fully immersive essential for any foodie – or just your average keen eater – with wild cooking sessions, hilarious and inspiring food demos and, of course, the chance to sample the goods yourself. And if there’s a comedy set or a drum solo while it’s all happening, all the better to heighten your taste senses!

 

Families looking for quality time together need go no further than Latitude’s Enchanted Garden, where they’ll get the chance to make some magic of their own, including VR workshops with top industry creatives, screen printing T-shirts, trapeze and circus skills, and the brilliant Family Socials which pack weekend mornings with family-friendly comedy, live music, dance and theatre. There’s a parent pen for shattered parents who can’t keep up or yoga to unwind! Meanwhile the Kids Area has live shows including AnimAlphabet the MusicalWest End Kids, and Comedy4Kids, alongside puppetry, live music, award-winning children’s authors and illustrators on hand to inspire, music tuition, bush-crafts, fun with food and the Wild Science tent. Teens who want to be among their own can head to the Inbetweeners Area with its music, digital, media and fashion workshops, the Access to Music Live Stage including industry Q&A’s, how-tos on gaming, coding and VR. Daredevils can brave the Greenpeace treetop adventures, zip wires and climbing nets. Guaranteed no teenage style will be cramped.

 

 

MUSIC

Æ MAK

Alfa Mist

Alt-J

Alvvays

Benjamin Clementine

Black Honey

Bomba Estéreo

Boy Azooga

Bruce

Clark performing Death Peak Live

Confidence Man

DJ Boring

Eclair Fifi

Fazerdaze

Fickle Friends

Gang of Youths

Hannah Peel with Tubular Brass

Hinds

Ibeyi

IDLES

Jacob Banks

Jade Bird

James

Japandroids

Jessie Ware

Jon Hopkins Live

Juanita Stein

Kalyde

La Femme

Marlon Williams

Meggie Brown

Mogwai

Naaz

Nabihah Iqbal

Object Blue

Octavian

OR:LA

Pangaea

Parquet Courts

Pip Blom

Preoccupations

Rag’n’Bone Man

Sam Fender

Sleeper

Solange

Sorry

Spinning Coin

Superorganism

The Breeders

The Charlatans

The Killers

The Vaccines

Trudy And The Romance

tUnE-yArDs

whenyoung

Wolf Alice

Yellow Days

 

COMEDY

Abigoliah Schamaun

Amusical

Angela Barnes

Bridget Christie

Chortle Student Comedy Awards Finalists

Chris Stokes

Chris Washington

Darren Harriott

David Morgan

David O'Doherty

Fern Brady

Glenn Moore

Gráinne Maguire

Harry Hill

Huge Davies

Jack Gleadow

James Acaster

Jarlath Regan

Jayde Adams

Joe Sutherland

Jon Pointing

Jonathan Pie

Kiri Pritchard-McLean

Lauren Pattison

Lazy Susan

Lloyd Griffith

Lolly Adefope

Lost Voice Guy

Lou Sanders

Luke Kempner

Masud Milas

Mat Ewins

Mawaan Rizwan

Mo Gilligan

Phoebe Walsh

Rhys Nicholson

Richard Todd

Sarah Keyworth

Shappi Khorsandi

Sisters

Steen Raskopoulos

Stevie Martin

Tessa Coates

Tim Key: Megadate

Where's The F In News

 

THEATRE                                                                                                                                                     

Bryony Kimmings: I'm A Phoenix, Bitch (preview)                                                         

David Rosenberg & Glenn Neath: Flight

Dom Coyote: We Can Time Travel

Femme Fatale                                                                                                                                       

Highrise: Lil.Miss.Lady

Lyric Hammersmith presents How To Fail At Being Perfect                                   

Lyric Hammersmith presents The Lost Disc

Mark And Marichka Marczyk: Balaklava Blues

Middle Child: One Life Stand

Nabokov presents Benin City: Last Night

Nele Needs A Holiday: The Musical

Push Things Forward Collective: Nabokov, Middle Child and Not Too Tame         

Recirquel Contemporary Circus: Paris De Nuit

Rosy Carrick: Passionate Machine

Scottish Dance Theatre presents Fleur Darkin: Velvet Petal

Theatre Ad Infinitum: No Kids (work in progress)

 

LITERARY AND POETRY

Hussain Manawer

Luke Wright

Modern Love: Panel discussion with Justin Myers & Dolly Alderton

Ross Sutherland

Stacey Dooley: On The Front Line With The Women Who Fight Back

 

THE CABARET THEATRE

Denim

 

MUSIC & FILM

Nadine Shah

 

WATERFRONT

Sadler’s Wells

House Gospel Choir

 

STREET FEAST

Babek

Club Mexicana

Fundi

Gyoza Guys

Ink

Petare

Up In My Grill

 

THEATRE OF FOOD

Breddos, Nud Dhusia

Yum Bun and Yumplings, Lisa Meyer

 

Latitude announce more artists for 2017

With only a month to go, the 12th edition of Latitude Festival once again sets the bar high for summer festivals, with a host of names announced across the stages including the BBC Music Introducing Stage, The SpeakEasy, Music and Film, Solas and many more. Latitude Festival takes place on 13th – 16th Julyin the stunning grounds of Henham ParkSuffolk. Tickets are available here.
 
40,000 people will witness Brit Award winners The 1975 perform tracks from I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It for the last time, as well as a Fleet Foxes returning in a UK Exclusive after a five year hiatus, backed with the recently announced album Crack-Up, and Saturday night headliners Mumford & Sons who bring with them their Gentlemen Of The Road takeover to curate the day’s line up.


 
They’re joined by a line up brimming with huge names and exclusives across all stages, combined over 40 Top Ten albums, from the legendary Placebo in a UK Festival Exclusive to returning indie rockersThe Horrors; from Scandi indie-pop darlings The Radio Dept. (another UK festival exclusive) to the inimitable former Velvet Underground stalwart John Cale; from the iconic Mavis Staples to the all-out party that will be Fatboy Slim on the BBC Music Stage.

This year’s bill sees these marquee acts joined by a plethora of local talent including Ipswich’s Bessie Turner who plays The Lake Stage on the Friday of this year’s festival hot off the back of being described by BBC Music Introducing as a superstar in the making. Her debut single ‘Big Sleep’ was only released in April but has already gained the love of BBC Radio One and BBC 6 Music. Turned is joined by a cavalcade of Suffolk and Norfolk-based performers that include Beth OrtonSupergluWhile the World Sleeps (who has a studio half-an-hour from Henham), Mullally and Rad Pitt, as well as contributions from locals on the arts side of the bill such as Gecko & Suffolk MIND, a local theatre company and mental health charity; Luke Wright, a poet and writer of award-winning verse; popular classical sopranoLaura WrightJohn Osbourne, who performs his new show Circled in the Radio Times; and Mark Thompson with his The Show at the End of Universe.
 
Hot off the back of their acclaimed debut album The Witch, London’s own Pumarosa will be bringing their captivating live show straight from our nation’s capital to the Obelisk Arena on the Friday and the profoundly arresting Swedish singer-songwriter Albin Lee Meldau who will take to the Lake Stage.
 
Fresh talent joining Saturday’s already brimming bill include Scandinavian troubadour Skott who opens the BBC Music Stage, and another addition to the Sunrise Arena as part of the Gentlemen of the Road takeover: renowned folkster Beans on Toast. Sunday sees exciting from hook-heavy Humberside heroesLife on the Alcove Stage and former Let’s Wrestle frontman Wesley Gonzalez on the Lake Stage.
 
Returning to Latitude for its second year, the BBC Music Introducing Stage once again welcomes an eclectic array of talent specifically chosen for Latitude, submitted via a plethora of local BBC Introducing shows. Over the years, BBC Music Introducing has played a pivotal part in nurturing the careers of some of the biggest acts to have graced Latitude including Ed Sheeran and Florence and the Machine. This year’s stage comes presented by BBC Radio 3 mainstays Max Reinhardt (the Late Junction) and Suzy Klein (In Tune), and BBC 6 Music’s “modern day musical anti-hero”, Tom Ravenscroft.
 
Friday’s festivities are kicked off by a stellar bill that features jazz/R&B collective Solomon’s Garden, Conwy sensation Omaloma, Essex’s Sound of 2017 star Lisa Wright, alt-folk instrumental troupe Fishclaw, Scotland-via-Transylvania singer-songwriter Lizabett Russo, spoken word performer Banwo the Poet and denizens of doo-wop Be Good.
 
Flying the flag for BBC Music Introducing on the Saturday of this year’s festival are Edinburgh genre-benders Sink, ascendant hush-popper Tender Central, acclaimed Mande master Sefo Kanuteh, hotly-tipped jazz quartet Flying Machines, Glaswegian producer and composer Iona Fortune, rapidly rising hip-hop talent Piers James, and blues classicists Amanda Brown & The Common Ears.
 
Sunday is rounded off by another eclectic array of talent that includes the spellbinding Tinderbox Orchestra, the elusive House of Hippies, Welsh post-folkers Adwaith, enrapturing classical guitarist Valerie Hartzell, Sheffield mainstays Black Thorn, West Midlands multi-instrumentalist Lumi HD and composer extraordinaire Neil March. Highlights from all the sets on the BBC Music Introducing stage will be available across the network of Local Radio Introducing shows, BBC Radio 3 and BBC 6Music. To find out more information go to www.bbc.co.uk/introducing.
 
SOLAS returns to Henham Park, bringing its signature mix of transcendental experience for the Latitude audience. Whether it’s rejuvenating treatments, yoga, moments of relaxation or artistic inspiration, SOLAS has carved out an enclave of creativity, openness and excitement at Latitude. Treatments start at £30 and are available to book at www.solas.appointy.com.
 
In tandem with art and healing, the Solas Stage is an intimate venue which plays host to some of the best emerging UK and Irish talent from across the musical spectrum; from folk-tinged acoustic troubadours to ambient electro, from dark pop to the spacier end of electronic music.
 
This year sees a line-up on the Solas Stage that includes genre-straddling MC Afrikan Boy, funk-pop beach bums Parcels, folk storyteller Westerman, production wizards Blue Lab Beats, Dublin singer-songwriter Ailbhe Reddy, poptronic amalgam Talos, psych-dub maelstrom Pangani, Irish troubadourDavid Keenan, indie-house duo Le Boom and acoustic dreamers Into the Ark. Nile Rodgers’ favouriteBrian Deady, renowned producer and songwriter Willy Mason, multi-instrumentalist wunderkind Leo Stannard, the critically revered Seamus Fogarty, experimental pop trio White Kite and Irish sensualistsShips also join the Solas bill.
 
Dutch indie-pop dreamers Klangstof, hotly-tipped 4AD signing Aldous Harding, the bright and brilliantRosie Carney, Scandi-pop five-piece Broen, Sweden’s shimmering Geowulf, dancefloor stomperAndrew Kearney, restlessly inventive Danish quintet Lowly, the fingerstyle acoustica of John Smith, Australian singer songwriter Hein Cooper and the sprawling 9-piece funk-soul of TooFools round off the line up of up and coming acts on the Solas Stage.
 
This year we are bringing all our debate, discussion, literary & poetry events under one roof, in The SpeakEasy. From established wordsmiths to emergent talents, literary legends to radical insurgents, The SpeakEasy will host author sessions with award-winning writers, poetry performance from the brightest voices and lively discussion until late into the night.

Booker-nominated author of Brooklyn and The Testament of MaryColm Tóibín will come to Henham Park to discuss his latest novel, House of Namesa reimagining of the Greek classic tale of Clytemnestra's family tragedy. Also visiting The SpeakEasy for the first time, Geoff Dyer will discussWhite Sands; his creative exploration of why we travel which was recently shortlisted for the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year 2017. Both Colm and Geoff will be interviewed by Guardian journalist,Alex Clark.
 
Sarah Winman, author of the international bestseller When God was a Rabbit and the Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller A Year of Marvellous Ways will be at The SpeakEasy to preview her highly anticipated new novel Tin Manin conversation with The Bookseller’s Sarah Shaffi.
 
The Women’s Prize for FictionStandard Issue and Wellcome Book Prize will all return to Latitude for one-off panels with leading literary women. Chaired by Sam Baker of The Pool, Women’s Prize for Fiction will present Stories for Revolutionary Girls with Naomi Alderman, whose novel The Powerrecently won the Bailey’s Women’s Prize for Fiction, author and academic Elif Shafak and co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party Catherine MayerStandard Issue will present a lively panel with Hannah Dunleavy, Mickey Noonan, Jen Offord, Deborah Frances-White, Susie Wokoma and a special guest. The Wellcome Book Prize bring the Latitude audience their Reading Cures with Joanna Cannon, Bryony Gordon, Dr Pippa Kennedy and Di Speirs.
 
Andy Parsons will return to Latitude with his Slacktivist Action Group. Joining Andy to discuss current affairs and agree one direct action will be The Sunday Times columnist India KnightSophie Walker, leader of the Women’s Equality Party and Reprieve Director Maya FoaCarole Cadwalladr (Observer),Nick Hopkins (Guardian) and Carl Miller (Demos) will be discussing the Fake News phenomenon, chaired by Dr Daniel GlaserJames Brown (Above Head Height) and Alexandra Heminsley (Leap In)will be in discussion on amateur sports.
 
Latitude-goers of all ages will enjoy Choose Your Own Jolly Adventure with Bruno Vincent, the author of the hugely successful ‘Enid Blyton for Grown Ups’ series, with Five Lose Dad In The Garden Centrecurrently top of the charts.
 
Also joining The SpeakEasy line up is Global Pillage; the brand new comedy panel show podcast all about idiom, culture, customs and norms. The panel, led by Deborah Frances-White, will include Susan WokomaSarah BennettoBisha K Ali and Athena Kugblenu. BBC 6Music’s Shaun Keaveny will also produce a special episode of his Middle Aged Night Out from The SpeakEasy with special guest Dane Baptiste, whilst Robin Ince’s Festival Shambles guests are Katy BrandJohn-Luke Roberts, Joanna Neary, Barry Crimmins and George Egg. History Hit Live present The Art Detective at Latitude, with Dr Janina Ramirez joined by special guest Professor Alice Roberts as they uncover history and culture through a single artwork.
 
Exploring their recollections of pop culture through memoir will be Lol Tolhurst and Cosey Fanni Tutti,each interviewed by celebrated music journalist Pete Paphides. Lol Tolhurst will be discussing his poignant memoir Cured: The Tale of Two Imaginary Boys, a passionate and evocative account of his time in one of the defining bands of the 70s and 80s, The Cure, and a frank and moving look at his personal addictions and his road to recovery. Cosey Fanni Tutti will be discussing her hugely acclaimed autobiography Art Sex Music which charts her rise with era-defining COUM Transmissions through to her time with Throbbing Gristle.  John Lloyd will reflect upon his career creating some of the most iconic comedy TV shows including Not The Nine O’Clock News, Spitting Image, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Blackadder and QI, interviewed by author and TV critic, Viv Groskop. 
 
Yours FaithfullyEdna Welthorpe (Mrs), will celebrate the life of playwright Joe Orton in the 50thanniversary year of his death. A panel led by Leonie Orton, Chris Shepherd, Dr Emma Parker and Robin Ince, will discuss Orton’s life, work and perform his witty letters of complaint, written under the pseudonym of Mrs Edna Welthorpe. John Osborne, creator of John Peel’s Shed and Sky 1’s After Hours, will also present Circled in the Radio Times a new storytelling show exploring the changing nature of how we all watch television.
 
Multi-award winning poet, playwright and novelist, Simon Armitage will return to Latitude to perform from his collection of poems The Unaccompanied. Insightful, relevant and empathetic, The Unaccompanied is a bold new statement of intent. Jamaican-British dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson will call Latitude to arms with his poetry on Saturday. Linton’s highly political poetry has been at the forefront of counterculture since the 1970s and in 2002 he became the second living poet to have his work included in Penguin’s Modern Classic series. Murray Lachlan Young, who shot to fame in the mid-90s when he become the only poet to sign a contract worth £1m, will present an anthology of work in How Freakin’ Zeitgesit Are You?.
 
Recent Ted Hughes Award winner for Nobody Told Me, a poetic memoir about becoming a parent, Hollie McNish will be at Latitude to discuss her latest anthology. Plum is a genre-bending candid account of Hollie’s memories from childhood to attempted adulthood. This is a book about growing up, about flesh, fruit, friendships, work and play. Hollie will also team up with Rosy Carrick and Hannah Silva to honour the Russian revolutionary poets in The Language of RevolutionBang Said The Gun, the team who put on poetry nights for people who think they don't like poetry, will host guests Deanna Rodgers, the youngest UK Poetry Slam Champion and voice to watch, and Kriss Foster who has won plaudits for his stories about Vimto, trains and the seaside.
 
Recently selected by London's Evening Standard as one of the exciting new and young poetic voices in London, Richard Osmond will be taking audiences on a poetic foraging walk starting in Latitude’s stunning Faraway Forest on the Saturday. Richard is a professional forager, a hobby from childhood that grew into a career and has in turn gone on to shape his life and his first collection of poems, The Useful Verse. Other poets confirmed for The SpeakEasy include: Ross SutherlandMark GristMichelle MadsenJonny FluffypinkBohdan PiaseckiBAC BeatboxersMark GristLisa LuxxToby Thompson and Ian Duhig
 
In Pandora’s Playground, we welcome back Dylan’s Mobile Bookstore where the audience can immerse themselves in the poetry of Dylan Thomas, Swansea’s most famous son.
 
In the Music & Film Arena, Latitude is delighted to welcome MOBO founder and music industry pioneer,Kanya King to the stage for a very special interview exploring her extraordinary work to bring black music to heart of international music culture. Comedian and magician Pete Firman, known for his appearances on The Magicians and The Next Great Magician, will be joining the Comedy stage on Saturday for a performance of his trademark tricks. Hosted by Phil Ellis, London’s innovative Soho Theatre will welcome hip-hop duo Rubberbandits, Swedish musical comedian Carl-Einar HäcknerColin Hoult performing as his alter ego Anna Mann, live art provocateur Lucy McCormick and high-octane stand-up Desiree Burch. In the Theatre Arena, National Theatre Live will broadcast the Old Vic’s hugely acclaimed production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead which stars Daniel Radcliffe and Joshua McGuire as the eponymous duo. Rave Karaoke will play karaoke classics of yesteryear in The Cabaret Theatre, presented by DJ, performer & full-time show-off Anna Greenwood.

In the Wellcome Trust Arena, Caroline Wright will present Breath Control: Osmosis, featuring classical soprano Laura Wright. Join Caroline and Laura as they lead an interactive session with the Breath Choir, exploring pulmonary health and providing a snap shot of lung capacity through song. Also joining the festival’s Wellcome Trust supported programme, giving talks at Unlimited Theatre’s Space Shed in the Faraway Forest, are endurance athlete Shu Pillinger, to speak about optimizing the body for athleticism on earth and in space, and Beth Healey, the doctor who spent a year in Antarctica in the name of space exploration.

Elsewhere in the Faraway Forest, audiences will encounter sheds, talks and installations from artists and companies including the V&A, who will preview images and an immersive chorus audio experience from their forthcoming Opera: Passion, Power and Politics exhibition in collaboration with Royal Opera House. This immersive exhibition spans 400 years, through the lens of seven premieres in seven cities, and explores the seminal forces that drive so many stories. Audience should also keep an eye out for The Hypercollider, Emily Goss’s Grow Your Own Love Revolution, and can drop in to visit the Arts CouncilAmy Winehouse Foundation and Medicins Sans Frontieres. Our unseen artists in the Faraway Forest include Metro Imaging, who support the Gallery, and Jane Lennard, who will transform the Forest’s iconic Tree of Life into a mass of yellow roses.

Latitude Festival 2016 Review

As the crowds roll in to Henham Park, Suffolk, the diversity of those in attendance is obvious. Families have ditched their usual Europe summer escape, festival virgin teenagers carry crates of Strongbow and enthuse each other to get as legless as possible and the religious yearly attendees bond with campers who they have met on previous years. The sun is beaming, the atmosphere is emphatic and there is a stir of excitement in the air; because this is Latitude and everyone knows what’s in store, a weekend of unforgettable music, weird and wonderful art and a community with one thing in common- to have a bloody fantastic time!

Singer and songwriter Lapsley kicks off the weekend of faultless performances on the Friday afternoon, encapsulating the crowds that flock with her ambient yet electronic songs. This is followed by the much awaited U.K  duo, Slaves who channel their despair of modern day life into charismatic punk and gritty 1970s pub rock. Renditioning favorites from old albums and new, fans are enigmatically dancing and full of satisfaction at the carnage on stage. The first night ends with a pleasing and well-executed performance from the Maccabees on the main stage. Despite their performance of popular songs like ‘Toothpaste Kisses’ their slow set list left some revelers wanting more and wondering if the Maccabees really were the right choice for the headline slot. As the sun sets, the kids slope off to kip, and the rest head to the woods for a set from Artful Dodger  followed by Mike Skinner and  Murkage which ignites a long night of raving continued. And suddenly, this is where it’s evident that no other small British festival quite manages to strike this balance between established names, shrewd gambles, newcomers and DJ’s.

Saturday afternoon, Daughter gives those with sore heads from the night before the perfect opportunity to lie back in the grass and stare into the blue skies in utter content at the perfection and raw talent of the moody folk trio.  Scottish electro-pop band Chvrches then produce one of the best sets of the weekend, their vivid, upbeat anthems slaying the Obelisk Arena. With ‘Never Ending Circles’ and ‘The Mother We Share’ being particular crowd pleasers.

The legendary Belgian electro-rock act Soulwax headlined the second stage on Saturday night. As a long running duo the set delivers a striking balance between highly anticipated new material and some pretty robust takes on their Nite Versions classics. As a 10 year old album, Its clear to all the sheer power music can have, as the young old and crazy get into tracks like ‘KracK’ and ‘E-Talking’ all together.

Getting straight into the mix with a knock out performance of ‘Don’t Swallow The Cup’, the only ever act to headline twice, The National, made latitude history on Saturday night at the obelisk stage. Enthralling the crowd with an array of music from all 6 albums, and Surprising everyone with a couple of new tracks, The National really shone through and it was obvious why they deserved this headline spot with their enigmatic and victorious set.

As the Festival rolls to an end, it just get better and better. Melbourne music scene; vocals hailing from the Melbourne music scene, Chet Faker kills it on Sunday afternoon, combining electronica with acoustic elements and soulful bliss.  Over on the BBC Radio 6 stage UK hip-hop pioneer Roots Manuva kept the tempo and spirits up high, the sea of hip hop fans reveling in every moment. As ‘Witness the Fitness’ began blasting through the tent he made sure to let us all know why he’s King of UK Hip hop.

Iconic Mancurian band New Order are the final headliners of the weekend and their set is much more electronically-orientated than in the past, with cuts from their new album like ‘Plastic’ and updated classics  like ‘True Faith’ and ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ forming a faultless playlist. An encore of their signature song ‘Blue Monday’ and ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ tribute to their past as Joy Division, cause thunderous applause and bring a highly enjoyable festival to an end.

However, this little Festival hidden in the woods doesn’t only kill it when it comes to music, but also knocks the ball out the park with its array of theatre, comedy and arts acts. Surprising crowds over the weekend with attendance from the likes of Adam Buxton interviewing journalist Louis Theroux, and Florence Welch introducing her documentary ‘The Odyssey’.  And with this plethora of random theatre acts, surprise performances and surprises round every corner, Latitude Festival continues to go from strength to strength, reinforcing its status as the ‘biggest small festival’ in Britain.

For a weekend you will never forget, whatever your age and interests, Latitude has is all…. Including multi-coloured sheep!!

Comedy lineup additions for this years Latitude Festival

Today, Friday 17th June, the UK’s finest multi-arts festival Latitude is delighted to announce further names joining the Comedy Arena line up at this year’s event, which takes place from Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th July 2016 in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk.

 

Latitude is thrilled to announce that one of Britain’s most celebrated comedians Bill Bailey will headline at Latitude this year. Known for the astounding musical knowledge that saw him become a panel show staple on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, as well as starring in Channel 4’s sitcom Black Books – Bill Bailey is an internationally acclaimed stand-up comedian, renowned for his trademark intelligence and wit. Bailey will be delighting Latitude audiences with his uproariously funny blend of show-stopping musical comedy as his famous Limboland world tour makes a stop at Henham Park next month. 

 

Also performing this year will be Silver Sony Award winner Milton Jones. The pun-loving comedian is best known for delivering “beautiful one-liners so skilfully sculpted, you don’t know whether to laugh or put them on your mantelpiece” Guardian. Milton Jones is regularly on Mock the Week (BBC2), has appeared on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow (BBC1), Live at the Apollo (BBC1) and has headlined Dave’s One Night Stand (DAVE).

 

Katherine Ryan will be entertaining audiences with her acerbic, razor sharp critique of pop culture. Originally from Canada, Katherine is a stand-up who has taken the UK television and live comedy scene by storm as a team leader on comedy roast show Safeword and a presenter on Heir, alongside being a regular fixture on panel shows, including appearances in Mock the Week, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Have I Got News For You.

 

Creator, writer and actor of the multi-award-winning The League of Gentlemen, Reece Shearsmith, and comedian, actor and presenter Rufus Hound will be the special guests for Robin Ince & Josie Long’s Festival Shambles: a very special take on their hit podcast, Book Shambles. Previous guests and topics have included quantum physics with Charlotte Church, Charlie Chaplin and Eddie Izzard, and what to read when you’re in outer space with astronaut Chris Hadfield. 

 

With over 12 million YouTube hits to his name, Piff the Magic Dragon has performed to hundreds of thousands in Shakespeare’s Globe, the O2, London and Sydney Opera House. Along with his Chihuahua, Mr. Piffles, Piff’s mixture of magic tricks and deadpan comedy has received high critical acclaim from the likes of Sir Ian McKellan, who called him “the hit of the party” and a “hugely entertaining hour of grumpy magic” from Time Out.

 

Also performing this year is Radio 4 stalwart and one of Britain’s finest comedian’s Marcus Brigstocke, who will host Prince Fest, a performance in tribute to an artist who changed the world. Join Marcus and special guests for an evening of conversation and celebration, culminating in a fittingly eclectic, flamboyant finale.

 

Hot on the heels of his new BBC 3 sitcom Sunny D, Dane Baptiste has had incredible success with his stand up shows Citizen Dane and Reasonable Doubts, and is already being hailed as one of the most exciting acts to break through in years. 

 

American comic and New York Times bestselling author of I Can Barely Take Care of Myself, Jen Kirkman will also be performing, following the release of her Netflix comedy special I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine) – which was named one of the top ten stand-up specials of 2015 by The Atlantic and Time Out New York

 

Further acts include musical comedy duo Jonny & The Baptists who will be delivering their seemingly light-hearted yet satirical take on right-wing politics and media hysteria; Jonathan Pie will bring a cutting parody of broadcast journalism, performing as a UK News reporter with brutally honest views on the world of politics; plus technophobe Jimmy McGhie, who has just finished a string of sell out shows during his second tour of Asia, following a welcomed return to Edinburgh Fringe.

 

Award-winning comedian and warm-up for The Graham Norton Show Joe Bor will be performing as Jasper Cromwell Jones, a hapless climber who retells the story of a treacherous climb, including a video cameo by TV favourite Jack Whitehall. The hugely talented Lou Sanders will be performing this year, having been featured in The Times ‘Witty Women To Watch 2014’, along with hopeless romantic comedic poet Micky P Kerr, the unpredictable risk-taking Luke McQueen, and Joey Page, who has been named by Chortle as  “one of comedy’s most unique and exciting new talents”. 

 

Finally, Thom Foole’s Shed Party will be delighting the Latitude crowd this year, providing an evening of clowning, comedy, storytelling, mischief and party games in the Shed of Stories, hosted by absurd character comedy acts, cabaret performances and DJ’s. 

Latitude announce Literary Arena and Wellcome Trust Hub

Latitude are thrilled to welcome political economist, writer, columnist and former editor-in-chief of The Observer, Will Hutton to the Literary Arena, where he will be discussing how a fundamental social change is required to defeat the anxiety epidemic gripping society today.
 
Bestselling author Ben MacIntyre will be sharing his research behind A Spy Amongst Friends, the definitive biography of Kim Philby, the most notorious British defector and Soviet mole in history. MacIntyre was given unprecedented access to newly released MI5 files, previously unseen family papers, and cooperation of former officers of MI6 and the CIA – unlocking what is perhaps the last great secret of the Cold War.
 
The Victoria & Albert Museum will present a preview of their forthcoming major exhibition You Say You Want a Revolution? Records and Rebels 1966 – 70. Assistant Curator Elisa Bailey will explore the era-defining significance and impact of the late 1960s, expressed through some of the greatest music and performances of the 20th century alongside fashion, film, design and political activism.
 
In a talk entitled From Prince to PunkDeirdre Murphy, Senior Curator at the Historic Royal Palaces, will talk about fashion’s tribes: each day we dress ourselves, our clothes a marker expressing both our individuality and the group we identify with. Deirdre will explore these ideas across history; the look, the individuals and the idols that have epitomised fashion’s most recognisable tribes.
 
The team behind critical tongue-attractors like Young Avengers and PHONOGRAMJamie McKelvie and Kieron Gillen, will be interviewed by journalist Emily Mackay on the inspiration behind their acclaimed contemporary fantasy comic book series The Wicked & The Divine, winner of Best Comic at the 2014 British Comic Awards.
 
Ewen MacAskill, the Guardian’s Defence and Security Correspondent, involved in preparing the Edward Snowden revelations concerning the National Security Agency for publication, will be talking to the Latitude audience about secrets, lies and Edward Snowden.
 
Robin Ince presents The Magick of Art – The Wizardry of Thin White Dukes with Daisy CampbellAndrew O'Neilland John Constable – a discussion of David Bowie’s final piece of work looking at it both visually and aurally, and how it was the most potent of his career further highlighted by his death three days after the release of Blackstar. His favourite books contained many on art, the occult and magick – are the great creators shamanic? Is art a spell?
 
Stand-up comedian, actress and author Sara Pascoe will be sharing her debut book, Animal: How a Woman is Made, which combines autobiography and evolutionary history to explore how the female body has been oppressed, fetishized and misunderstood throughout history. Another of this year’s multi-talented stand-up comedians joining the Literary Arena is Mark Watson – a familiar face from his appearances on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Mock the Week – showcasing his latest highly acclaimed thriller, The Place That Didn’t Exist. 
 
In conversation with Sarfraz Manzoor, highly talented scriptwriter, broadcast and comedy writer David Quantickpresents his new comic thriller The Mule, a novel about sex, Paris, murder and an imaginary world.
 
Showcasing her debut cookbook Get the Glow!, nutritional health coach to the stars Madeleine Shaw will demonstrate how eating well can easily become a way of life, resulting in the hottest, healthiest and happiest you. Madeleine's philosophy is simple: ditch the junk and eat foods that heal your gut, so you can shine from head to toe and really get the glow.
 
Latitude also invites Helen Pearson to present her acclaimed book The Life Project: what makes some people happy, healthy and successful – and others not? The factors that most affect our life chances are revealed as the first group of British babies followed in a remarkable cradle-to-grave study turns 70.
 
Standard Issue is bringing some of its smart, funny and brilliant writers to Latitude for a very special event. Join editor Mickey Noonan, deputy editor Hannah Dunleavy, comedians Angela Barnes and Felicity Ward, plus a special guest for a smart and funny hour of chat about comedy, feminism and being a woman in the modern world.  
 
Latitude is thrilled to welcome the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction to the festival for the first time, presenting three exciting events hosted by novelist and BWPFF co-founder Kate Mosse. Now in its twenty first year, the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction is the UK’s most prestigious annual book award for fiction written by a woman. Set up in 1996 to celebrate and promote international fiction by women throughout the world to the widest range of readers possible, the Prize is awarded for the best novel of the year written by a woman. Any woman writing in English – whatever her nationality, country of residence, age or subject matter – is eligible.
 
The Baileys Prize events at Latitude include: Forgotten Authors – an inspiring panel including former BWPFF longlisted author Emma Healey put forward their favourite forgotten literary treasures – the female authors they feel have fallen out of fashion and should be returned to the spotlight; Women and Power – author Naomi Alderman, comedian and writer Sara Pascoe, award-winning campaigner Leyla Hussein and  Amy Annette (editor of I call myself a Feminist) discuss the new feminism and issues around women and power; and back by popular demand following their appearance at the Baileys Prize Pop-Up Book Bar earlier this year, actors James Rastall and Tori Allen-Martin read from the six books shortlisted for the 2016 Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction in their own inimitable style. 
 
The Literary Arena also hosts Ruth and Martin’s Album Club, that will see an invited guest choose an album they’ve never listened to, laying out any potential prejudice the guest will listen to the album at least three times, leading to a discussion: was it worth it or not?
 
Radio 4’s Viv Groskop brings her hilarious new work-in-progress Be More Margo to Latitude, taking a look at snobbery, class, Britishness and The Good Life, fuelled entirely by gin. Should we be classless now that we're "all in it together"? Or is it time to assert our inner reactionary and Be More Margo?
 
Also in the Literary Arena, Latitude will present a series of talks supported by the Wellcome Trust – a global charitable foundation dedicated to improving health by supporting bright minds in science, the humanities and social sciences, and public engagement.
 
In a discussion spanning devastating brain trauma, psychogenic disease and mental illness, hear from Wellcome Book Prize 2016’s winner and shortlisted authors talking to 2016 judge and writer, Sathnam Sanghera. In a  discussion spanning devastating brain trauma, psychogenic disease and mental illness, hear from 2016 Winner Suzanne O’Sullivan, on It’s All in Your Head, a compassionate study of the real suffering caused by psychosomatic illness; Cathy Rentzenbrink on her powerful memoir about the death of her brother, The Last Act of Love; and Alex Pheby on Playthings, a fictional take on one of Freud’s most influential psychological case studies: Daniel Schreber.
 
This year Salon London, with support from the Wellcome Trust, present four Salon London events in the Literary Arena:
 
In Salon London: Love Thy Neighbour: Feast of Strangers showcases Prof Theodore Zeldin (Oxford) on the ways in which conversation with a stranger might contribute to radical social change, inviting the Latitude audience to take part in his Feast of Strangers and have a structured conversation with someone they don’t know; and theRefugee Choir will perform a new piece by leading UK vocal coach, Juliet Russell.
 
Salon London: Love Thy Neighbour: The Rewards will feature Dr Molly Crockett (Oxford) on the advanced altruism of Festival Goers; neurobiologist Dr Carsten De Dreu (Amsterdam) on the brain’s response to competitive vs cooperative ways of thinking; and Prof Tim Lewens (Cambridge) on the science behind a big question: is human nature fundamentally good?
 
Salon London: Love Thy Neighbour: The Dark Side presents Prof Christopher French (Goldsmiths) on how we use the paranormal to understand others; Salon London & Redstone Press’s Psycho Games will bring an interactive tour of the scientific games used in 20th Century psychological evaluation; and Dr Gustav Kuhn(Goldsmiths) on the psychology of magic and why we are so easily deceived.
 
Salon London: Social Standing and Your Health will feature Sir Prof Michael Marmot (UCL), whose 40 years of research on health inequalities has the potential to radically change the way we think about health equity and society, and Prof Danny Dorling (Oxford) on how the way the all-so-powerful 1% live affects us all, and how, and why, we can redress the balance between us.
 
The Porn Perspective panel explores the ways we interact with and our consumption of pornography: neuroscientist and broadcaster Dr Jack Lewis is joined by former editor of Loaded and teen educator on the potential dangers of online pornography Martin Daubney, plus Christopher Green, a performer whose work has explored sex and addiction, all chaired by Dr Suzi Gage (Bristol), who has provided a counter point to Dr Philip Zimbardo's work theorising a crisis in masculinity caused by a cyberspace of video games and pornography.
 
Also joining the line up in the Literary Arena is author of NHS foundation’s Be Mindful report Ed Halliwell. Ed will be introducing his new book Into the Heart of Mindfulness: Finding a Way of Well-being, in which he takes the reader on a journey into the heart of mindfulness. With practical advice, taster exercises and a refreshing honesty, Ed will explore how opening to and working with the realities of our minds, bodies and day-to-day existence – rather than striving for positive results – can, paradoxically, help us rediscover a richly nourishing, deeply textured life.
 
Festival of Spoken Nerd – the science comedy phenomenon that will feed your brain, tickle your ribs and light your Bunsen burner will be engaging the Latitude audience in the Literary  Arena. Full Frontal Nerdity guaranteed! The trio of stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, experiments maestro Steve Mould and geek songstress Helen Arney, will be mixing astonishing science with statistically significant comedy, plus experiments that will electrify the Latitude audience – sometimes literally!
 
We will also host a live podcast recording of Level Up Human – a Wellcome supported podcast with a unique mission – to make humans better. The podcast will be led by Simon Watt: biologist, comedian and TV presenter, best known for the BAFTA winning Inside Nature’s Giants and Channel 4's The Elephant: Life After Death. Simon will be joined by comic Elf Lyons, QI researcher and author Stevyn Colgan.
 
The Wellcome Trust Hub, supported by Wellcome Trust, will once again host a variety of incredible discussions, debates and performances this year, exploring the neurosciences that affect your health, happiness and interactions with those around you.
 
Does happiness affect our health? Are the cells of your body aware of your mood swings and nagging doubts? It turns out that the immune system are surprisingly sensitive to our emotions. In The Immune System, Health and Happiness, find out more from Dr. Pippa Kennedy, a research scientist from the Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research.
 
What is fun? How is it distinct from happiness or pleasure? How do we know when we are having it? In TheSociology & Psychology of FunDr Bree Macdonald (Chartered Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist) and Dr Ben Fincham, author of The Sociology of Fun, will be discussing how we want to have fun and who determines the fun we have.
 
In his new book, The Idiot BrainGuardian science blogger and neuroscientist Dr Dean Burnett explores the most inefficient, bizarre and irrational workings of the human brain. Join him and Infinite Monkey Cage host Robin Incefor a light-hearted look at the how the illogical workings of our brains can affect our everyday world, including the psychology of superstition, the neuroscience of sleep, how tall people are more intelligent and why a glass of wine might improve our memory. In The Science of the Self/ie, artist Meg Mosley (aka Megastar) teams up with Dr James Kilner, Head of Neuroscience at UCL, to further explore the psychology behind the selfie.
 
In Keeping Up With the Joneses, the panel will discuss social behaviours that might be caused by our perception of those around us, and crucially, how we believe they perceive us. Dr Valerie Voon (Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellow, University of Cambridge) will talk about impulsive control disorder, with more panellists to be announced.

Editor of The PsychologistProfessor Jon Sutton will be in conversation with Professor Elizabeth Stokoe,discussing How To Talk So People Listen. We live our lives through talk. We build, maintain and end relationships. We buy and sell. We are excited, embarrassed and consoled in response to things others say. By collecting thousands of recordings ‘in the wild’ – from first dates to neighbour disputes – Professor Elizabeth Stokoe has found that talk is highly organised. In conversation with Dr Jon Sutton, she draws on this evidence to show how to talk so people listen.
 
The Wellcome Trust Hub also presents Loneliness with Prof Carsten De Dreu (Amsterdam), on the social and neurobiological mechanisms we have, designed to work and co-operate with others, and what happens to us psychologically when we have no one with whom to co-operate, along with Stuart Evers, author of the acclaimedTen Stories about Smoking and new book, Your Father Sends His Love, chaired by Jo Griffin, journalist and author of the acclaimed The Lonely Society for The Mental Health Foundation.
 
Your Food, Your Mood: Real Food & Gut Health will feature professor of Genetic Epidemiology Prof Tim Spector (KCL), who conducted the biggest ever experiment in to gut health and its effect on health and mental health: it turns out your biome (the microbes in your stomach) could hold all the keys. In Cure: A Journey into the Science of Mind over Body, science writer Jo Marchant will provide a rigorous, sceptical, deeply reported discussion of the new science behind the mind's surprising ability to heal the body
 
The Biology of Morality will provide an in depth look at the human’s relationship with altruism with psychotherapistDr Molly Crockett who studies the neuroscience and psychology of altruism, morality and self-control, in conversation with Dr Tim Lewens, Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge, where he is also Deputy Director of CRASSH – the Centre for Research in Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.
 
Science Gallery London’s No Pain, No Gain? invites scientists to explore pain, what it is and how we perceive it, and also how our relationship with pain shapes our experiences (for better or worse!). In The Science of Snogging, Science Gallery London invite the Latitude audience to open wide, to delve into the orifice and think about what is really involved in a kiss. Rosie Wilby and Amie Taylor take their audiences through a series of short comedic, fun and fast paced performance lectures exploring the science, history and anthropology behind kissing, with help from Dr Rebecca Babb. You’ll never think about a kiss in the same way again!
 
Latitude is extremely proud to announce that Scotland’s new national poet Jackie Kay – who was awarded an MBE for her services to literature in 2006 – will be joining the stellar line-up already announced in this year’s Poetry Arena. The highly acclaimed Kay draws upon her unconventional upbringing in her work, documenting her own struggles with selfhood in her writing.
 
Poet in the City will also be joining this year’s Poetry line-up. An arts organisation which promotes a love of poetry to their audiences, Poet in the City will provide a dynamic platform to contemporary poets, curate imaginative and exciting themed events as well as bringing classic poetry to life for a 21st century audience. At Latitude they will present a programme of poets and the links between poetry & activism with guest Jack Monroe.
 
Further poetry acts announced today include rapper, multi-instrumentalist and sometime singer Dizraeli, who has taken hip-hop to new terrains, and will be thrilling the Latitude crowd along with Nigerian poet, English teacher and a member of the SXWKS collective Caleb Femi, whose work is often described as vivid, honest and delivered with an essence of musicality whilst touching on issues involving assimilation, memory, displacement, education, gang culture and its treatment in the media. Andy Bennett has been performing stand up poetry for half a decade, and  will be delighting audiences with his wilfully shambolic style that belies a cerebral and acerbic wit, and an honest and celebratory approach to life and performance.
 
Hosted by award winning children’s poet Laura Mucha, join us for some fantastic characters, stories and rhymes in new writing inspired by Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes, in celebration of 100 years since his birth. Dahl re-interpreted well-known fairy tales, replacing the traditional happily-ever-after with his own alternative endings, and now, some of Latitude’s best-loved poets – Rosie CarrickJemima Foxtrot and Andy Bennett – will do the same, turning well known stories on their head.
 
And finally, writer for Sunday TimesTelegraphElleRedTankThe Numinous and more, Lisa Luxx will also be joining the Poetry Arena line up performing her work based on the existential crisis of the net generation, politics of queerdom, female sexuality, psychedelic philosophy and explorations of mental health.
 
Home Live Art returns to The Faraway Forest with the ever-changing and unexpected Home Live Art Exchange. Pop by and you may find a utopian world of your own making, an opportunity to swap woes with a friend or even the rare chance to truly understand your neighbours. What happens here depends on what you bring – whether it’s sharing thoughts, dreaming of the future, partaking in games, songs, conversations or meaningful quests, whatever happens it’s on your terms. Come and go, or stay and play. Twice Shy Theatre will also appear in The Faraway Forest this year, using their challenging and innovative theatre and live art to bring creative minds together in support and discussion.
 
Latitude are also delighted that The Reading Agency will be returning to Latitude, a charity whose mission is to inspire more people to read, encourage the enjoyment of reading, and celebrating the difference that it makes to all our lives.
 
Dylan’s Mobile Bookstore will once again return to Pandora’s Playground, promising to feed your need to read. The words on wheels experience, specialising in books associated with Wales and Dylan Thomas, has been quite literally spreading the words. Selling a wide range of books, including used, rare, fine and antiquarian they offer a space on the bus for mini readings and signing sessions with performers from the festival, and welcome people aboard to browse, hang out, chat, listen to poetry and appreciate the simple pleasures of reading.
 
The Shed of Stories will again play host to a heady mix of exciting authors, ground-breaking artists and important voices, including Commute Blog who will reveal the true identities of London commuters one photo at a time, touching upon this year’s theme ‘Love Thy Neighbour’.
 
Award-winning short story writer and novelist Lisa Blower will present her novel Sitting Ducks, which follows the intransigent, courageous Minton family’s battle against the predatory landlord during the 2010 General Election – a novel that will have you laughing out loud then raging at the page. The Shed of Stories also welcomes the highly acclaimed John Osborne, performing from Birthdays!
 
Esses & DeMesa will be bringing their contemporary theatre game about immigration, art and democracy Dis Placeto the Shed of Stories, asking: Who can stay? Are you ready to play? It’s London, 2021. Post EU Referendum and the British People have voted to stay out of Europe and deport most immigrants. Ten foreign artists squat in the basement of The Glory, only one will be allowed to stay in the country. The choice is in the hands of you – the Latitude audience – and your leaders.

And finally, following their performance in the Little House, the Young Vic presents a workshop with Gbolahan Obisesan, Director of Cuttin’ It, the incredibly emotive play from award-winning playwright Charlene James, tackling the urgent issue of FGM in Britain and the price some girls pay to become a woman. It’s a piece that encourages the audience to look more closely at the lives of those around them and to raise awareness of a deeply affecting procedure, and the discussion and workshop offers a rare chance for the audience to engage directly with the theatre maker.

LITERARY
WILL HUTTON | BEN MACINTYRE
VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM PRESENTS YOU SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION?
 HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES: FROM PRINCE TO PUNK HOSTED BY DEIRDRE MURPHY 
EWEN MACASKILL
JAMIE McKELVIE & KIERON GILLEN INTERVIEWED BY EMILY MACKAY 
ROBIN INCE: THE MAGICK OF ART – THE WIZARDRY OF THIN WHITE DUKES
WITH DAISY CAMPBELL, ANDREW O'NEILL & JOHN CONSTABLE 
 SARA PASCOE | STANDARD ISSUE | BAILEYS WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION
HELEN PEARSON: THE LIFE PROJECT | MADELEINE SHAW | MARK WATSON
DAVID QUANTICK ICW SARFRAZ MANZOOR
 RUTH & MARTIN'S ALBUM CLUB | VIV GROSKOP
 
WELLCOME BOOK PRIZE 2016 WITH SUZANNE O’SULLIVAN, CATHY RENTZENBRINK AND
ALEX PHEBY ICW SATHNAM SANGHERA
 
WELLCOME TRUST WITH SALON LONDON PRESENT
LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR: FEAST OF STRANGERS WITH PROF THEODORE ZELDIN AND THEREFUGEE CHOIR
LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR: THE REWARDS WITH DR MOLLY CROCKETT, DR CARSTEN DE DREU ANDPROF TIM LEWENS
LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR: THE DARK SIDE WITH PROF CHRISTOPHER FRENCH 
SALON LONDON & REDSTONE PRESS’S PSYCHO GAMES AND DR GUSTAV KUHN
SOCIAL STANDING AND YOUR HEALTH WITH SIR PROF MICHAEL MARMOT AND PROF DANNY DORLING
 
WELLCOME TRUST 
THE PORN PERSPECTIVE WITH DR JACK LEWIS, CHRISTOPHER GREEN 
AND MARTIN DAUBNEY CHAIRED BY DR SUZI GAGE
DR ARTHUR I MILLER ICW DR ROBERT E SMITH: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – BRAVE NEW WORLD
ED HALLIWELL ON MINDFULLNESS | FESTIVAL OF THE SPOKEN NERD
PHILIPPA KENNEDY | DR BEN FINCHAM & DR BREE MACDONALD  ON  FUN
DR DEAN BURNETT & ROBIN INCE ON THE IDIOT BRAIN | DR JAMES KILNER & MEG MOSLEY  ON SELFIES
DR VALERIE VOON ON KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES
THE PSYCHOLOGIST PRESENTS DR JON SUTTON  ICW.  PROFESSOR ELIZABETH STOKOE PROF CARSTEN DE DREU, STUART EVERS AND JO GRIFFIN ON LONELINESS
YOUR FOOD, YOUR MOOD: REAL FOOD & GUT HEALTH WITH  PROF TIM SPECTOR
CURE: A JOURNEY INTO THE SCIENCE OF MIND OVER BODY  WITH  JO MARCHANT
THE BIOLOGY OF MORALITY WITH  DR MOLLY CROCKETT  AND  DR TIM LEWENS
SCIENCE GALLERY LONDON: NO PAIN, NO GAIN?
SCIENCE GALLERY LONDON: THE SCIENCE OF SNOGGING
LEVEL UP HUMAN: LIVE PODCAST RECORDING  WITH  SIMON WATT, ELF LYONS  AND  STEVYN COLGAN
 
POETRY
JACKIE KAY | POET IN THE CITY | DIZRAELI | CALEB FEMI 
ANDY BENNETT | LISA LUXX
RIPPED OFF REVOLTING RHYMES HOSTED BY LAURA MUCHA WITH JEMIMA FOXTROT,
ROSY CARRICK AND ANDY BENNETT
 
THE FARAWAY FOREST
HOME LIVE ART | TWICE SHY THEATRE | THE READING AGENCY
 
PANDORA’S PLAYGROUND
DYLAN'S MOBILE BOOKSTORE
 
SHED OF STORIES
COMMUTE BLOG | LISA BLOWER | JOHN OSBORNE | ESSES & DE MESA 
YOUNG VIC PRESENT CUTTIN' IT DISCUSSION / WORKSHOP
WITH GBOLAHAN OBISESAN

Latitude announce Film and Music Arena lineup for 2016

SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA | ANDY STOTT | KORELESS

DJ’s FEMI & ROSS ALLEN

ADAM GREEN (LIVE) | ADAM BUXTON: BUG: DAVID BOWIE

LONDON CONTEMPORARY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS WORKS BY

JONNY GREENWOOD, MICA LEVI, MICHAEL GORDON AND STEVE REICH

THE FESTIVAL CHOIR | CASSETTEBOY vs DJ RUBBISH | LAU

BRIAN LOBEL | GRACE PETRIE | PARKER

 

WHITE MINK PRESENTS VINTAGE REMIX FEAT

JENOVA COLLECTIVE, DJ NICK HOLLYWOOD, SCARECROW,

LEE BRUCK AND DANCERS, DJ CHRIS TOFU, TEMPLE FUNK COLLECTIVE

AND DJ DAYTONER

 

ADAM GREEN : FILM SCREENING OF ALADDIN PLUS Q&A

THE ODYSSEY : FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE

GARY NUMAN : ANDROID IN LA LA LAND

MAYA ANGELOU : AND STILL I RISE

SHEFFIELD DOC FEST PRESENT THE MEANING OF LIVE

AND Q&A WITH HOLLY GILLIAM

 

ACROSS THE OTHER STAGES

LAURA CANNELL | SARAH ANGLISS

GUILTY PLEASURES | BUTTONED DOWN DISCO | RAVE KARAOKE | DISCO SHED

 

KEITH ALLEN'S ESTABLISHMENT CLUB

GROW UP | EMILY CAPPELL | KITTY FINER | JACK JONES | THE HAGGIS HORNS

COWTOWN | BIG INTENT | EL REWIND | BRIX AND THE EXTRICATED

DINGUS KHAN | PURPLE LIGHTS | THE WOODEN TOPS

 

Latitude announce top acts for Dance and Theatre lineup

Today, on International Dance Day, Latitude Festival is delighted to announce its spectacular dance line up, as well as additional theatre and music names for this year's event which takes place from Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th July 2016 in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk.
 
Curator of the Arts Arenas Tania Harrison says:
“Latitude are absolutely delighted to be supporting artists across the board, and this year is no exception when it comes to our stunning dance line up. Sadler’s Wells will present a diverse programme of world class dance including Nilda’s Guerra’s !Vamos Cuba!, straight from Havana airport and evoking all the vibrancy of Cuban life, plus rising star Botis Seva who literally has the world at his feet. The incredible Hofesh Shechter Company will perform tHE bAD – a captivatingly dramatic dance piece, to get the festival going on Thursday night. We will also welcome New English Ballet Theatre to the Waterfront, who will present work by choreographers Kirsten McNally and Daniela Cardim."

Sadler’s Wells, the UK’s leading dance house, returns to the Waterfront Stage at Latitude Festival for a ninth year to present a diverse programme of world-class dance in all its forms. Opening the programme on Thursday evening will be Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Hofesh Shechter’s company, who will perform tHe bAD from Shechter’s most recent work barbarians, and shows his choreography at its most energetic. Veils is a collaboration of music and dance between cutting edge Manchester acoustic-electronica trio GoGo Penguin and choreographer Lynne Page and is a contemporary response to 80’s underground club culture. Inspired by mirrors and palindromes, the work is an epic piece of music with dance that becomes the absolute visual representation of the composition. Rising hip-hop dancer and choreographer Botis Seva will also perform with his company Far From The Norm who will presentH.O.H – a performance combining hip-hop, physical theatre and contemporary dance which centres on the nation’s favourite sport, football.

Set to a soundtrack performed by one of Havana’s most promising jazz musicians; Julito Padron, and choreographed by Nilda Guerra; !Vamos Cuba! is a spectacular new high-energy production by the team behind the smash-hit dance show Havana Rakatan, which evokes the joys and vibrancy of Cuban life with all the passion and humour that embodies the Cuban spirit.

The line up also includes work from other leading figures in contemporary dance, including one of the founding fathers of contemporary dance in the UK, Richard Alston. The Richard Alston Dance Company presents a double bill of work for Latitude, including extracts from Sadler’s Wells commissionNomadic, danced to Shukar Collective’s fusion of gypsy and electronic music. The bill will also showStronghold II, choreographed by the company’s Associate Choreographer, Martin Lawrance. Set to a score by Pulitzer Prize winner Julia Wolfe this fiercely intense work reflects the turbulent character of the music, richly scored for eight double basses.

The National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) will return for another year to perform a creation by Sadler’s Wells Guest Artistic Director Michael Keegan-Dolan. The work, entitled In–Nocentes is set to Max Richter’s re-composition of The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi and is a ritualistic piece with which Keegan-Dolan celebrates the natural and instinctive way young people can move and behave.

Since their debut season in 2012, New English Ballet Theatre has become one of the most exciting and progressive modern ballet companies with their cross-disciplinary and multi-arts programme. This year NEBT will present two pieces by Royal Ballet soloist Kristen McNally on Latitude’s Waterfront Stage – Mad Women is a satirical exploration of the traditional conflict between men and women as seen in the context of the late 1950s housewives, and Lonesome Gun is a raunchy, playful piece inspired by American Western movies.

Also presenting as part of NEBT will be internationally celebrated choreographer Daniela Cardim, whose pas-de-deux Wundarra will explore the juxtaposition of aboriginal music with the language of classical ballet.

In The Little House, winner of BBC Young Dancer 2015 Ivan Blackstock will be performing M.E.T.H Traplord of the Flyz as part of the Nabokov garage takeover on Friday night – a piece exploring the catalytic rise of innocence that turns savage when inner city youths reach an apoplexy of mental destruction. A Curious Invitation will be hosting Midnight Tango; a Saturday night party in The Little House where audiences will dance to an orchestra playing tangos, milongas and waltzes drawn from Astor Piazzola’s immortal tango Maria de Buenos AiresA Curious Invitation will also present a Tango class, open to all, on the Waterfront Stage.  

Swing Patrol will be offering easy taster lessons and inviting all festival goers to get involved in games and swinging fun at the Waterfront. Swing Patrol have recently featured on Dragons’ Den, Call the Midwife and People’s Strictly Come Dancing. They’ll offer everyone the opportunity to try something new or simply enjoy the spectacle of great swing tunes combined with great swing dancers.

Lavish will be presenting their hybrid three-part  Sound, Performance and Art-based project devised and created for Latitude which journeys in to what inspires and shapes us. The Museum of Memory is an evocative exploration of memory through Sound, whilst the Art and Performance pieces The Museum of Curiosity and Cornell’s Dream endeavor to walk along the ‘white magic side of Surrealism’ paying homage to the self-taught American artist Joseph Cornell.

Theatre
Latitude is proud to reveal yet more ground-breaking performances for the theatre line up, which boasts more premieres, previews, works-in-progress and commissions than ever before.
 
Curator of the Arts Arenas Tania Harrison says:
“We’re also excited to be adding to our international companies appearing at Latitude’s theatre line up by bringing Familie Flöz and Svalbard to Suffolk, plus exciting gig theatre from the Young Vic starring Jane Horrocks and a brand new work from the ever powerful Theatre Ad InfinitumAdam Buxton and Louis Theroux will be live and in conversation for the first of our Film & Music Arena announcements. There really is something for everyone at Latitude in 2016.” 

Following a packed run of their show If You Kiss Me, Kiss Me at London’s Young Vic theatre, Jane Horrocks and an incredible live band play their own gritty and soulful versions of your favourite new wave classics. This mind-blowingly beautiful set features the music of Joy Division, The Smiths, Buzzcocks and more, played live by Grammy Award-winning producer Kipper on guitar and The Damned’s drummer Rat Scabies. Don’t miss this nostalgic trip back to the 70’s and 80’s, set to an unforgettable soundtrack.

Multi award-winning Theatre Ad Infinitum will be bringing its powerful original production of Bucket List, the incredible story of one Mexican orphan’s fight against injustice described by The Times as “epic”.

Berlin based theatre collective Familie Flöz will be showing the Latitude audience the darker side of theatre with Teatro Delusio; a play focusing on three stage technicians’ work in the darkness of backstage, where the characters battle their own great tragedies of life, death, love and defeat, revealing their rivalries, ambitions and poignant dreams.

Avant-garde Svalbard will be coming from Sweden to present their quirky and outrageous performance;All Genius All Idiot. Using extreme circus artistry, physical comedy and theatre, Svalbard will revel in the absurdities of life and highlight human behaviours at their most animalistic.

Finally, in the Film and Music Arena, award-winning British comedian Adam Buxton and world-celebrated documentary filmmaker Louis Theroux will be in conversation to discuss their work and outputs, with clips screened to the audience to illustrate their talk.

Music
Belgian brothers David and Stephen Dewaele will showcase a new production with their band Soulwaxfor a UK festival exclusive, headlining the 6 Music Stage at Latitude 2016. The band broke the mould back in 1996 thanks to their mix of rock, electro, pop and punk and have made half the world dance since then.

Elsewhere throughout the weekend will be a UK Festival Exclusive performance by Shye Ben Tzur and The Rajasthan Express’ JUNUN, which under the production of Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood brought the Barbican to its feet but it was really the hearts in the room that rose to the rooftops; an absolute must see. 
 
Latitude is proud to welcome back Beta Band troubadour and one of Britain’s most compelling singer-songwriters Steve Mason, electronic producer Gold Panda who returns this year with his new record Good Luck And Do Your Best, heart-on-their-sleeve performers Augustinesarticulate folksinger Emmy The Great with her critically lauded second record Second Love, and the Americana-soaked Clean Cut Kid who will take a step up from The Alcove to headline this year’s Lake Stage.
 
Late night party performances come from some of the most enduring names in British music. Established as the most successful UK garage acts of all time, noughties legend Artful Dodger; the 2-step hit makers responsible for propelling Craig David into the public sphere with Re-Rewind will light-up the Sunrise Arena, and the notorious frontman of national treasures Madness; Suggs, will perform a much anticipated DJ set. PC Music’s super producer SOPHIE will be ramping up the party on Saturday night and notorious mashup DJ’s The Menendez Brothers will ensure the last beats of the festival keeps everyone dancing on Sunday. 
 
Lonely The Brave have supported some of the biggest names in rock including Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and Deftones, and will be bringing their praised live show to Henham Park fresh off the back of their new album due to be released this May. After making their Latitude debut on The Alcove Stage last year, Brit-pop revivalists DMA’s are set to perform tracks from their acclaimed debut album Hills End, with other performances coming from Irish soul-folk maverick and Ed Sheeran label signee Foy Vance, Brooklyn’s cowboy soul soloist Odetta Hartman and evocative Brighton trio and HypeMachine favourites Phoria.
 
Columbian Latin dance fusion Sidestepper, Australia's new glam rock trio Methyl Ethel, and Sweden’s revered psychedelia outfit Dungen will all be coming to Latitude for the first time this summer. Also adding to this year’s festival line up are experimental electro Londoners The Invisible, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and author The Anchoress, James Righton of Klaxons new project Shock Machine, and the Afro-Western dance, hip-hop, and pop duo The Very Best.

The Alcove Stage
Known for the freshest names in music, DIY presents The Alcove Stage will bring an eclectic mix of new talent to the festival’s already stellar line up. Latitude prides itself on nurturing future talent and The Alcove is the perfect place to listen to the most exciting new voices of 2016, with previous years giving early festival slots to some of the biggest and most acclaimed new artists of recent years including James Bay, Years & Years, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and Young Fathers.
 
On Friday, emotive soloist and producer Rationale, Portland's dark-folk pop sisters Joseph, Brits Critics Choice finalist Frances, Grimes’ electropop partner HANA, and rising brother-sister duo Ardyn will all take to The Alcove Stage for the first time.
 
Saturday will see another PC Music stalwart Danny L Harle bringing his tectonic beats to The Alcove, while Aussie indie rockers Tired Lion grace the stage alongside the experimental South African ‘Noirwaves’ of Petite Noir, the ‘80’s punk bubble bath’ sound of Peluché, modern folk-soul singer Rukhsana Merrise, Ireland’s grunge pop group Otherkin and avant-garde pop project White.
 
Experimental pop trio Kero Kero Bonito will bring their video game edge to The Alcove Stage on the Sunday, whilst indie-folk soloist Barns Courtney who has supported the likes of Ed Sheeran and The Libertines, instrumental noise-rockers Three Trapped Tigers, Nottingham alt-rock trio Kagoule, soaring indie-pop favourites Tibet and Danish-Australian electronic-indie outfit Palace Winter also join the line up.
 
Having made a name for themselves on the live circuit with their energetic sets after touring with cult British buzz acts Wolf Alice and Swim Deep, Brighton’s prolific new band The Magic Gang will set The Alcove Stage alight this summer alongside political punk girl gang Skinny Girl Diet, who’ve featured on Billboard's list of ‘20 All-Female Bands You Need To Know’ for their gritty outspoken sound.
 
These new additions join an outstanding line up fronted by headliners The MaccabeesThe National and New Order alongside GrimesOf Monsters And MenKurt Vile & The ViolatorsBeirut,CHVRCHESM83Father John MistyJohn GrantThe LumineersMiike SnowChristine and the QueensHalf Moon RunPoliçaPerfume GeniusPantha Du Prince presents The TriadBlack MountainDavid Rodigan MBEMike Skinner & Murkage present TONGA and many more.
 
Food
Blixen will be returning to Latitude Festival for a second year following their successful debut in 2015. Bringing a taste of their Spitalfields restaurant to Suffolk, they will be offering festival revellers an all-day menu food, pints of cocktails, a sound system and fun times, all gussied up in a faux tropical surrounding

Comedy lineup for Latitude 2016 announced

Now in its 11th year, Latitude Festival once again sets the bar high for summer festivals with the largest comedy line up in the UK, offering festival goers an unrivalled opportunity to see some of the biggest names in the industry, all over the same weekend.

Latitude’s Curator of the Arts, Tania Harrison says:

“Latitude has always prided itself on the breadth of our line ups and this year is very exciting. In the Comedy and Cabaret Arenas you’ll find newcomers, rising stars and international acts. We have comedy in all its guises, including the first of our announced headliners; Russell Howard, who we’re delighted is headlining on Friday. Russell is joined on the bill by some of the most brilliant UK and US comics, including Josh Widdicombe, Reggie Watts and Bridget Everett. We’re also presenting some of the most vibrant cabaret, from Duckie and The Glory. There’s a home for every kind of comic and comedy fan at Latitude this year.”

Latitude is thrilled to announce the first of the Comedy Arena headliners for 2016, the phenomenally talented Russell Howard who has enjoyed massive success with Russell Howard’s Good News, establishing Russell as one of the UK’s most successful comedians and a rising international star.

Comedy trailblazer Josh Widdicombe, who has had a remarkable impact on the circuit since his debut gig in 2008, will also perform at Latitude. Josh is now considered one of the most in demand and highly regarded comedians in the UK for both his live stand-up and TV work, including Channel 4’s award-winning The Last Leg and highly acclaimed BBC3 sitcom Josh, which has been commissioned for a second series.

Internationally renowned beatboxer and comedian Reggie Watts will also be wowing the audience with his unpredictable performances, which are created on-the-spot using only his formidable voice and looping pedals. Multi-talented Reggie has opened nightly for Conan O’Brien’s sold outProhibited From Being Funny on Television tour, hosted his own critically acclaimed TED talk, recorded the sublime original score to Ridley Scott’s Legend, toured with Regina Spektor and currently appears regularly on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Latitude is also hugely excited to welcome Paul Merton’s Impro Chums. Paul Merton, one of the UK’s most popular comedians, performs with his highly renowned Impro Chums: Mike McShane, Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch and Suki Webster. They will create a brand new show inspired by suggestions from the Latitude audience, as well as their own finely honed improvisational skills. The Evening Standard says; “few can go comedy commando as well as this bunch.”

Silence with noise, stand-up with no talking, drama with no acting. This show speaks for itself. This uniquely exciting one-man show from New Zealand is attracting attention the world over.  The Boy With Tape on His Face has racked up awards in Australia, New Zealand and the UK including a Foster’s Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Fringe. He’s been seen on the Royal Variety Performance and has won over London’s famous West End, playing to packed houses and racking up a raft of five star reviews. 

Joining this year’s stellar line-up will be comedy heavyweight Al Murray who will be delighting the Latitude audience with his alter ego The Pub Landlord. This year he took his satirical take on right wing politics to the next level when he ran against Nigel Farage in the hotly contested Kent constituency of South Thanet as leader of the Free United Kingdom Party (FUKP). Award-winning Irish comedian and self-declared man-child David O’Doherty will also be lighting up the stage this year with his pre-adolescent responses to current events, as well as some songs on a tiny keyboard from 1986.

Robin Ince, comedy’s answer to Brian Cox, and the fiercely political Josie Long will present a very special edition of Festival Shambles. The two will be rekindling their comedic chemistry as heard on their popular podcast Book Shambles. Now in its fifth series, the two comedians have discussed quantum physics with Charlotte Church, Charlie Chaplin and Eddie Izzard, and what to read when you’re in outer space with astronaut Chris Hadfield.

Edinburgh Festival Award Winner and Time Out Critics Choice, Mark Watson; one of the UK’s top live comedians, will also be taking to the Comedy Arena. Not only a regular on television shows such as Mock The Week and 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mark has been the face of shows such as BBC Four’s We Need Answers and BBC Radio 4’s Mark Watson Talks a Bit About Life. Since making her debut in 2007, Sara Pascoe has become one of the most accomplished comedians in the country, having appeared on QI, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and the BBC’s Twenty Twelve. What’s more, host of Live At The Apollo and star of Radio 4, the great Hal Cruttendenwill perform his energetic laugh-packed show that has put him in “comedy’s premier league” according to the Evening Standard.

BAFTA nominated director, writer and comedian Nick Helm will be gripping audiences with his unique, powerful, and above all, hilarious blend of one-liners, stories, poems and songs, andSimon Evans will have the Latitude audience delighting in his witty and insightful take on the uncompromising comic territory of commodities, trading and wealth that has won him regular spots on TV and radio.

For even more laughs, Sony and Writers Guild Award winning writer and comedian Mark Steelwill be bringing his routine to Latitude alongside Sam Simmons who will share his fresh satirical take on observational comedy. From his stage debut at the Manchester Comedy Store in 2008 to performing international sell out shows, the intensely charming rising talent Joe Lycett will be bringing his award-winning stand up to Latitude. He’ll be joined by Kerry Godliman; the quick witted star of Live At The Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Derek.

Audiences at the Literary Arena will be treated to Pappy’s, who will present The Secret Dudes Society. The comedy trio have been shortlisted for the Edinburgh Comedy Award, Loaded LAFTA Award as well as two Chortle Awards, and their anarchic hijinks are the centre of popular Netflix sitcom Badults. Pappy’s are a Literary Arena Friday Night Favourite.

Another comedy troupe bringing laughter to the Latitude Literary Arena is musical comedy actThe Horne Section. Fresh off the back of their successful third series for BBC Radio 4, The Horne Section will bring together stand-up and live music improvisation in a free-wheeling and spontaneous combination at Latitude Festival.

Daniel Sloss, who has received international acclaim after clocking up eight consecutive sold-out Edinburgh Fringe seasons as well as several TV appearances including Conan O’Brien andSunday Night at Palladium, will be performing. Joining him will be young talent and winner of the Best Breakthrough Act and Best Show at the Chortle Awards 2015 James Acaster, plus Radio 4 Newsjack presenter Nish Kumar who’ll begin his hotly anticipated fifth solo year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year.

Best Newcomer Award winner in the 2014 Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards; Alex Edelman, will be showing why his award-winning show Milennial has exposed him to the international stand-up community as once of its brightest young talents.

Also delighting the Comedy Arena audience will be former face of MTV and star of BBC3’sImpractical JokersJoel Dommett. Joel is an exciting and fresh talent on the UK stand-up comedy circuit who gained rave reviews for his Edinburgh shows, Neon Hero in 2011, Nunchuck Silver Medalist in 2012, and 2014’s Finding Emo.

Max & Ivan will present Our Story, in which the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award nominees Max & Ivan (BBC2's W1A, Radio 4's Casebook of Max & Ivan) introduce the world to two never-before-seen characters; themselves. The Elis James & John Robins Experience will see Elis James and John Robins bring their hit Radio X podcast to Latitude. Finally, a chance to truly taste the vibe!

Setting the scene at the Cabaret Arena will be the multi-award winning laconic Frenchman Marcel Lucont with Marcel Lucont’s Whine List: dry wit, bawdy chansons and exquisite sex poetry have seen him tour the world. And if that’s not enough, sketch artist duo Cardinal Burns (as seen on Channel 4), will be joined by Jamie Demetriou and Ellie White, in what is sure to be a riotous improv show, jam-packed with both new and familiar characters, and with certain special guests.

Apologetic Eton and Oxford Alumnus and regular fixture of the UK comedy circuit Ivo Grahamwill be taking to the stage, along with award-winning Australian sensation Felicity Ward, who has rapidly taken the British Comedy scene by storm. Ever felt like you should be better at feminism? Deborah Frances-White & Sofie Hagen will be bringing a special edition of theirGuilty Feminist podcast to Latitude, discussing topics “all 21st century feminists agree on" while confessing the insecurities, hypocrisies and fears that underlie their lofty principles.

An exceptionally talented impressionist, Luke Kempner garnered global attention in 2012 with his hit viral video Downstairs At Downton. Since then, Luke has gone from strength to strength, taking his one man show The Only Way Is Downton (described by the Daily Telegraph as a “remarkable tour de force”) to theatres and festivals across the UK, including Latitude.

Also taking to the stage will be former social worker and now TV and radio stand up regularAngela Barnes, prolific young comedian and radio presenter Al Porter, and comedian and columnist Shazia Mirza, who is currently being lauded for her The Kardashians Made Me Do Ittour; a searing and urgent exploration of life, love and Jihadi brides.

The Cabaret Arena will be treated by the Comedian’s Cinema Club with Eric Lampaert, where audiences will get to see comedians anarchically recreate audiences’ favourite films, from pre-teen chick flick The Princess Diaries to cult horror The Ring and Oscar winning The Revenant.David Elms will be taking audiences on a heart-warmingly funny journey through his relationships, and Rhys James – one of the Telegraph’s ‘Top 30 Funny People to Follow on Twitter’ – will also be delighting the crowds.

The hugely talented Kiri Pritchard-McLeanDrunk History star Iain StirlingI’m A Celebrityresident comedian David Morgan and winner of the prestigious Foster’s Newcomer Award Phil Wang will be warming up the audience in between acts at the Comedy Arena as this year’s MC’s.

Canadian comic Bobby Mair will also be performing, along with the critically acclaimed character comedian Kieran Hodgson, plus self-declared underground comedian Richard Gadd, who theIndependent calls “simply remarkable”.

The festival will be welcoming a number of comedy collectives including double act Lazy Susan, up-and-coming sketch comedy trio Massive Dad, The Best Newcomer Award winners at the 2015 Chortle Awards, quartet Gein’s Family Giftshop, and the innovative BAFTA award winning writer and comedian Suzi Ruffell.

Latitude is also incredibly proud to present the young talent shortlisted for the 11th annualChortle Student Comedy Awards. The funniest and wittiest teens in the country will be performing their routines for the very lucky Latitude audience. Previous winners and nominees include several acts featured in this year’s Comedy Arena line up including Iain Stirling andDavid Elms.  

Also appearing this year will be Jamie Wood, Sean McLoughlin, Spencer Jones, Gabriel Bisset Smith, Daphne, Gráinne Maguire, Stuart Goldsmith, Robert Cawsey, Pierre Novellie, Elliot Steel, Tez Ilyas, Lloyd Griffith, Lolly Adefope, Beth Vyse, Goose, Tom Lucy, Fin Taylor, Jordan Brookes, Steve Bugeja, Kae Kurd, Mo Gilligan, Twayna Mayne, Eshaan Akbar, Funmbi Omotayo, Elf Lyons, Sophie Willan, Katia Kvinge, Brennan Reece, Lauren Pattison, Rose Matafeo, Jamali Maddix, Danny O’Brien, Kate Lucas, Emma Sidi, Eleanor Tiernan, Laura Lexx, Masud Milas, Sarah Keyworth, Joe Sutherland and Sarah Bennetto’s Storytellers Club with Tom Bell, Andrea Hubert, Abigoliah Schamaun, Garrett Millerick & Joz Norris.
 
CABARET AT LATITUDE
Post-queer events collective Duckie will be bringing their incredible production, including acts from their legendary 21-year weekly residency at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. The group will star Ursula Martinez, Figs in Wigs and Barbara Brownskirt & The Frank Chickens, and hosted by Myra Dubois with DJ’s Readers Wifes.

London’s most vibrant venue for new theatre, comedy and cabaret; Soho Theatre, will be delighting the Latitude crowd with their ground-breaking, edgy and unique show. Their late night Cabaret Arena takeover will be an unforgettable experience featuring a line up of some of their most exciting and glamorous acts including Bridget Everett, CHRISTEENE, Le Gateaux Chocolat, Peter & Bambi Heaven and Tom Allen.

The Glory, London’s newest queer ‘Superpub’, will be showcasing the best of its performance programme. More than a pub, The Glory is a venue for alt-drag, performance art, music and theatre. Its ‘Landladies’, Jonny Woo and John Sizzle will host their own variety show featuring stars of both their drag queen and drag king competitions. Featuring The Glory’s in house rock band, queer sketch comedy and other emerging performance stars, this is a party, in a pub, in a field!

The award-winning Desmond O’Connor will be joining forces with internationally renownedSarah-Louise Young to present Royal Vauxhall; an irreverent yet insightful new musical consisting of an improbable and outlandish night out with Princess Diana, Freddie Mercury and Kenny Everett. O’Connor’s bittersweet lyrics and insanely catchy melodies won’t fail to shock, charm and entertain the Latitude audience.

One of the most celebrated figures on the cabaret scene, Dusty Limits, will be performing his long awaited debut album Grin; an original collection of soulful and darkly comic songs that will create a portrait of a passionate character haunted by addiction and a broken heart. There will be more musical spoils from comedy drag country and western star Tina C who will be performing her biggest hits including No Dick’s As Hard As My Life and Not Tonight Darlin’, I Got A Heartache.

Mixing political satire with comedy, songs and truly ridiculous games will be Margaret Thatcher Queen Of Game Shows, and finally, Tim Bell will be performing his poignant, off-kilter show as bearded woman Dame Nature.

The Maccabees, The National & New Order to headline Latitude Festival 2016

Today Latitude Festival announces the line up for their 11th edition which takes place onThursday 14th to Sunday 17th July 2016 in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk.
 
The Maccabees return to Latitude to perform their first ever major festival headline show on Friday night in the Obelisk Arena. The south London five piece climb to the top of the bill to cap a remarkable twelve months that has seen them score their first number one album with the acclaimed ‘Marks To Prove It’ last July, and crowned as Best British Band at last month’s NME Awards.

Saturday welcomes one of Latitude’s most loved bands, The National, back to Henham Park as the first ever act to headline the festival for a second time. Their return to the Obelisk stage will be a UK festival exclusive this year; promising a stellar set drawn from their unparalleled six albums.
 
British all-time greats, New Order took the world by surprise with the release of ‘Music Complete’last year; 10 years on from their previous studio offering. With 35 years of genre and era-defining classics to draw upon, New Order are set to provide a spectacular closing performance for Latitude 2016.
 
Melvin Benn, founder and creator of Latitude Festival commented:
 
“I’m thrilled to announce the first acts for Latitude 2016. The Maccabees, The National, and New Order headlining the music, coupled with the theatre and poetry bill looking stronger than ever, ensures Latitude 2016 is already simply unmissable.  Following the incredible success of our tenth edition last year, we had set the bar high for this year’s festival; we have a debut headline performance from The Maccabees to look forward to, which I’m really excited about and as always, the arts offering is set to be incomparable.”
 
Quotes from 2016 headliners:
 
“Latitude is the first major headline slot in our fourteen year existence and the culmination of the year spent touring ‘Marks To Prove It’. We're intending on it being a celebration of it all. See you there.” – The Maccabees
 
"Latitude has been one of our favorite festivals ever since we barely made it to play in 2006 (Cold War Kids lent us their instruments as we arrived mid set having been stuck at the border). We love the genuine multi-disciplinary format of the festival and the grounds are enchanting to wander through. We feel incredibly honored to be the first previous headliner to be asked back a second time." – The National
 
“We are thrilled to be headlining Latitude. It’s our first time at the festival so we’re looking forward to exploring, especially the diverse range of acts, bring on July!” – New Order
The Obelisk Arena will see performances by some of today’s most exciting and respected artists. French electro act M83 will be making their acclaimed return and Courtney Barnett will perform back to back with fellow BRIT nominee Father John Misty, in his only UK festival performance this year. Also taking to the Obelisk Arena Stage will be Denver folk rock trio The Lumineers, Glaswegian synth pop trio Chvrches, incomparable singer-songwriter John Grantand musical nomad Zach Condon’s Beirut.
 
Performances will come from national treasures British Sea Power, pioneering Arabic collectiveAlif, rock-soul revivalist Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, atmospheric London trioDaughter, and 70s idols Squeeze. Returning favourites genre-defying multiple award winnerLaura Mvula, Australian maverick Chet Faker, Grammy nominated country singer-songwriterSturgill Simpson and soulful BBC Sound Of winner Michael Kiwanuka also join the Obelisk Arena line up.

Latitude Festival 2016 lineup below

OBELISK ARENA
THE MACCABEES | THE NATIONAL | NEW ORDER
BEIRUT | CHVRCHES | M83 | FATHER JOHN MISTY
JOHN GRANT | THE LUMINEERS 
COURTNEY BARNETT | DAUGHTER | CHET FAKER 
BRITISH SEA POWER | SQUEEZE | LAURA MVULA  
NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS | MICHAEL KIWANUKA 
STURGILL SIMPSON | ALIF
 
BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC STAGE
GRIMES | OF MONSTERS AND MEN 
MIIKE SNOW | KURT VILE AND THE VIOLATORS | FRIGHTENED RABBIT  
HALF MOON RUN | MØ | CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS | POLIÇA | LÅPSLEY
ROOTS MANUVA | PERFUME GENIUS | OH WONDER 
JAMIE WOON | RAT BOY | AURORA | MURA MASA | LUCIUS
 
SUNRISE ARENA
PANTHA DU PRINCE presents THE TRIAD | BLACK MOUNTAIN 
ANNA MEREDITH | BLANCK MASS | BOB MOSES | CLOVES
DRONES CLUB | HAYDEN JAMES | HIGHASAKITE | HOLLY MACVE
KELLY LEE OWENS | LAMBERT | LITTLE GREEN CARS
MONEY | PROTOMARTYR | SUUNS | WEAVES 

LATE NIGHT AT SUNRISE
JUNGLE (DJ SET) | DAVID RODIGAN (A JOURNEY THROUGH REGGAE)
MARLON WILLIAMS | MIKE SKINNER and MURKAGE present TONGA

POETRY
DON PATERSON | JOHN HEGLEY | HOLLIE McNISH
ELAINE FEINSTEIN | HENRY NORMAL
MICHAEL PEDERSEN |BUDDY WAKEFIELD | LUKE WRIGHT  
ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER | MARK GRIST & TIM CLARE 
TIM WELLS | MARTIN NEWELL & THE HOSEPIPE BAND 
JOHN OSBORNE | BENIN CITY | JOSH IDEHEN | HELEN MORT 
FRANKIE VAH | TALIA RANDALL 
HARRY BAKER | DEREK McLUCKIE | ROSY CARRICK
 
THEATRE 
CIRCA | IMPROBABLE & BLIND SUMMIT | GOB SQUAD 
GLEN NEATH & DAVID ROSENBERG | LIFT present EVERYTHING BY MY SIDE
LYRIC | OPERA NORTH | MARK THOMAS | GRAEAE
LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES | ACTION TO THE WORD | AIRNADETTE
LYRIC, GDIF, IMAGINE WATFORD & LATITUDE present HIKAPEE and HOW IT ENDED 
YOUNG VIC & ROYAL COURT | FOREST FRINGE | DASH ARTS | FIGHT IN THE DOG
SHON DALE-JONES | SAM HALMARACK, DAN CANHAM & OLIVIA WINTERINGHAM   
SH!T THEATRE |URSULA MARTINEZ| CHRISTOPHER BRETT BAILEY | NABOKOV | RAZ 
SLEEPING TREES | TIATA FAHODZI | LIAM WILLIAMS | PENTABUS |THE PAPER BIRDS 
KATIE BONNA |GEORGE EGG | JEMIMA FOXTROT | LUCY MCCORMICK | ROB AUTON 
RACHAEL CLERKE |FLIPPING THE BIRD | POLEROID THEATRE | OLD TRUNK THEATRE 
LICENSED TO ILL| STEFANIE MUELLER | ANNIE SIDDONS | SILENT UPROAR 
DEANNA RODGER & GEMMA ROGERS | ARWC | LEEDS BECKETT

LAVISH BIG SCREEN
GLEN MATLOCK | STEPHEN MALLINDER | DON LETTS 
NATIONAL STUDENTS SELECTION | DJ HARRY K | JET LETTS 
 
PLUS MANY MORE NAMES TO BE ANNOUNCED…

The BBC Radio 6 Music Stage will continue to deliver an exemplary mix of current and future stars, including the first major headline performance by one of the undoubted stars of 2015; Canadian renaissance woman Grimes, whose ‘Art Angels’ was NME’s album of the year. Sunday’s final BBC 6 Music stage performance will come from Icelandic indie folk-pop group Of Monsters And Men.
 
Elsewhere on the BBC 6 Music Stage will see shows from Swedish mega group Miike Snow, Philadelphia fuzz-rockers Kurt Vile and the Violators, France’s breakout star Christine and the Queens, critically acclaimed synth pop talent Perfume Genius, British soul from Jamie Woonand minimal electronic pop songstress Låpsley. Joining them will be Frightened Rabbit with their brand new Aaron Dessner produced album, BBC sound poll 2016 finalist Mura Masa, the voice of the most streamed track of all time – Denmark’s , Minneapolis synth poppersPoliça, anthemic Canadians Half Moon Run, UK rap legend Roots Manuva, acclaimed alt-pop duo Oh Wonder, the explosive Rat Boy, infectious Brooklyn quintet Lucius and ethereal Norwegian breakthrough artist Aurora.
 
The intimate Sunrise Arena returns with an eclectic line up that boasts some of the most exciting barrier-breaking electronic musicians around. Hidden away in the woods sees headline performances from Vancouver’s psychedelic export Black Mountain and the lauded Pantha Du Prince with his new AV show The Triad. Support comes from half of Fuck Buttons’ Blanck Mass project and Canadian experimental electro duo Bob Moses, alongside Australia’s Hayden James who brings his R&B-influenced electronic pop to the Sunrise Arena. Making their Latitude debuts are Norway’s number 1 indie pop group Highasakite and New Zealand’s singer songwriterMarlon Williams who will be bringing his emotional narratives to the stage.
 
America’s post-punk Protomartyr and Canada’s art-punk, krautrock inspired Suuns will also take to the Sunrise Arena stage, alongside Henham Park’s next door neighbours Drones Clubwhile Anna Meredith; the composer turned electronic producer, and Germany’s idiosyncratic pianist Lambert share their unique takes on a classical sound. Female singer songwriters command the Sunrise Arena, with Londoner Kelly Lee Owens making her Latitude debut, with Australia’s Cloves and Bella Union’s Holly Macve also performing. Toronto’s Weaves will be bending pop stereotypes alongside Ireland’s indie-rock group Little Green Cars, with Manchester’s highly loved Money returning with epically cathartic new material.
 
Bringing the evenings to a close on the Sunrise Arena, and rounding off the day’s proceedings are recent favourites Jungle with a one off DJ show built especially for the Latitude stage that can’t be seen anywhere else; original reggae selector and soundclash champion David Rodigan MBE, and big Tonga vibes from The Streets’ Mike Skinner and Murkage.
 
THEATRE AT LATITUDE 
Celebrating the biggest names in comedy, theatre, dance, film, cabaret, literature and performance; the UK’s finest multi-arts festival returns for its 11th Edition promising an unrivalled breadth, depth and quality of arts programming, offering a spectacular choice of major shows, star acts and ground-breaking commissioned works.
 
Latitude’s Curator of the Arts, Tania Harrison says:
 
“Latitude celebrates all the art forms and never more so than in this year’s theatre and spoken word performances. We have a multitude of voices, collaborations, and cross art performances – from opera to spoken word to comedy to music to circus to straight plays, puppetry, physical theatre and acrobatics to one on one conversations and encounters – there is so much incredible and exciting work to see at Latitude this year. There’s theatre in the Poetry Arena, Literary Arena, Pandora’s Playground, the Little House, the Theatre Arena and on the banks of the Waterfront. Get a seat in the Theatre, a space on the grass, a cushion in the Poetry, or even climb in bed with a stranger; we’ve got it all going on in a field in Suffolk this summer.”
 
This year’s theatre programme will reflect on the 2016 theme: ‘Love Thy Neighbour’. Tania Harrison commented;
 
“The theme for Latitude this year is 'Love Thy Neighbour' and I will be looking to explore what it really means to have an understanding and relate to others; those people next to us, on social media, in the present, across the table, across genders, across streets, across countries, across class and religion, politics and physicality. It's about breaking boundaries for the greater good.”
 
Theatre Arena
Circa, the stunning contemporary circus company from Australia will open the Theatre Arena on Thursday evening with their genre-defying show Il Ritorno, dazzling the crowds with riveting acrobatic performance set to Monteverdi’s operatic music. Exploring themes of displacement and refugeeism, Il Ritorno is a breath-taking physical performance that resonates with Latitude’s theme, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’.
 
Led by Artistic Director Lee Simpson and in collaboration with Blind SummitImprobable will present an improvised puppetry performance like no other – Animo – where the characters will literally be constructed before your very eyes. With no script, no set, just a range of everyday materials and five improvisers, Animo will invent itself as it goes along.

 
Further thrills will be found in Berlin-based arts collective Gob Squad’s Super Night Shot, the second of our international theatre shows to explore the Latitude theme, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’. InSuper Night Shot, the public will become co-stars in a movie that celebrates unplanned meetings with strangers and delights in the randomness of urban existence.
 
In what is sure to be one of this year’s highlights, the Lyric Hammersmith return to the theatre tent for the first time in five years with this irreverent, iconoclastic and deeply disrespectful celebration of the genius of Oscar Wilde; a work-in-progress performance of their forthcoming production, The Importance of Being Earnest. Director Sean Holmes wrangles The Great British Bake Off’s Mel Giedroyc and a dishevelled comedian, Ed Gaughan, to take on the extreme acting challenge of playing every character in Wilde’s masterpiece.
 
In another musical spectacular, the Theatre Arena audience will be on their feet, singing along with the Graeae and their heart-warming performance of Paul Sirett’s acclaimed coming of age tale Reasons to be Cheerful, featuring Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ greatest hits. Experience Ian Dury’s lyrics in all their glory as British sign language, captioning and audio descriptive banter are seamlessly woven into the show. Graeae Theatre Company is a pioneer in terms of access, inclusion and activism, and as an integrated disabled and non-disabled company the 2016 theme of ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ couldn't be more clearly demonstrated in their brilliantly diverse performers and working methods.
 
Award-winning comedian and playwright Mark Thomas will be performing Red Shed, the final part in a trilogy that began with Bravo Figaro and Cuckooed. Part theatre, stand up, journalism and activism, Red Shed sees Mark back at the place where he first started to perform in public, a red wooden shed in Wakefield – the labour club – to celebrate the club’s 50th birthday. Touching upon this year’s theme ‘Love Thy Neighbour’, it is the story of the battle for hope and the survival of a community in a small wooden shed.
 
In the first of two Theatre Arena productions marking the 400th year since Shakespeare’s death,Fight in the Dog will present some of Latitude’s favourite comedians putting their own spin on one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies; Love’s Labour’s Lost, with Liam Williams infusing the words of William with a unique freshness and fun. Following their incredible performance ofDracula at last year’s festival, Action to the Word return to the Theatre Arena with an electrifying adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, bringing their dynamic, exciting and shocking theatre style to one of the playwright’s most famous plays.
 
The Theatre Arena audience will need to have their hairbrushes at the ready to sing along with French company Airnadette – the world's greatest air-band – who are bringing their hit lip synching showcase to Latitude this year. Described by GQ as ‘part postmodern happening, part totally berserk’ and jam packed with references to cult classics from Star Wars to Monty Python,it’s sure to blow everyone away!
 
Sam Halmarack, Dan Canham & Olivia Winteringham will be presenting an early exploration of the devised musical Always and Totally Forever – a lament for what’s gone and a chaotic celebration of what’s to come. Through a riotous mosaic of song, dance and video art, the company will have the audience feeling the lust, confusion and excitement of being a teenager first-hand.
 
The Little House
The Little House studio space will host an eclectic variety of extraordinary performances. Opera North will be bringing a real bandstand full of musicians playing the sound of long summer nights in The Little House, with a performance of Parklife. Ferocious Transylvanian fiddling meets smoky Hungarian café songs; this whirl of European music from Bartók to Brahms will bring to life lost worlds and leave the audience spellbound.
 
The Young Vic & Royal Court will present Cuttin’ It – the incredibly emotive play from award-winning playwright Charlene James, tackling the urgent issue of FGM in Britain and the price some girls pay to become a woman. It’s a piece that encourages the audience to look more closely at the lives of those around them and to raise awareness of a deeply affecting procedure.
 
Latitude is thrilled to welcome another brand new play by Charlene James, brought to the festival by the UK’s foremost British-African theatre company tiata fahodzi, working in collaboration with world-leading Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) who have commissioned her to write with – and for – an exceptional cast of black RADA students. Their brief: to write better for black Britons, and bring the British public an enthralling new piece about humans, not stereotypes.
 
The phenomenally talented producer, director, performer and writer Shon Dale-Jones, best known for his comic creation Hugh Hughes, will be bringing a brand new show, The Duke, to The Little House. The show, about rearranging your priorities in a world full of crisis, gives us pause for thought.
 
Liam Williams, two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and “the Fringe's most articulate and original chronicler of twenty-something angst” (Telegraph) will present his debut play,Travesty, a show with a simple and striking conceit at its centre, about a couple of young, slightly lost, middle-class people who meet, start having sex and then don’t so much fall in love as cautiously negotiate their way into it.
 
Louise Mothersole and Rebecca Biscuit of Sh!t Theatre will present another of this year’s work in progress productions, Letters to Windsor House – a simultaneously personal and political piece of detective work and a look at how the housing crisis has affected the two performers’ friendship, a personal look at the Latitude theme, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’. Ursula Martinez will present Free Admission, a show that celebrates the inconsistencies and contradictions that make us human, whilst having a dig at some of the mess that is of our own making.
 
More new work being showcased in The Little House this year includes an extraordinary new drone soundscape piece from Christopher Brett Bailey – composer, theatre-maker and author of the award-winning punk-opera The Inconsiderate Aberrations of Billy the Kid. Nabokov Theatre Company, led by their new Artistic Director, Stef O’Driscoll, will take over The Little House for an evening of live music, theatre and RAVE. As well as nabokov’s brand new show SLUG written by Sabrina Mahfouz, you can expect nabokov’s incredible associates’ artists, world champion beatboxer Bellatrix, TeaFilms and Real Media’s Kam Sandhu to present an explosive multimedia experience. Licensed to Ill will have The Little House audience on their feet with their outrageously energetic account of the Beastie Boys rise to fame.
 
In Jim Cartwright’s highly acclaimed play Raz, the Latitude audience is invited out on the town with Shane, one of the low-paid generation living with his parents, and living it up at the weekend, blowing his wage packet on a perfectly orchestrated evening of drinks, drugs, and girls. Directed by Anthony Banks and starring James Cartwright, Raz has won much critical praise, described by the Evening Standard as “a rhythmic, rhyming vivid treat. Beautifully written and an enthralling performance.” The hilarious comedy trio Sleeping Trees take on sci-fi movies accompanied by a rip-roaring live score in a brand new show, and internationally acclaimed comedian George Eggwill bring his sell out surreal and absurd mix of stand-up comedy and striking innovation to The Little House. The paper have said of Anarchist Cook: One Man, One Hour, Three Courses, that “someone should give Egg his own anarchist cookery television show as soon as possible”, and Latitude agrees – this is an experience not to be missed!
 
Actress and set designer Stefanie Mueller will present Prelude to a Coat; an investigation into the choices we make and why we make them, from the things we own to the things we do, andRachael Clerke will be performing the highly political and very funny Cuncrete (described by one audience goer as “Eric Pickles meets Pussy Riot”). Site specific, collaborative theatre companyFlipping the Bird are set to perform a new feminist piece written by Phoebe Éclair-Powell, Fox, and in a performance exploring this year’s theme, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ Annie Siddons will bringHow (not) to Live in Suburbia, a piece based upon Annie’s gauche and wrong-footed attempts to fit in after she accidently found herself living in suburbia.
 
Old Trunk Theatre were responsible for last year’s smash-hit success Pramkicker, and in 2016 the hugely talented Sadie Masler and Sarah Mayhew are back with a brand new production, Fran & Leni; part of a series of performances celebrating the 40th anniversary of punk. There will be a new show, Triple Threat from the experimental performer Lucy McCormick; a trash-step-dub-punk morality play for the modern age. And finally for The Little House audience, Pentabus Theatre will present a piece by their 16-25 year old young writers, with Last Journey; a performance comprised of interwoven vignettes, many of which explore this year’s theme, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’. Silent Uproar will perform A Super Happy Story (About Feeling Super Sad) – a fun, silly and sad new show written by Jon Brittain which explores the serious issues of depression and mental health, told with a mixture of storytelling, live music, and sketch comedy.
 
Faraway Forest
The magical setting of Latitude’s legendary Faraway Forest will see the return of Glen Neath & David Rosenberg with a Latitude commission called Séance, a piece that takes place in a shipping container, in total darkness as the audience tries to connect with the other side. Everything By My Side, by celebrated Argentinian artist Fernando Rubio and presented by LIFT, invites members of the audience to climb into bed with a stranger; one of seven actresses in seven beds, who will whisper intimate stories from their childhood. This brief encounter will take place in the middle of the Faraway Forest in the heart of Latitude Festival. Forest Fringe are also back, presenting a diverse bill of new and specially commissioned work exploring this year’s theme, along with Dash Arts who will present Ukrainian Dacha – the latest instalment in The Soviet Series – an artistic journey through the lands, people, stories and cultures of the Post-Soviet States.
 
There will be new work aplenty in the Faraway Forest, with Mobile by The Paper Birds, exploring themes of home, belonging, social mobility, that also tie into the theme of ‘Love Thy Neighbour’.Deanna Rodger & Gemma Rogers will present a new show, Earth: Life on Earth is baffling, and not quite what Gem & D had wished for come the year 2016, so they are on a mission to find an alternative habitat, and in the pursuit of space away from Earth they come face to face with the view of home truths. 
 
Further new work in the Faraway Forest will include Poleroid Theatre presenting three short ballads about being alive and not, The Ballad Of The Pirate, The Talking Horse and The Monkeywritten by the award winning Luke Barnes, Brad Birch and Kenneth Emson. ARWC will treat the audience to Hang the Teasmaid, A Penguin Classic – short comedy play in the style of an Alan Bennett ‘Talking Heads’, imagining the first meeting between Bennett and Morrissey, with Alan Cox taking on the role of Alan Bennett.
 
Leeds Beckett will be performing the specially commissioned Borrowed Shoes: exploring this year’s theme, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’, this performance is based upon ‘borrowing’ and learning from the lived experiences of real people from different generations within our society.
 
Pandora’s Playground
Pandora’s Playground will once again embody the spirit of experiment and carnival with performances from the likes of the award-winning Les Enfants Terribles and their The Fantastical Flying Exploratory Laboratory; a theatrical spectacular featuring a ‘hot air balloon flying machine’ that is sure to mesmerise the Latitude audience.
 
Pandora’s Playground will also host new productions exploring this year’s theme, includingLatitude, GDIF, Lyric & Imagine Watford presenting Home by Hikapee: Home is a new, daring outdoor circus piece, weaving together slapstick comedy with breath-taking aerial, acrobatic and physical performances to explore what it is to create a ‘home’. Latitude, GDIF, Lyric & Imagine Watford will also present The Little Gardener by How it Ended, a theatrical adaption of Emily Hughes’ popular children’s book The Little Gardener.
 
Poetry Arena
Theatre and poetry will collide in an eclectic programme of events in the Poetry Arena, including award-winning writer and performer Katie Bonna and her first full-length show – all new for 2016 –All The Things I Lied About. Part documentary and part personal experience, the show is a comic exploration of what happened to estrange Katie from her father, what she is going to do about it in the face of apparently being a grown-up, and why none of us really like honesty as much as we say we do. The charming, eccentric and uplifting Rob Auton, described as ‘the Brian Cox of comedy’ by the Guardian, will also be delighting the audience with brand new work: The Sleep Show
 
Jemima Foxtrot is another theatre addition to the Poetry Arena – a performance poet and singer who blends powerful, sonic heavy poetry about modern life with snippets of her favourite artists’ songs. In Memory, Foxtrot will explore how music attached itself to memories, people and places – all told through a journey home from work.
 
POETRY AT LATITUDE
At the very heart of the festival’s mission to bring arts and music together, the Poetry Arena has always showcased the very best stand up, beat and performance poets, alongside literary legends. This year is no different, with a stellar line up set to captivate and enthral the Latitude audience.
 
Taking to the stage will be self-taught poet Don Paterson, whose astonishing work has garnered much critical acclaim and multiple awards, including the T.S Eliot Prize. Reading from his collection 40 Sonnets, he will tackle the form head-on, as described by the Guardian: ‘Paterson’s poetry has always been distinguished by its marriage of craft and lyricism, and the sonnet is, simply, the perfect vehicle to showcase this.’ Another highlight, the multi-talented Henry Normal– comedian, poet and writer and television producer responsible for hugely popular programmes such as Gavin and Stacey, The Mighty Boosh and Human Remains.
 
The famously eccentric and very funny John Hegley will also be delighting the crowds, along with prize-winning poet, novelist, playwright, biographer and translator, Elaine Feinstein. With over 4m views on her YouTube clips, UK Slam Poetry Champion Hollie McNish is not be missed, especially with such endorsement from high-profile fans like Tim Minchin and Benjamin Zephaniah, who has said he ‘can’t take his ears off her’.
 
Michael Pedersen, co-founder of the exciting cultural collective Neu! Reekie! will be taking to the stage as one half of ‘Scotland’s favourite avante-garde noisemakers’, as will the phenomenally successful Buddy Wakefield, who is set to deliver a characteristically raw, rounded, disarming performance of humour and heart. This year’s outstanding line up will also include co-curator Luke Wright, who will present his new work alongside a wip character Frankie Vah.  
 
Punk poet John Baine brings his radical-force-of-nature poet alter-ego Attila The Stockbroker, who has recently celebrated the 35th anniversary of his first gig with publication of his autobiography Arguments Yard. A former punk-folk musician, his themes are topical, words hard-hitting, politics unashamedly radical, but make festival crowds roar with laughter as well as seethe with anger. The multi-talented Joshua Idehen will delight the Poetry Arena audience not once, but twice, in a solo spoken word performance and then again as the frontman of bandBenin City. Latitude favourite John Osborne, well known for his Radio 4 comedy shows including John Peel's Shed and The Newsagent's Window will also perform at the Poetry Arena.
 
The Poetry Arena audience will be treated to performances by Tim Wells, founding editor ofRising poetry magazine and praised by the Guardian for his ‘wit and brilliance’. Former English teacher turned rap battle champ Mark Grist will be joined by award-winning spoken word artistTim Clare for a captivating performance. In a collaboration between The Hosepipe Band and North Essex poet Martin Newell, the band will be performing original music to accompany readings of Martin’s epics, The Song of the Waterlily and Black Shuck – about the sinister ghostly dog said to have haunted East Anglia since Viking times.
 
Outstanding young talent Helen Mort will be dazzling the Poetry Arena as, according to none other than Carol Ann Duffy, one of the ‘brightest stars in the sparkling new constellation of young British poets’. Talia Randall will bring the extraordinarily original Bloodlines production to the Poetry Arena, remixing garage MCing, communist manifestos and Hulk Hogan’s speeches in an inventive and heartfelt show about how we make sense of ourselves in the 21st century. Rosy Carrick's eccentric style, dense rhyme structures and forceful imagery have won her international acclaim, as well as firmly cementing her place as one of the UK's most unusual and exciting contemporary performance poets.
 
Harry Baker – ‘a champion’, according to Ed Sheeran, is sure to win the hearts and minds of the Latitude audience with his trademark raw honesty, tongue-in-cheek humour and blistering wordplay. And finally, Derek McLuckie will be taking the Latitude audience on a rollercoaster ride of stories and poems with his signature theatrical showcase.
 
 
Lavish Big Screen
The Lavish Big Screen will celebrate the 40 year anniversary of the birth of punk with evenings curated by three iconic legends of the punk era, Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols, Cabaret Voltaire’s Stephen Mallinder and the ‘Rebel Dread’ himself, Don Letts. Each day will feature film, video and music programmes handpicked by the three, followed by live DJ sets by themselves and others long into the night.
 

Latitude Festival 2015 preview – Who to watch

Henham Park, Beccles, Suffolk

Thursday 16th – Sunday 19th July 2015

Now in its 10th year, Latitude has proved its point that it is far more than just a music festival. It’s an artistic, creative, inspired and imaginative goldmine, stuffed to the brim with an eclectic blend of comedy, live-art, poetry, theatre, as well as choice upon choice of world-class musicians. This is an event that can suit the most rugged of festival goers, on the hunt for a venue to head-bang and let loose, to those whose preference is to sip on a glass of chilled chardonnay, witnessing the very best in contemporary ballet. This year promises to celebrate the ten year anniversary in style, with lashings of exciting and innovative artists – in all forms – ready to entertain, intrigue and enthuse the 35,000 strong crowd.

When it comes to headline artists, Latitude have certainly pulled out the big guns to take to the stage of the Obelisk Arena – an ideal hill-top venue, overlooking the entirety of the stunning Suffolk site. It’s difficult to describe the sound of the Friday headliners, British three-piece Alt-J; they’re music is instantly recognisable, with their rustic atmospherics and melodic harmonies. This is an act with stunning crowd-unifiers such as Matilda and Hunger of the Pine under their belt, and the headline slot promises to be an enthralling affair to remember for everyone who attends. As Saturday arrives, the sounds of Portishead will be nailing the headline slot; the trio, much like Alt-J, operate in a world of their own, with a magnetic sound that seems to be unlike any other. Currently the only UK date on their tour, it can definitely be said that this is not one to be missed.

The final headliners of the weekend are Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds; yes, the rock legend himself will be gracing the stage, firing out hits from the bands’ new album ‘Chasing Yesterday’. From previous sets, it seems Noel and co aren’t shy of pulling out back catalogue Oasis classics such as Don’t look back in anger and Champagne Supernova within their set, so expect thousands of echoing voices singing in unison at the top of their lungs to top off the weekend.

                         

Away from the headliners, there’s a plethora of incredible and unique acts performing to keep every soul entertained. Welsh rock legends the Manic Street Preachers will be making their debut performance at Latitude at the Obelisk Arena on Sunday – it seems 12 albums in, the band will never fail to attract the crowds, and Latitude should be no different. Indie rock band The Vaccines – who have just finished touring the States with Mumford and Sons – will be making their way to BBC Radio 6’s Music Stage on Saturday, providing a harder alternative to main stage headliner.

With a shimmering lake as a picturesque backdrop, The Lake Stage, curated by Huw Stephens, has an array of handpicked rising stars gracing the stage; To Kill a King, Pretty Vicious and Rea Morris, to name a few, will all be performing at this fantastic open air hub, each to show off their own fresh, unique musical talent.

The special thing about Latitude is the side-splittingly fantastic array of comedy acts present each year – and this year is no different. The festival is fast becoming a well-respected portion of the comedy calendar, and 2015 brings funny man Mancunian Jason Manford, QI star Alan Davies, and the delightfully monotone Jack Dee to the stage to add a bit of light-hearted hilarity to the bill.

For theatre fans, the National Theatre Live presents Everyman will hold a special performance at Latitude’s very own theatre stage, starring BAFTA winner and Academy Award® nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor. Meanwhile, The Waterfront Stage welcomes Sadler’s Wells National Youth Dance Company, bringing together some of the brightest dance talent across the UK combined with their internationally renowned associate artists. Sadler’s Wells is a world leader in contemporary dance; so whether you have a true passion for movement, or just want to witness something a bit different, this promises to be a vibrant and exciting performance for anyone who attends.

If this wasn’t enough, for the first time in the festival’s history swimming in the lake will be permitted, for those who want to take a dip as they watch the festival go by. This, combined with new hot tubs where audiences can soak up the cultural atmosphere of the site, is what makes it so much more than a festival – it’s an adventure. There’s masses to be explored; from opera, to slam poetry, to cabaret, down to a live art house, there’s simply too much to possible divulge here – you’ll have to dive in and experience it for yourself.

Tickets range from £84.50 for a day pass, to £200.50 for a full weekend with camping, with discounts available for children and teenagers.

You can check out the entire Latitude Festival line-up at the website, www.latitudefestival.com.