So after the biblical forked-lightning storm which hit Southwold and the rest of the South East of England at approximately midnight last night, Uncut have finally joined the 25, 000 strong crowd of music, theatre and word loving people who are on site at Henham Park for this year’s Latitude Festival.
Chatter from people on the way across the field to find our temporary homes in the Podpad fields is about the weepy eye-inducing book reading last night by Edwyn Collins and Grace Maxwell who were in the Literary Arena. Reading from his book, Falling and Laughing; The Restoration of Edwyn Collins, tears and laughter were brought to the packed tent. Read all the moving experience here.
Let me introduce to to your hard working correspondants who’ll be keeping you in all the Latitude Festival news, reviews and gossip you could wish for over the next three days. If you’re here, too, let us know your thoughts using the comments buttons. So far, field newshound Terry Staunton has already spotted Jarvis Cocker and family busily signing autographs and has posted the first of his Overhead Conversations blogs – remember last year’s infamous “Jocasta, that’s daddy’s Yakult” – well there’ll be much more of those judging by Terry’s notes already.
Also blogging, will be Uncut Editor Allan Jones, Film Editor Michael Bonner, Psych correspondant Tom Pinnock, Louis Pattison, and myself of course. Photography is being snapped by festival pro Richard Johnson. There may well be some guest blogging too.
The campsites are looking pretty colourful and full, so if you’re still on your way (the A12 was particularly slow today) you’re advised to get a move on to secure a good pitch. The weather is looking changeable but hey, sunny! Who’d have thought. It’s also REALLY muggy, so be prepared!
I’m off to see a couple of bands and check out the main arena now, will check in a bit later. I’m looking forward to seeing tonight’s headliner’s Pet Shop Boys, apparently the show set is phenomenal! And of course there’s plenty on before that, including The Pretenders, Squeeze, The Duckworth Lewis Method and Regina Spektor…