As is normal for us, we went to the Latitude Festival – this is now in its 18th year I think and is located at Henham Hall Park – for those of you who do not know East Anglia – its about 6 miles south west of Southwold – otherwise known as Kensington-on-sea due to the amount of pseudo posh twats in Chelsea tractors….

The main thing for us is that it is only about 40 miles from Home, and that means that the journey is not too much. Also, and for a couple of a certain age – its very middle class – lots of toilets – all with toilet roll and hand gel, gin bars and sit down restaurants…. I may have possibly enjoyed the Mosh Pit at the Monsters of Rock back in the day – but I don’t miss the “Full” bottles going up in the air. This year, we had also elected to to take the Magnificent Sulk Brothers – My two sons – Michael and James aged 17 and 13 respectively.

Naturally enough – and in light of the overwhelming aroma of combined Lynx and Testosterone – we set them up in a tent along side Ziggy.

We had elected this year to head off early on the Thursday – the festival itself doesn’t start until Friday officially, but there is always a few things going on for the Thursday – in previous years we have had Tea with Gary Lineker for example…. With that in mind, I put myself into EVIL Internet Master Controller – and imposed an internet block out from 2200 on the Wednesday, and cordially invited – with the cunning assistance of the Siamese Flatulent Cats – them to both shower.

With Hot Water

and put clean clothes on….

Having breakfasted, sorted out the siamese feeders etc, we got on the road for 0905 – a new record! We had an easy run down to the festival site – and having been before, we knew our way around it quite well – I chose to ignore the official directions as – call me a bluff old traditionalist, crossing the A12 into the site would not be my idea of fun! we were on site by 1100 and were directed into the inner part of the motorhome area – the festival has very well organised areas – general camping, family camping, General Caravan / Motorhomes and Family Caravan / Motorhomes – the two family areas being closest to the main venue / entrance. There is also an opportunity to do some Glamping in some posh bell tents, but when I saw the lines of the empty tents, it reminded me of the Hitler Jugend Camp in Austria…. and the prices for those are bloody scary!

I had decided that I was going to use the cheap side awning that I had acquired a few weeks ago for this trip; Even though the forecast was for good weather, I felty it wise to have some where to sit under cover / in shade – I had a suspicion that the teenagers would welcome it – I had also decided to use the wind breaks – not so much for privacy, but – well – because I could!

So, camp set up – and having used the Cadac with a pizza stone to cook a couple of Pizzas – and yes – if you do have a decent Gas BBQ do get a pizza stone – we headed off for a wander around the main site – this would allow the boys to get some idea of the size of the venue, but to not be overwhelmed as it would not be busy. Our potter around allowed us to see some of the art installations and of course – the Pink Sheep!

After that wander, we returned to the campsite and cooked a BBQ – and this is one of the things I was keen to check out. There are no electrical hookups at Latitude and this was going to be the first time we had gone off grid for multiple nights – four in this instance. Being a second had van, I was not fully cognoscent re the state of the leisure battery and for this week end we would be doing all of the cooking on the BBQ and Gas Hob. The fridge was going to be also running on Gas and we would only be using the leisure battery for some lights and the water pump. Jo had elected to go for the posh showers at £60 odd for the week end, I had elected to use the on board showers – the Gruesome Twosome being allergic to hygiene had industrial packs of wet wipes and enforced Ziggy based showers every second day…. Either way, I had also managed to restore and get working a very poor Solar Panel – sold by Maplins in circa 2003 – that I realised was about as much use as a chocolate fireguard as in optimal position – it would give out a MIGHTY 4 watts…. but I wanted to connect it to the main battery – just in case. In any case, when we arrived the control panel showed that I had 13.2 in the leisure battery, and when we left it was down to 11.7 – I have added a new leisure battery to the winter shopping list!

Suitably refreshed, we went back to the Sunrise Arena where The Mystery Jets were due to play – and we figured that even though we didn’t know them well – it would be a great start act for the boys.

Bearing in mind that the boys – and Jo and myself for that matter, did not know this band – what a great show – well executed and all that a live gig should be – and yep, I would happily go see them again – and of course they have been added to my Apple Playlists!

Friday dawned and after a cooked brekkie – sausages and beans as some numptie forgot the Rosti – we ventured into the main site – the main approach to the venue has the village in it – the village has a section of food outlets and I must say that EVERY food outlet I have ever seen at latitude has been exemplary – and I do happen to know one of the local Food Standards Agency staff who regularly visits and checks during the festival and she is in agreement re the standards being maintained. As well as the food, there are a variety of vendors selling assorted bits of Tat – shirts, hippy pantaloons, beanie hats etc – and a camping out let that carries some useful items like air mattresses etc. I am also pleased to say that there are a few charity based shops that had some cracking second hand items of Clothing – I was pleased to see the Yeboah Leeds Shirt sold very quickly! From the village its through security – and yes, there is a good chance your bags will be checked – and then onto the main site.

I am not going to write a review of all that we saw over the three days, but its worth while singling out a few notable performances

The Halloweens – and their parent band – The Vaccines put on a great couple of Shows – I have always loved the Trailer Park Stage – especially the 45s who really can party hard! but the Halloweens were just right for the venue. I saw the Vaccines do an unannounced set at Latitude post covid – and boy were they hungry that day – first live gig in a while ! This performance really showed their extensive catalogue

The main band I wanted to see was Kasabian – ever since I heard Club Foot – and then subsequent albums – they have been on my watch list.

What a blinding set – Serge as a front man was really on it – I loved the picking out of the wee lad in the Leicester Football shirt and the sheer showmanship of a band on the top of their game. Michael was so impressed he spent money on a Kasabian Hoodie – and NOT on PC Components!

Caity Baser was something of a surprise to me – definitely not my kind of thing but – she impressed me with her lyrics and rhymes – and she does have a quick mind. Also, and I hope she does not mind me saying this – but how refreshing to have a real full bodied woman as a role model for young women? Nice way to fill an afternoon and I really enjoyed DILF !!!

Seasick Steve is another artist who has long been on my list – and I especially wanted the Boys to see some one so radically different. And all joking aside – when you actually stop and watch / listen to him – the man is a very Talented performer who has managed to make a reputation of playing on “another piece of shit” – loved his show and the addition of Dan has really added to the live sound – and the sips of Jack did help keep the throat moist 🙂

Biggest surprise for me – and a very welcome surprise – was Reverend and the Makers – from the moment that McClure shambled on stage with a fag on, and then the dulcet Sheffield tones of the band – I was hooked – and boy could they work a crowd – another band I will be going to see again and added to the playlist!

Before Orbital, I took the boys into the Second Stage- it’s a large circus like tent – and while we waited we watched Jackstrap a fairly new band who had some interesting sounds and approached. Their opening was spot on, but I think they will likely come good. As for Orbital what can anyone say? For those of us of a certain generation – they are very important. The boys were not impressed – not even by my SOLID hour and a half of Dad dancing…. stunning light show and so nice to see the youngsters dancing with us crinkles….

Late on the Saturday night I took us all down to the Trailer Park Stage to watch and enjoy The 45s – its very hard to describe them, but I love the way they play and rock – just go and enjoy…. we also saw them on Sunday lunchtime as it appears the boys were too tired to really enjoy it on Saturday night – bloody light weights!

I know that Jo had really enjoyed Rick Astley who is rapidly becoming a much loved staple of the Uk festival scene. Sunday was really about the main stage – knowing it was a long day, I had planned and set up a base camp on the tiered seating as I knew that both James and Michael were – being honest – tired. Brilliant set from The Darkness – Justin is a cracking front man and the flamboyance made it work!

Second to last was a genuine musical legend – Nile Rodgers – who is a certified genius not just for his work solo / with Chic but any one who has worked with Bowie, Madonna, INXS and many more – with multiple Grammy awards – is always going to be on the point – and his laid back – dare one say – name dropping laconic style set the evening up perfectly for the festival closing Duran Duran – now, way back in the mists of time a very young 16 year Pete – complete with frilly shirt, drop quiff and eyeliner saw them play in 1981 at the UEA in Norwich – I have never seen them since but – what great show! This was another band on the top of their game with a huge back catalogue of hits and they rendered them perfectly – took me back in time!

Now – I am fairly laid back – but there was one major worry for me – the seated area is not big but does have gang ways. Two things – there is no lights on the gang ways and the step pattern alternates in height – at the end of the night, in my short space of gang way – there were four falls – need some strip lights there folks! Secondly – and its a safety thing – you need to mn the gangways with strong staff to stop cretins sting on the stairs – no disrespect to the young lads who were there – they did not have the chutzpah to tell people to move or leave… that’s an accident waiting to happen – please be making some plans!

A cracking few days where we got to see some brilliant bands and two teenagers got to sample a little bit of festival life – and possibly understand it a bit! For me this is still my favourite festival – its close too home and is safe and clean – with as great variety of acts and arts. Would I go there tenting – nope – there is no point in getting to be an old bar steward and not using a Moho as I do like my creature comforts.

See you Next Year 🙂