Latitude 2016 is like revisiting an old friend. It’s been a few years since I have partaken of its delights but although there are some clever new twists to the layout, it is essentially the same as it always has been…and I find that strangely comforting…

Photo by Jen Long

As I stroll past the Lake Stage, catching a glimpse of the BBC Radio 6 Stage before arriving at the Obelisk Arena a warm feeling of familiarity starts to take over and that warm fuzzy feeling is amplified by the band on stage – Bear’s Den were playing a laid back but uplifting set which was perfect in the afternoon sun. Next up was British Sea Power who continued the chilled atmosphere in the main arena – although lacking that killer track they kept the crowd entertained with some chirpy banter and there was even a polar bear that turned up at the front of the stage, although I suspect it was just a drunk bloke in a suit!

Time for a change of tack - a drunken political rant in the form of Al Murray’s Pub Landlord. It’s safe to say that recent events have given him a rich vein of material and he kept the audience thoroughly entertained.

Back to the Obelisk Stage to catch a bit of early evening sun and Courtney Barnett throwing her witty lyrics over some choppy guitar shapes encouraging the crowd to bounce along with gay abandon.

Photo by Dan Dennison

Heading off for a bite to eat and I stumble across possibly the treat of the weekend – Blaenavon playing on the Lake Stage. Considering I was completely unfamiliar with anything in their set, by the time it was over I had at least 3 of their tunes stuck in my head. It was an extremely accomplished performance made all the more remarkable that all 3 members are only 17. Time will tell if they are to become the new indie darlings on the block, but if their performance is anything to go by it should be a sure thing.

Back on more familiar territory in the Radio 6 Stage with Augustines belting out a few rocky crowd pleasers before catching the quirky indie-rock musings of Beirut back in the Obelisk arena.

A final visit to the Radio 6 Stage of the day and if anyone was starting to feel a little sleepy after a long day in the sun they were jolted back into life by Slaves. They belted out their punky rantings with gusto and it was impossible to not be completely engaged by it all. They even managed to get a guy on stage from the audience to somehow body pop along to a couple of tracks!

Photo by Ben Gibson

Just time to fit in a quick look in the Comedy Tent (which as now a music venue) to catch the bouncy swing disco sound of The Jenova Collective. With about 8 musicians on stage they certainly put on an eye catching show.

And so to the Guilty Pleasures show to sing ourselves hoarse to some 80’s cheesy pop before retiring satisfied to the comfort (!) of a carry mat and cheap sleeping bag.

Photo by Ben Gibson

Saturday begins with puffy eyes and bacon sandwiches…and yes, the sun is still shining!

Asif kick things off in the Obelisk Arena with what sounds like African beats tinged with the deep south of the USA…and the crowd laps it up.

Skipping over to the Radio 6 Stage for a veritable treat of uplifting power pop from Lucius headed up by a couple of Abba-esque space age blond pop twins. The day has well and truly started.

Next up in the big tent was Steve Mason, former founder member of the Beta Band. A couple of years ago he played the smaller In the Woods Stage and now he has rightly moved up a notch. If you were to pick an artist that seems to embody Latitude, then he is it – at this rate he should be headlining the Obelisk Stage this time next year.

Photo by Victor Frankowski

Back outside, blinking in the sun to take in probably the best known band playing this weekend. Squeeze have got such a wealth of quality pop tunes in their armoury that it would be almost impossible for them to fall flat – song after song came, each one perfectly singalongable (if that’s a word!). You would have to have a face of stone not to have just a little bit of a smile on your face by the time they had finished Cool for Cats.

Photo by Kennerdeigh Scott

Some melodic dreamy electronic music in the form of Chvrches leads us onto the final big act of the evening - The National, the only act to headline Latitude twice. I think they could be back again after this set that had some real moments of poignancy coupled with some good old singalongs.

Photo by Kennerdeigh Scott

Eyelids heavy there was just time to experience the Buttoned Down Disco – a cool selection of floor fillers given a bit of a twist (although they did massacre Sympathy for the Devil, but hey, you can’t have everything!)

Miracle of miracles it has rained in the night and consequently the tent is not quite as hot as the inside of a pop tart – the result is a bit of a lie in. After the obligatory tea and bacon sandwich it’s over to the main stage for the laid back grooves of Michael Kiwanuka followed by Laura Mvula who if she and her band get any tighter I think they will explode. The crowd is clearly in awe of an artist at the height of her powers.

Photo by Ben Gibson

A final trip to the Radio 6 Stage to catch Roots Manuva’s unique brand of dub before having a wander around some of the dark (or should I say light) corners of Latitude. From art installations in the woods, to canoeing on the lake, to cosy chats with Louis Theroux, Latitude certainly caters for all tastes.

Just time enough for New Oder to smash it with a mix of nostalgia and intriguing new stuff, and by the time they had finished playing Love will Tear us Apart there were a few 40 something blokes wiping tears from their eyes.

Photo by Jen Long

So another year spins on and Latitude still manages to pull off that rare feat of feeling original but unchanged. For all the new and old acts it still leaves you will with a feeling of wanting more…I wonder what it will be like in 2017?

Review by Shaun Bailey