Latitude is back and this time it’s in 3D, well bits of it were, but more of that later.  Latitude is generally seen as a safe, less edgy version of Glastonbury but that view would be doing it a great disservice.

Arriving at the campsite on Friday in the midafternoon glare finds the sun beating down on our heads like John Bonham in a drum factory…it is hot!  I see semi-naked festival goers struggling to erect their already molten hot tents. One young upstart has the idea of covering her tent in aluminum foil – “as if that’ll protect it from the sun’s scorching tendrils”, I thought. As it turned out, we spoke to her on Sunday morning, it had done the trick. That’s me investing in some Bacofoil for next year then.

Tent up, and we’re off into the arena proper. I Am Kloot were first up on the main stage and their laid back sing-along set was just what was required to cool everyone down in the searing heat. Time for further relief from the sun with a trip to see electro pop threesome Chvrches playing in the tree laden shade of the iArena.  Back at the Obelisk stage now for the start of the top billing acts. The Maccabees arrived just as the sun was starting to disappear behind the horizon and there was clearly a lot of reciprocated love blowing in the evening breeze. They skipped through a set that seemed perfectly in sync with the crowd…many a broad smile beamed out from both sides of the photography pit.  Friday night headliners Bloc Party rocked the arena before sending a happy group of revelers off to sample the delights of late night Latitude. For us that entailed singing along to Dolly Parton songs and dancing like my dad at Guilty Pleasures…oh yes, it’s not all highbrow you know!

Saturday starts in a surprisingly cool fashion as tent temperatures were tempered by the grey clouds above. Cobwebs sufficiently removed by a fry-up and cup of tea, and without any particular agenda, spontaneity is the order of the day…and boom! we are hit by an oral incendiary bomb in the shape of Bo Ningen – psychedelic, metal, epic -  not easy to categorize, but boy are they entertaining live. Next was another unique live act in the form of White Denim – is it one long jam session or several tunes spliced together?  Either way, the drummer must have biceps like Rafa Nadal , as he doesn’t stop for the whole set! After a brief sojourn to see some Nashville folk in the guise of Torres in the iArena its back to the Olelisk Arena to watch three of the big guns.  First up is Hot Chip who’s up tempo electronica keeps the crowd jumping. Next come the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, whoin the form of Karen O, have a truly unique front woman. She keeps everybody entertained with a combo of catchy tunes and a giant inflatable eyeball!

Up until this point, the festival is well, a little bit 2D, but wait, all that is about change as Kraftwerk adds another dimension into the mix. Standing astride the stage ‘Tron like’ in front of a giant screen the four members of Kraftwerk twiddle and press their way through a melodic set of crowd pleasers. I imagine, as I stand transfixed, that if Aldus Huxley had written a ‘gig’ scene in ‘Brave New World’ that it would have looked unnervingly similar to this. All that was missing from the 3D spectacle wearing throng was a double dose of Soma!

The legs were by now becoming weary and the thought of a nice comfy(!) carry mat was starting to appeal, but there was one last stop before bedtime and that was to worship at the jazzed up feet of Snarky Puppy. Jazz funk, funky jazz, whatever, this is all good and I was sent to my slumber a happy man.

Sunday started in cloud and finished back in the searing heat, but before it was time to face the tarmac and head home, there was time to catch the ever young Bobby Womack. With one of the most uplifting sets of the weekend Bobby preached his way through his set with the ease of a seasoned performer  - even managing to disprove the age old adage that it’s impossible to look good in a pair of red leather trousers! 

So that was Latitude – clouds and sun, thrash and soul, guitars and keyboards, 2D and 3D. Maybe next year they can top it with a 4D performance, we can but hope!

Artiicle by Shaun Bailey