Latitude 2011 Review

Last weekend (14-17 July) saw culture-loving festival goers descend on the fields of Southwold, Suffolk for this year’s Latitude Festival.

With the sun blazing things kicked off in earnest on Friday with the likes of Paloma Faith, The Vaccines and Bombay Bicycle Club taking to the stage.
 
Friday night saw The National headline the festival for the first time with a stirring, impressive performance. The Brooklyn five piece had the seemingly partisan crowd in the palm of their hands as they played tracks mainly drawn from their last three albums, including Tribes to draw a lively young crowd to the Lake Stage, while the main stage (the Obelisk Arena) was packed out for headliner Paolo Nutini who performed a set bursting with hits including These Streets and New Shoes.

Highlights of the Scottish crooner's set included a fantastic cover of Hot Chip's Over and Over and the rousing crowd pleaser, Pencil Full of Lead.

It's difficult to find an aspect of Latitude not heap praise on. It's a well organised, brilliantly designed festival which appeals to families, teenagers and everyone in-between.

Everything is overwhelmingly nice, so if you are looking for a dirty mashup where you might lose your mind but find yourself then you're probably better off heading to Glasto or Leeds.

But if you fancy a nice weekend in a lovely setting surrounded by nice people and things then Latitude is your festival.

Just make sure you pack a pair of wellies!

Caitlin Cowdry