Latitude in review - part 1

Just thought I'd review a few bits of this years Latitude festival while they are still in my mind! Lets start with a few music acts...

Amadou and Mariam

Well, these guys were astounding. Both blind, Mariam sings with a really deep bluesy voice, Amadou also sings but amazingly plays lead guitar! Even going as far as doing several lengthy solos. The crowd loved them, very loud lively music, even with the crappy sound system in the uncut tent they sounded brilliant. Well worth seeing if you get the chance. more about them on their own site here.

Julian Cope

Julian was a huge disappointment, he came on stage 30 mins late, only stayed for 25 mins, played a couple of crappy versions of his songs and spent the rest of the time spouting self important crap. I've never been so disappointed in a performer. He actually had most of the crowd booing and jeering him when he finally went of. If you want to know more about him his site is here.

Grinderman

Never heard of them before? Me neither! They are essintially Nick Cave and the bad seeds do heavy, loud, experimental rock. Was very very good. Loud, brash in yer face. Bit of an odd choice for co-headliner on the closing night of the festival but well worth seeing. More about them here.

Rosie and the Goldbug

I'm guessing you've never heard of these guys. Live they sound a lot like Gwen Stefani and No Doubt, back when they were good. Loud, funky pop music with a sharp edge in the lyrics. Rosie looks great, sounds wonderful(although the voice doesn't match the body at all). Keep an eye out for their debut single in the charts soon. More here.

Lenny Beige

Richard and I saw this guy doing the MC role in the cabaret tent on the last night. Absolutley hillarious, wicked camp covers of classic songs, sharp jokes and great banter. I'm going to have to find out wheres he playing in London as he regulalrly plays the cabaret circuit. Sample of his show here.

Joanna Newsom

Never in my life have I had to watch such drivel. A small woman who sounds like Minnie Mouse playing a harp twice her size on stage at a music festival??? Even worse the entire of middle class England were worshipping at her feet, terrible. I managed to stick it out for 2 songs before I felt my brain turning to mush and I wnet of to watch someone else. Avoid like the plague, if ever there was an artist being successful for nothing, its her. One for the Daily Mail readership.

Thats it for now, more later :-)