Richard Ayoade Reads @ Latitude 2008
Originally uploaded by ultrahi.
Well, that’s it for this year… Latitude 2008 is over, just as the warm weather hits England.. Bugger. Luckily it didn’t rain that much.. So how was the final day?
In summary – splendid. We got in for midday to see the wonderful, ethereal Joanna Newsom play to a huge, reverently silent audience. Then it was straight back down to the literary tent to catch Maureen Lipman and Juliet Stevenson read us stories. Back to the BAFTA tent to see some of Chris Sheppard’s wonderful animations.
Then it was time some more Word Theatre fun with Richard Ayoade braving a cold to read from the hilarious Submarine. Followed by a bit of a break, wandering through the forest before catching a bit of Patrick Watson, a Montreal friend of friend, play to a packed uncut crowd. Then up to the main stage to catch the Breeders, haphazard but very enjoyable.
At last the main event of the day… Blondie in the Uncut tent – which was totally rammed with excited Blondie fans. She didn’t disappoint, with the whole crowd singing along to almost every song while jumping up and down energetically. Amazing.
The night was topped off with a bit of Interpol – dark, lovely music from ol’ New York City that finished a lovely weekend, just in time for some torrential, freezing rain that seemed to come out of nowhere. Ah, the English Summer – but still it didn’t dampen our elevated Latitude spirits.
What did I wish I’d seen now? Grinderman on the final night – though it would most likely have meant not getting anywhere inside the tent for Blondie. Seeing the comedic newspaper review every morning in the literary tent. More comedy – but there was no way we were ever going to get in the comedy tent (next year Latitude folks try turning the tent sideways and opening one whole side.. or just put big comedic names on the main stage!). Any of the dance nights – apparently I’m getting to old to stay up past my bedtime these days…
More final day photos here: Latitude Festival. Thanks to everyone for a very enjoyable three days.
PS, There’s a post about Latitude Festival Photography over at Digital Photography Hints if you want to read more {:)