Banana Boat to the Sunrise Coast

Pop Miwsig’s comedy, theatre and music staff on Norwich’s multi-disciplined Latitude Festival

By Rich Bowen

Latitide Festival, 15th - 18th July, 2010: Henham Park, Southwold, Sunrise Coast, Suffolk.

When I was a kid my parents used to tell me: "Don't go near the cellar door!"
One day when they were away, I went up to the cellar door. And I pushed it and walked through and saw strange, wonderful things, things I had never seen before, like... trees. Grass. Flowers. The sun... 

That, ladies and gentlemen, is an Emo Philips joke. Apt, as after years locking himself away from the UK comedy scene, Emo will make a triumphant return at Latitude, going a long way to making good their promise of being more than just a music festival. 

What's wrong with being just a music festival? you bellow. Well, nothing. Here, have a breath mint. And Latitude certainly aren't skimping on the music with the likes of Belle & Sebastian, Vampire Weekend, Florence and the Machine, Crystal Castles, The National, Grizzly Bear, Empire of the Sun, James, Spoon, Girls, The Horrors, Jonsi, Race Horses, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Tokyo Police Club, Jamie Lidell, and many (many, many) more making the Latitude line-up one of the most eclectic this Summer season, as well as being refreshingly low on the ubiquity count. The Latitude folk always put some thought into their curation, rather than making simple, populist choices as most other large festivals do. 

So you're right, Latitude has baked us a lovely cake (Yes, suddenly we're talking metaphorical cakes, sorry. Try to keep up.), a sumptuous, moist, golden sponge ready for the eating. You're desperate to tuck in, but wait. Wait! How about some cream with that? Ah, now your eyes widen. Of course you should have some. Your bum is not getting too big, it's lovely. Have some comedy. In addition to Emo Philips, recognised as one of the greatest jokesmiths of our time, the Comedy Arena will see Ardal O'Hanlon, Rich Hall, Richard Herring, Josie Long, Tommy Tiernan and Phil Jupitus amongst others tickling ribs. And once again, you can tell the acts have actually been chosen by someone. That may not sound like such a groundbreaking idea, but often when you get to see comedy at a festival it's obvious that names were copied from TV-panel show credits or are in acquiescence to suggestions from a certain comedy promoter. 

Okay, you can eat now. Unless...Unless?

Well, unless... you'd like some jam too? I know! I know it's bad, but c'mon. It is a festival after all, you should let yourself go every once in a while. Because, not content with music fit to rival Glastonbury and Comedy fit to rival Edinburgh, Latitude also manages to cram in Theatre and Literary guests that would make Hay-on-Wye blush. To name just a few, we will see Bret Easton Ellis, Hanif Kureishi, Sebastian Faulks, Robin Ince, Kevin Eldon, Mark Thomas and Daniel Kitson. Now, if you've never seen Daniel Kitson, you really need to go to see Daniel Kitson. Not just the foremost British comic working today, Kitson is also a highly respected playwright and accompanied by Gavin Osborn on guitar, he brings Stories for the Starlit Sky to the Waterfront Stage. That's some damn irresistible jam.

Now we're done, a delicious Latitude Victoria Sponge that Delia would be proud of. You go ahead and eat yours. I have, however, decided not to go. I would like to thank Latitude for going to such lengths and making such effort, but how can I possibly enjoy any one thing at this festival knowing that there is something going on at different stage that I could be enjoying just as much? It will be too distracting, too painful. 

Give my cake to somebody else, please.
Lock me in the cellar.

© 2010 Rich Bowen

© Miwsig