Latitude Festival – 10 stand-out moments

SUFFOLK’S Henham Park came alive for yet another year, as Latitude festival hosted a stunning array of arts and musical entertainment. Here are 10 moments we thought were particularly memorable.

 

New Order

New Order headlining Sunday night. Image by Jen O’Neil

1. New Order
Bringing back the sound of ‘80’s electro, New Order closed the festival with an outstanding set which included songs from their latest album Music Complete as well as older dance classics like Blue Monday. Tribute to Ian Curtis was made when the ex Joy Division members closed the weekend with the classic song Love Will Tear Us Apart.

Louis TherouxLouis Theroux talking about his new documantary. Image by Lauren Maccabee

 

2. Adam Buxton in conversation with Louis Theroux
The Film and Music arena welcomed documentary filmmaker Louis Theroux to the stage for a rare public appearance hosted by Adam Buxton. Theroux charmed the audience with his famously calm manner, whilst touching on various issues but jokingly refusing to comment on the topic of Brexit. However, the main highlight was the focus of his new film about Scientology where he shared clips from the documentary.

 

Reggie WattsReggie Watts in the comedy tent. Image by Victor Frankowski

3. Reggie Watts
“Daddy where’s my heroin?” asks Reggie Watts, leaving half the audience in stitches and the rest politely sipping on their drinks. Watts managed to both entertain and baffle the comedy tent during his action packed 45-minute set. Each song or story was introduced in a different accent, some so convincing that a newcomer would assume that the Seattle born comedian was born and bred in South London.

 

SuunsSuuns playing the Sunrise Arena. Image by Victor Frankowski

4. Suuns
The Montreal quartet treated the rock fans of Latitude to a guitar heavy set at the Sunrise Arena stage. Despite clashing with Father John Misty, Suuns played an energetic set to an eager crowd of fans, impressing the crowd with their nonconformist electro-guitar sounds.

Waterfront DanceDancers on the Waterfront stage. Image by Dan Dennison

5. Dance at the Waterfront Stage
The Waterfront stage hosted a selection of great dance performances over the weekend. However it wasn’t just the professionals who provided the entertainment as the dance classes proved a huge success. Festival goers were also able to take free lessons with professional dance teachers who spent the weekend teaching the coordinated – and uncoordinated  – dancers of Latitude. All of this was supported with music from a live band.

 

The NationalMatt Berninger. Image by Carys Lavin

6. The National
Returning to Latitude for the third time, The National managed to evoke enjoyable melancholy as they played their sombre headline show under the setting sun, only to encore in the moonlight. Now with a catalogue of hits, the band played a mixture of old and new songs along with popular favourites I Need My Girl with special guest Lauren Mayberry, and Bloodbuzz Ohio. Lead singer Matt Berninger preformed a confidently vulnerable performance, proving the band to be a humble Saturaday night headline.

 

David RodiganDavid Rodigan. Image by Victor Frankowski

7. David Rodigan
I
t’s not everyday you get to hear reggae music pumping out of the forest in the early hours, but that’s exactly what made David Rodigan’s two-hour set extra special. The legendary DJ played a hybrid of Reggae and Ska to the sun-worn crowd who swayed and danced to the mixture of classics from the ‘60s onwards. Carefully covering each era of Reggae, Rodigan played a catalogue of hits in chronological order.

JununShye Ben Tzur. Image by Victor Frankowski

8. Junun feat. Shye Ben Tzur & The Rajasthan Express
Shye Ben Tzur and the Rajasthan Express graced the mainstage in the afternoon heat, treating Suffolk to the tradition sounds of North India. Despite Jonny Greenwood’s absence, Junun put on an immense show with the help of the tabla, trumpet and flute. The combination of classical Indian instruments and thumping bass worked in Junun’s favour as they got the crowd dancing.

 

9. Ed Sheeran’s suprise performance
Latitude’s reputation of guest appearances is no secret, but it’s always an exciting surprise to have a stadium-sized artist like Ed Sheeran casually turn up in the forest without notice. Sheeran joined Foy Vance on the BBC 6 stage to play a duet of his song Guiding Light.

 

The MaccabeesThe Maccabees on Friday night. Image by Dan Dennison

10. The Maccabees
The Maccabees blessed the mainstage on Friday night with their upbeat numbers, showing particular progression as a band while playing tracks from their newest album Marks To Prove It. However it became apparent that earlier songs from their first album like Toothpaste Kisses and Precious Time were the real gems of the night as they left us full of indie nostalgia.

by Katrina Mirpuri

Featured image by Victor Frankowski

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