Uncut arrives on site in time to catch the end of the Lemonheads set – Evan Dando’s latest incarnation whipping through their back catalogue, raggle-taggle melodies which only the most heartless would fail to enjoy. Over on the Uncut Arena, headliners Green Gartside’s Scritti Politti deploy his brand of soulful white pop, while (appropriately) in the Comedy Arena Guilty Pleasures keep us dancing through the small hours to singalong Eighties’ pop hits.
Saturday finds Uncut wrestling with a hangover brought on by the pear cider (only at festivals could one imagine imbibing such foul stuff) before stumbling into the Uncut Arena to catch the skew-wiff charms of Devandra-associates Lavender Diamond, who’s singer Becky Stark reminds us of Kate Bush, and whose fellow bandmates have an endearing knack of playing not only instruments but themselves – beating out rhythm patterns of their chests, head and arms.
We catch the Howling Belles’ trash alt-rock, I Am Kloot’s twisted torch songs, but the highlight of Saturday is surely Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye, who deliver intense and dramatic performances of “Redondo Beach”, “Because The Night” and a spine-tingling version of “Gloria” before Antony and the Johnsons close the night with a soaring set drawn from their I Am A Bird Now album.
Sunday sees the eclectic programme wind towards a triumphant close, with sets from Tom Verlaine, Nicky Wire, Jose Gonzales, Euros Childs and Part Chimp. Mercury Rev don’t quite deliver the magic we’ve come to expect, but headliners Mogwai raise Cain with their sublime space-rock whirlwind.
All in all, Latitude got off to a damn good start.
Let’s keep it up for next year.
By Michael Bonner
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Suffolk
fantastic to see such a diverse festival with so much to do untill the early hours with such a great atmosphere! had a great time and can not wait for next years!!
Ed (suffolk)
Suffolk
Only got to Sunday but had a great time. Too much to do for me old legs. Surprised at reviewers negative comment re Mercury Rev - I thought they were stunning and the best performance by far, certainly better than the rather repetitive riffing of the invisible Mogwai who came across like Sigur Ros without the sublety or imagination.
Best suprise - Mr Hudson and the Library. Nice twist on UB40 with some intelligent lyrics and super harmonies. The steel drum player had a great voice and deserves a couple of songs of her own. Dapper Mr Hudson has genuine stage presence.
Much preferred the Uncut stage to a lot of the rather predictable main stage bands.
I'll be back for the whole set next year if didn't lose an arm and a leg. Hats off to mean fiddler for stumping up such a fantastic festival.
