- SUNRISE ARENA –
Follow the winding path through the enchanting woodland and you will stumble upon the Sunrise Arena, a haven for the best in up-and-coming music and be the first to see tomorrow’s stars today, deep within the woods.
Hailing from Morecombe, The Heartbreaks are wrapped up in the typical English seaside town. Their jangling, keening indie has brought them no end of impressive support slots with the sounds of the moment like Hurts and The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, as well as peers like Jack Peñate, The View and Carl Barât. With a slew of catchy singles behind them – including the most recent, ‘Jealous, Don’t You Know’ – there’s plenty to be intrigued about with these four Lancashire lads. (Sunday)
The Phantom Band are Glasgow’s bellowing choral minstrels. Sifting percussive rhythms and madrigal melodies, see this six-piece utilising every available instrument on stage to build a swelling striding masterwork. Intricate the vocal work and woodblock percussion may be, their tunes are never lost in the architectural wonders they’re building. Their second album, last year’s ‘The Wants’, is an engrossing listen and one they interpret on stage incredibly well. A real must-see at Latitude 2011. (Friday)
Mid-teens singer Dionne Bromfield was the first signing to Amy Winehouse’s Lioness Records label in 2009 and sang alongside Winehouse both at The Prince’s Trust Ball in the same year and on the popular TV show Strictly Come Dancing. Most recently, she’s announced a collaboration with fellow pop sensation Tinchy Stryder and, using re-written lyrics originally penned by 2009 Mercury Prize winner Speech Debelle, has recorded a song for the Olympic Torch Relay; ‘Spinnin’ For 2012′. To date Bromfield has released two albums of soul covers and originals, wowing many with her powerful voice despite her young age and the short time between discovery and recording. This talent will be sharing her lung power with us at Latitude. (Saturday)
Devon born singer-songwriter Ben Howard has recently been selling out shows in the UK and Europe sharing his Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell influenced songs with his grass-roots fanbase. Singles ‘Old Pine’, and ‘The Wolves’ (released on Ben from Mumford & Sons’ label, Communion) will be enhanced in the live setting on the Sunrise Arena by a cellist, an electric and double-bass guitar and drums. Eager fans will get to hear tracks from his debut album which is due out in the autumn. (Friday)
Yellowire is the new project of former Wire Daisies man, Ol Beach. With a real focus on the anthemic rush provided by arena bands like U2, Coldplay and Snow Patrol, the band surrounds Ol with lashings of reverb and space-eating sound to boost his chorus vocal lines up into the stratosphere. February single ‘Last Breath’ really brought the bold, airwave-snatching sound to people’s attention as they wait for the debut album later this year. This could be your last chance to catch Yellowire in an intimate setting before they start climbing the charts. (Saturday)
Danish four-piece Treefight For Sunlight will dazzle Latitude Festival fans with their sunshine pop tracks; ‘Facing the Sun’ and ‘What became of You and I’ from their self titled debut album. Soaring triple sopranos, a rising melody line and keyboards will make you smile and no doubt you’ll be humming their songs for the rest of the day when they play the Sunrise Arena. (Sunday).
Aaron Wright and The Aprils is primed and ready to astonish crowds at Latitude with his fantastic Scottish melodies and lyrical charm. His debut self-titled album boasts a selection of special guests who have all previously performed at Latitude – including Belle and Sebastian and Camera Obscura, winning him support on national radio stations. Aaron’s Dylan and Young influences and his passion for music make the Sunrise Arena the perfect place to watch him on Sunday afternoon. (Sunday)
Bristol’s Yes Sir Boss began causing a ruckus in 2008 and have taken their brass-laden, ska-tinged sounds all across the country. You can’t help but stomp along to their thumping, and at times sensitive, songs. With hints of the guitar madness of The Coral, their jaunty interplay criss-crosses the vocals in an impressive latticework of melody. They’ve collaborated with soulstress Joss Stone on a live cover of The Beatles’ ‘Come Together’ showing not only their open-minded approach to music and genres, but their willingness to embrace other performers too. Expect fun, positivity and surprises when these five guys and one girl perform songs from their debut album. (Saturday)
Leeds troupe East Park Reggae Collective combine their love for politics and
reggae to create their unique sound and pride themselves on making the whole crowd move. With songs calling on inspiration from social prejudice and corrupt leaders through to prevailing good times, East Park Reggae Collective is as current and real as it is musical and entertaining. With Time Out claiming they ‘”Could well be the first band since The Specials to bring Reggae back to the masses” be sure to catch them before they eclipse their current billing. (Saturday)
Steel City Soul Club are a collection of diverse and skilled musicians who are fast becoming established within Sheffield’s musical terrain. While this collective has the potential to move within the elevates spheres of the music world, the energy and class that permeates their sound speaks far more about their enthusiasm for the music they play, than their ambitions in the music business. Their sound pays homage to an eclectic back-catalogue of musical genres: from the rough and sampled hip-hop aesthetic, to the smooth and expressive aura of soul and jazz, all juxtaposed against a helping of funk, reggae, dancehall and ska. Admitting that they originally formed as an Afro-beat collective, they credit their current sound to months spent in practice rooms and studios editing, scrapping, and rearticulating lines to create their current repertoire. And it seems this hard work is paying off. The future is looking bright for Soul Club. (Sunday)
Gabriel Deep already has some of the biggest UK and European Festivals under his belt and 2011 is set to be an even more exciting year for the Londoner. Playing notoriously varied sets, he has built up a reputation through word of mouth which has seen him gain a residency at Manchester’s biggest night ‘Take The Whole Cake’ and is lined up for many festivals this summer. Expect house, reggae, soul, dub, hip-hop and much much more from his sets! (Saturday)
– THE LAKE STAGE -
Situated on the banks of Latitude’s stunning waterfront is The Lake Stage the place to catch the very first glimpse of the next musical talents. With his finger firmly on the pulse, Radio 1’s Huw Stephens gives us his freshest tips curating a programme of diverse and exciting bands who are on the cusp of success. In the past Everything Everything, Bombay Bicycle Club, and Pulled Apart by Horses have all graced the stage and since enjoyed mainstream success making Latitude the perfect place to catch rising stars.
Clock Opera, a London electronic-based four-piece, have been expertly remixing notable indie and rock acts for some time. Having chopped the fine work of bands like Everything Everything into something just as exhilarating, their own work sees a similarly ‘kitchen sink’ attitude. Instruments, non-instruments and anything else that makes a sound is sampled, sliced and glued into a scintillating web of sound. With regular BBC 6Music and Radio 1 airplay and single ‘Belongings’ appearing on Moshi Moshi, Clock Opera’s dicing could well bring fans of the ethereal beat to their knees. (Sunday)
Sacremento’s Julie Ann Bee, known by her nom de plume Sea Of Bees, is a multi-instrumentalist in the Sparklehorse vein. Fixed to the roots of folk and country while gleefully expressing and absorbing other sounds and ideas, the core is in her soulful voice. Taking intensely personal subject matter and reeling into the songs like a lovelorn busker, her modest but expansive sounds leave aches in hearts and lumps in throats, whilst somehow never getting over sentimental. With an echoed and spacious sound, her articulate emoting is as mesmerising as it is direct. Her debut album ‘Songs For The Ravens’ will show you the way. (Sunday)
– DJs –
As the sun goes down and the moon lights the night sky, The Lake Stage transforms into the best club around. Featuring amazing DJs playing top tunes on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night – the party never stops at Latitude Festival.
Goldierocks spends her time invading festivals and after-parties all over the world with her unique blend of festival chic, bassy remix and wonky electro. Recently making her debut presenting on Radio 1, somehow she also finds time to host her weekly international radio show The Selector, the best in new British music to over 30 countries from Indie to Grime, Dubstep to Disco, Rock to Soul and everything in-between. Anything goes and it’s the same for her theatrical DJ sets, expect Jack Daniels, expect stage diving, expect the unexpected. (Friday)
Ever the trendsetters and tastemakers, Moshi Moshi have long been a fixture on the independent music scene with the label catering for singles and releases for future stars. From Bloc Party and Hot Chip to, more recently, Florence + The Machine and Clock Opera, their finger isn’t just on the pulse, they practically are. Therefore a DJ set from the Moshi Moshi crew is always full of dancefloor-fillers, future anthems and classic, half-forgotten indie stalwarts. Guaranteed to not only make your evening continue seamlessly into the night but to feather your musical nest with a whole host of new tunes. (Saturday)
With four bespoke arenas dedicated to music, Latitude offers an enormous selection of the finest hand-picked bands and artists to create the perfect soundtrack to a resoundingly superb weekend. With reformed must-sees to the newest essential hot tips from a variety of genres, Latitude’s music arenas have it all. With The National, Paolo Nutini and Suede headlining the Obelisk Arena; Bombay Bicycle Club, Foals and Eels headlining The Word Arena and a whole wealth of musical talent playing across the weekend, Latitude once again boasts an exhilarating and unique line-up.
Meanwhile, Latitude’s unrivalled arts programme features the very best from the worlds of theatre, poetry, literary, comedy, cabaret, dance, art, fashion and film. All of these performances come together to create one spectacular summer break. Eye-opening and awe-inspiring – Latitude Festival just gets better and better.
Elsewhere throughout the weekend, festival goers can enjoy readings from leading poets and authors including Linton Kwesi Johnson, Louise Wener, Tim Key, Simon Armitage, Andrew Smith andAlexei Sayle; top comics Alan Carr, Omid Djalili, Dylan Moran and a festival debut of Never Mind The Buzzcocks; exciting theatre and dance productions presented by The Gate, Flawless, Sadler’s Wells and English National Ballet to name but a few, cabaret performances from David Schneider & Friends, Will Adamsdale, Idiots of Ants; BAFTA return to the Film & Music Arena with a fantastic programme of Q&As, discussions and workshops including comedy stars Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon discussing their hilarious work on Michael Winterbottom’s ‘The Trip’ and the Misfits cast in conversation, plus Tate Britain with Nigel Barrett and Louise Mari lead a visual feast inspired by Tate Britain’s Watercolour exhibition.
With DJs, The Winter’s Ball and late night parties found throughout the site, it is a unique and special weekend of fun, culture and entertainment. An intimate world away from reality waiting to be explored and enjoyed.
Will you go down to the woods today? Or are memories of teddy bear picnics as distant as Stylophones, Space Hoppers and Rubik’s cubes? Well, happily the traditional teddy bears picnic is set for a refresh this year thanks to Jo Whiley and Persil 2in1 with Comfort.
