I don't quite know what to make of Latitude. On the one hand it's bloody expensive, full of kids and their middle class parents queuing up for Costa coffee... But then it's also nestled in the heart of Suffolk's forests and lakes, the perfect backdrop for the fairies to come out to play. Regardless, Latitude 2011 put on a damn good show, a nice little music line up and tonnes of great comedy and poetry acts. Night time unleashed a host of weird and wonderful parties to stumble across including an entire Winter Wonderland with burlesque tree dancers, a ramshackle Electric Hotel and fat men in nipple tassles can-can kicking to Guilty Pleasures. Standard.
Anyway back to the musical highlights:
Deerhunter played a great set, first time I've seen them live and they didn't disappoint. I always respect a man who smokes on stage whilst strumming away, yeahhhh fuck society.
Crocodiles were awesome, they swaggered on stage oozing New York cool (they aren't even from NY), the sleazy guitars teasing the audience's hips from side to side. Brandon Welchez is one of the most enigmatic frontmen I've seen in ages, twisting his snake hips to the hazy noise with pure confidence.
Cloud Control played another blinder, I have yet to see them put a foot wrong live. Replacement bassist Conrad is fitting in well with the live set up and Heidi and Alister grow in confidence and charisma with every show.
My favourite of the bigger bands was definitely The Cribs. I fucking love The Cribs. Foals and Bombay Bicycle Club played really well and it was impressive to see them draw the bigger crowds they deserve but you can't beat Ryan Jarman in a pink wig really. He was the spitting image of Kurt Cobain when he trundled on for his infamous Reading appearance wearing a wig. They won't let me embed Be Safe the shitters but oh well.
Best of the newer bands had to be Dog is Dead, the Nottingham-ers drew a respectable crowd to the Sunrise stage and they definitely won the 'best three-part harmonies' competition that seemed to be occurring on each stage (will it ever die?). Some cracking sax playing was on display as well. On some tracks they can be quite Mumford-y in sound but their enthusiasm and non-arrogant behaviour make them a million times more likeable.
London band 'Fiction' also deserve a mention, their keys-infused electro funky beats got the hipsters to their feet on Saturday.
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