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The main arenas area is always bustling but comfortable. Last year’s crowd was so full of University of York hoodies it was like home from home, and this year promises more of the same. The headliners include veterans Pet Shop Boys, Grace Jones (the closest Latitude has come to a ‘Jay-Z moment’, after initial horror on the forums turned to excitement at the prospect of a thrilling show from one of music’s true characters) and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Cave returning after a rip-roaring show last year with side-project band Grinderman. Whether you’re already a fan or not, they’re guaranteed to put on some of the most memorable shows of the year.
Alternative headliners (for those of you allergic to PSB’s synth pop) include Bat For Lashes, Little Boots, Gossip and Spiritualized. At the top of the site, the Obelisk Arena is also hosting Editors, Of Montreal, Doves, White Lies, Ladyhawke and anti-folk hero Regina Spektor, whilst the other stages (including the Uncut Stage, in a big top tent, and the Sunrise Arena, in the woods) have the likes of newer acts Lykke Li, Fever Ray, Skint & Demoralised and Passion Pit alongside legends Magazine and Squeeze. Yorker favourites Joe Gideon & the Shark, Patrick Wolf, St. Vincent and Teitur are among the other acts on show, but the fun doesn’t stop at the music.
Priding itself as “more than just a music festival”, the Latitude line-up is as diverse as any other festival around. Where else would you find the Britten Sinfonia alongside Shlomo’s beatboxing orchestra, the Royal Shakespeare Company alongside Vivienne Westwood? The intimate Comedy Arena presents so many excellent performers as ever, those announced so far including Jo Brand, Sean Lock and Dave Gorman. Elsewhere, Mark Lamarr curates an evening in the Music and Film Arena and the Poetry tent line-up includes Simon Armitage and Andrew Motion.
I’ve been saving the best until last, though. In last year’s newly formed Joanna Newsom slot, Latitude set a difficult-to-match precedent. Whilst her set was spellbinding, there’ll be something legendary in the making of this year’s selection: Thom Yorke. The Radiohead frontman plays his first ever solo festival set at 12 noon on the Sunday, and is sure to include some of the classics alongside his solo material (and maybe, just maybe, we’ll get the debuts of some of the songs Radiohead have been working on in the studio recently). It’s a part of history in the making, but tickets are nearly gone; don’t miss out on one of the festivals of the year. Get yourself a ticket and keep the York hoodie count up!
Latitude Festival 2009 is on July 16-19 at Henham Park, nr. Southwold, Suffolk. Tickets cost £150, and are available here.
Latitude: official line-up
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