|
|
Post by kerry1 on Jul 24, 2023 19:46:46 GMT
No plastic? Wristband fasteners are plastic this year, not metal. I noted the abject failure of their ‘rule’ - v many successes in pockets of course! |
|
|
|
Post by riddler7 on Jul 25, 2023 11:01:42 GMT
Hi All,
A very quick review from me having returned home yesterday...
Friday highlights -
Russell Kane
Georgia
Confidence Man
Metronomy
Pulp
Saturday highlights -
The Mysterines
The Big Moon
Ivo Graham & Alex Kealy
Paolo Nutini
Sunday highlights -
Sophie May
Sons Of The East
Kingfishr
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Modernlove.
General thoughts -
We had a great time as usual, generally a very nice atmosphere (as usual) - we talked to a lot of people over the weekend and everyone was chatty, friendly and having a great time.
The lineup on Friday was great, we had a brilliant time up on the field from Georgia onwards.
The rain didn't spoil Saturday for us and actually based on the 'feel' across the site from mid-afternoon onwards I suspect that it was quieter as some people had had enough.
Sunday though for me actually felt too busy. We only went up to the field to see Sophie Ellis-Bextor (and admittedly timing wise we cut it fine after grabbing some food) but we were basically met by a wall of people from the flags at the back. We did manage to move forward where there was actually a bit more space but I'd say that it actually felt a bit uncomfortable. There were a lot of drunk people too which didn't help. On the plus side Sophie was fantastic! It was a shame as Sunday is usually our favourite day as people are more chilled out but heh, never mind.
Thank f*ck that they binned Carlsberg off this year! The beer choices were actually pretty decent, Shipyard and the Defender IPA were certainly enjoyed. Whilst prices were obviously high the 10% Barclaycard offer does help a bit.
Anyway, we had fun and will most likely be back next year.
It's an 8/10 for me.
|
|
|
|
Post by oapdub on Jul 25, 2023 12:44:06 GMT
No plastic? Wristband fasteners are plastic this year, not metal. I noted the abject failure of their ‘rule’ - v many successes in pockets of course! The disposable vapes ban won't have been about plastic. They are an environmental disaster, and a real fire risk, due to the 'disposable' lithium battery in them. |
|
|
|
Post by beaucoupfish on Jul 25, 2023 17:43:14 GMT
I decided a little while ago that this would be my last Latitude weekend. I wasn’t getting excited in the run up and realised I’ve done too many on the bounce and am just a bit fatigued.
Anyway, I had a nice weekend. There are better places to watch Pulp than surrounded by people clutching their picnic blankets, but I still thought they were great. I really enjoyed Gretel Hanlyn, Dry Cleaning and She’s in Parties. Also good were Warmduscher, Big Moon, Murder Capital and Georgia. For a singalong, Lightning Seeds and Paul Heaton were fun. Could not get into Gwenno or Bar Italia, which was an unhappy surprise.
The rubbish Friday scheduling meant I missed Men I Trust, English Teacher, Bleach Lab and Confidence Man.
Weirdly, I quite enjoyed the Saturday rain! But did not care for wasps in every single drink.
Sunday afternoon was hideous. If that’s your thing, you’re welcome to it – it’s your festival now.
As per 2021, Green Camping was rammed, despite the excess space elsewhere on the site. I complained in 2021. Won’t be complaining again.
|
|
|
|
Post by amigo on Jul 25, 2023 19:56:47 GMT
I had a good time, weather wasn't as bad as expected and they did a pretty good job of keeping the mud at bay to be honest - but by Sunday lunchtime we were also talking about where we could go instead next summer. If it wasn't 20 minutes away I would be less happy
The main moans:
- The lineup just doesn't cater to us much anymore. I won't say its 'bad' as there are plenty of other people enjoying it, but there used to be a time where I could wander past any stage and have a pretty good chance of hearing something worth listening to for at least 20 minutes.
- Latitude used to be 'more than just a music festival', we all know it hasn't been like that for a while now but having a marquee for podcast recordings masquerading as a stage doesn't really feel great.
- Sponsored shit everywhere. Did we need 3 Starbucks instagram photo opportunities and carts pouring bottled iced coffees in to cups?
- Prices in general - I know vendors missed 2+ years of money coming in and the cost of living is hitting ingredient prices etc and I fully accept you're not getting anything substantial these days for less than a tenner but £5 for a tray of chips and £12+ for a 'main' meal is ridiculous
- I must be getting old, but young people are very inconsiderate these days - roaming around in packs with no sense of etiquette. I am a trolley/pushchair w*nker now with a 3 year old and associated paraphernalia but I am fairly confident I didn't act like I owned the site when I was going in my late teens.
- The cup goblins - I understand the cup return scheme, and the site is cleaner as a result, but I don't want to have the eyes of a dozen children burning in to the back of my neck every time I put my cup down. Some of them even wander round with handmade signs now - next year they'll be selling knock off designer sunglasses too...
- The app - what a waste of data! No way to filter lineups by stage, the notifications for acts didn't work, and I got pinged by it so many times telling me about sponsored bars etc that it felt like I had signed up to an unwanted mailing list. It would have been helpful to use it to communicate key issues, like all the water (and therefore toilets) being off in family camping for around 5 hours
- Nobody seems to be able to steward a car park on a Monday which is especially unhelpful on a wet and muddy one when everyone just wants to get home - one day it will lead to an accident and it's been coming for years now.
It's not all bad, so I'll lighten it up with some positives:
- Alcohol free option on all the main bars, as well as 'bar zero' nestled in the food vendors. Shame it was all bottled stuff and that it was more expensive at the stages somehow when it was the same stuff but it's a start - maybe there will be something on tap in the future, I know both Special Effects and Lucky Saint do well on draught
- Toilets - cleanest I've ever seen? First time I've been with a (mostly) potty trained child so it was a fear, but never had to queue for a few minutes and no major incidents to report when going.
- Food. Despite the above comment on prices, we found some really good vegan food in there - especially 'Garden' near the kids arena which did amazing vegan pasta & gnocchi meals for a tenner. The portions were huge and easily fed 2.
- Kids area - Excellent as always, cannot fault it
- Zen - At night this turns in to a pretty handy area to let a kid run around relatively safely and you can still see/hear Obelisk headliners from the side where Comedy is. Plus the coffee caravan is open late.
- The Mysterines were an unexpected highlight, and Bob Vylan essentially saved the festival for us. So, so good live and we've already booked tickets to see again in Cambridge in November. Very glad we stood our ground and went there instead of following the crowd to Ezra with people we know.
Maybe a lot of it is that now kiddo is nearly 4 our festival experience generally has changed - we can't have a strict plan for the day and trying to enforce any more than a handful of sets in each day is going to make everyone miserable, but not having the opportunity to stumble across good stuff when the opportunity does arise makes it feel like we're not getting our moneys worth.
Next year is £291 - so basically Glastonbury prices, and unless the lineup has at least half a dozen 'must see' acts for us then it's probably time to look elsewhere. If half of what we do now is have a free-roam with kiddo and catch some music here and there we can probably do 2 smaller festivals for the same cost. Open to recommendations...
|
|
|
|
Post by eiepete on Jul 25, 2023 20:45:00 GMT
How much was a beer this year..was it Brooklyn pilnser which seems to be at every festival..told it was £7 for a pint of atlantic pale ale £30 for a bottle of wine at standing calling
|
|
|
|
Post by riddler7 on Jul 26, 2023 8:41:05 GMT
How much was a beer this year..was it Brooklyn pilnser which seems to be at every festival..told it was £7 for a pint of atlantic pale ale £30 for a bottle of wine at standing calling Think it was close to £7 a pint and about £6.10 or something with the B/C discount. Yep Brooklyn Pilsner, Defender IPA, Shipyard were all available as well as some decent low alcohol/AF options as others have mentioned. A big improvement on Carlsberg frankly. I'm guessing that based on the cup branding that Brooklyn are owned by Carlsberg anyway. |
|
|
|
Post by oapdub on Jul 26, 2023 16:32:06 GMT
How much was a beer this year..was it Brooklyn pilnser which seems to be at every festival..told it was £7 for a pint of atlantic pale ale £30 for a bottle of wine at standing calling Think it was close to £7 a pint and about £6.10 or something with the B/C discount. Yep Brooklyn Pilsner, Defender IPA, Shipyard were all available as well as some decent low alcohol/AF options as others have mentioned. A big improvement on Carlsberg frankly. I'm guessing that based on the cup branding that Brooklyn are owned by Carlsberg anyway. Pretty certain they are owned by Carlsberg, or at least brewed by them in the UK. Shipyard is definitely a Carlsberg beer. |
|
|
|
Post by tedshred on Aug 1, 2023 15:16:18 GMT
Better late than never...
Highlights:
Yard Act - their cover of Ace of Spades was one of "the moments"
The Mysterines - why 12pm at the Obelisk though ? If it was supposed to fill up the arena early, it was a failure. If only there had been a popular 1990s beat combo with a number of hits, possibly from the Liverpool area, available that day to fill that slot.
Gretel Hanlyn - worth missing Confidence Man for but one of too many clashes for such slim pickings
LYR - anyone not slightly affected by the Song Thrush and the Mountain Ash should probably go and plead with the Devil to get their soul back.
Siouxsie - partly relief she could still sing but a true icon
Russell Kane - unlike some (I'm looking at you Marcus), he brings new material and some specific material every time.
Honourable Mentions:
Do Nothing
Gwenno - singing along in Cornish about cheese anyone ?
Luke Wright - I know, but his Jubilee show was a bit different
The Lightning Seeds
Pulp
Humble the Great
Positives
Mrs Shred having discovered she still had a Barclaycard, it was surprisingly inexpensive for drinks. Perhaps inflation hasn't reached the Republic they call Festival because it was pretty much on a par with local pubs and certainly cheaper than London. Our new guilty secret is the Wine Bar - the Disco Shed drowns out whatever is on at the Obelisk and you can people watch to your heart's content. I have never eaten there though and have not changed my mind.
The Shuttle Bus - see other thread.
Negatives
The Yard Act/Pulp interface. Even James Smith wanted to get away early to see Pulp. Being near the back of the crowd is not great at the Obelisk.
The Listening Post - there seems to be hardly anything on any more
Weak Sunrise line up - again
Saturday afternoon - I am not sure I would have stayed around even if it had been sunny. The lack of "entertainment" at the Obelisk compared to, say, Sunday (The Bootleg Beatles, Sophie Ellis Bextor and the Proclaimers proving I don't know what, nor do I want to know) to keep the masses entertained made the site hugely busy. With a couple of notable exceptions, there just didn't seem to be anything worth standing in the rain for several hours to see.
Comedy Arena - is it just too small or am I not committed enough because I don't want to sit cross-legged for two hours so I can watch somebody do the same show as last time ?
Tickets purchased for next year already - on the basis they will work this inflation thing out soon enough.
|
|
