Mew – Jonas Bjerre (singer) – Obelisk Arena – Demark
1. Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
I hope to get to see Bat For Lashes among others. There’s a bunch of bands playing that I am not familiar with, so I hope there’s time to walk around and take the music in.
2. What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
I like the fact that it offers more than music, I have been to festivals that have other things on their bills, like art, spoken word, etc. but never to this extent. I’m looking forward to taking it all in!
3. What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
We’re a quite visually oriented band, in the past we’ve brought animations for projections and things of that nature. This time will be even more elaborate as we’re working with some really skilful directors like Martin DeThurah, designers and artists, some friends of ours that are helping us take our show further than before. However, it all depends on logistics, and on what time of day we are playing (of which I am not certain) as projections become irrelevant when daylight is on. But in any case it’s going to be a hell of a show!
4. If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing?
I would probably have gone back to Copenhagen to pack some clean clothes before we leave for the states the day after!
5. What do you always bring to a festival?
Clean clothes. I don’t bring mosquito-repellent because scratching the bites brings such pleasure!
6. Have you been to Latitude before, and if so, what has your favourite performance been?
I have not, I am looking forward to my first time.
7. Do you have any festival tips for those in attendance at Latitude?
Bring mosquito-repellant. Because after a while the scratching gets kinda old.
8. What is your favourite colour Sheep?
I don’t know, but I don’t like those goats that have wavy lines for pupils in their eyes… scary stuff!
Robin Ince – Literary Arena – London
1. Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, you know why. Also, it seems so wrong to see Magazine in the open air, especially if it’s sunny, so I am looking forward to that.
2. What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
The chance to come up with an idea behind a tent and then make it happen ten minutes later. I am very much looking forward to attempting to write a musical about giant killer crabs on stage with Robyn Hitchcock.
3. What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
Maggot choirs, giant crab musicals, diet books called What Would Jesus Eat? The usual really.
4. If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing?
Imagining choirs of maggots at home in my head.
5. What do you always bring to a festival?
A wide selection of frilly shirts that are drip dry.
6. Have you been to Latitude before, and if so, what has your favourite performance been?
Seeing Nicholas Parson’s coming out of a chemical toilet is high up there!
7. Do you have any festival tips for those in attendance at Latitude?
Don’t just watch your favourite bands, there are so many things theatrical and beyond that you would see at no other festival.
8. What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Blue.
Skint & Demoralised, Matt – Sunrise Arena – Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
In the Obelisk I’d say Amazing Baby, definitely. This time last year we flew to New York to start recording our debut album and I met the singer so I decided to check them out when I arrived home and I instantly fell in love. In the Uncut I’d have to say Squeeze, who are one of my main influences. I used ‘Cool For Cats’ as the walk-on song for our first tour…they’re painfully underrated! Legends. My favourite comedians at the festival would have to be Ed Byrne and Russell Kane because Ed cracks me up every time and Russell has loads of potential. In the Theatre it’d be amazing to see any of Oscar Wilde’s work performed because I adore the man. In the Literary I’d be quite interested to see what Keith Allen has to say, and the poet would be Simon Armitage because we’re from the same neck of the woods. Finally, in the Film & Music it’d have to be Mark Lamarr presents God’s Jukebox! What a guy!
2. What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
The sheer range of mediums really intrigues and fascinates me. Having such a plethora of performance in one weekend means that you’ll never be bored. I’m bound to stumble upon something amazing that I never would have previously checked-out. Also, I’ve heard about this Pimm’s Island…
3. What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
As well as the live set with the band I definitely want to wangle my way into the Poetry Area. Performance poetry is a huge aspect of Skint & Demoralised and there will definitely be some during the band’s set anyway. I have a few things up my sleeve but I’m keeping them quiet for now.
4. If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing?
I’d be at Benicassim Festival in Spain. Three years in a row may have spoiled it, though, and I’ve always wanted to go to Latitude so it’s worked-out perfectly. I love things to have a twist.
5. What do you always bring to a festival?
Last year I arrived at Reading Festival on Friday morning expecting to be there for a day, and I was still drinking at Leeds Festival on the Monday morning. How that happened I’m not quite sure, but this year a few changes of clothes and baby wipes will be in attendance for definite.
6. Have you been to Latitude before, and if so, what has your favourite performance been?
I’m afraid not. I’m quite inexperienced when it comes to music festivals because I was always a football freak in my teenage years so my financial priorities would lie elsewhere, which makes this all the more exciting for me!
7. Do you have any festival tips for those in attendance at Latitude?
Keep an open mind throughout the whole event. Obviously there will be acts that you specifically want to see but if you’re killing time between plans then wonder into the different areas because you never know what you might find. Everyone is obviously talented otherwise they wouldn’t be performing in the first place, so it’s always worth a shot!
8. What is your favourite colour Sheep?
I’d have to say pink so that an unsuspecting stoner confused it for candy floss. Not that I’d want them to eat the sheep, of course. It’d be funny at first, though.
The Dialogue Project – Outdoor Theatre – London
1. Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude?
Literary Arena – The School of Life – they’re doing something really interesting.
Poetry – Roger Lloyd Pack, because he’s just a lovely man and he has a tender, gentle voice. (He appeared in An Oak Tree, a show I directed, for one night and was just exquisite.)
Music – Pretenders and Newton Faulkner – the old and the new. And Mark Lamarr’s night – the best source of great music in England.
2. What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
The mix of arts and artists. The small scale. The geography. And every year so far they’ve been a beautiful audience for our work.
3. What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
This year’s conversations on Friendship are fascinating. We’ve recorded some already and as a theme it’s so rich. It’s something we take for granted (friendship) and yet so many people we’re spoken to about it have said that they’ve revealed new things to themselves and each other only because we’ve asked them to talk about it on tape. Soon we’ll find a way of asking Latitude festival goers to record conversations about their friendships. Maybe a friendship that came about as a result of the festival! (I also have a new conversation with an astronaut that I might let a few select people listen to….)
4. If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing?
Wishing I was there. My work was there in 2008 even though I couldn’t be. And I have never wanted to be somewhere so much.
5. What do you always bring to a festival?
Hope. Love. Water. And new conversations.
6. Have you been to Latitude before, and if so, what has your favourite performance been?
I’ve been at each festival (see above) but Anthony and the Johnsons in the first year was just magical.
7. Do you have any festival tips for those in attendance at Latitude?
Get there early. Wake up early (to come and listen to The Dialogue Project’s work obviously!) And next year, book early!
8. What is your favourite colour Sheep?
White – please leave some unpainted this year. I like my nature natural.
Jessica Delfino – Comedy Arena – New York
1. Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
I’m really looking forward to seeing many of the comedy and cabaret acts because I enjoy a good laugh while something else is also going on. I am also excited to see the Pet Shop Boys, Regina Spektor and Pretenders because it’s the right time in my life, and my friends Jeffrey Lewis and Stuckey & Murray because I can say “Those people up there kicking ass right now are my friends.”
2. What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
I am eager to have mud fights with strangers while also being surrounded 360 degrees by art, music, fun and mayhem.
3. What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
This will be my first time at Latitude and so I may be new to much of the audience. Therefore, I’m planning to hit them with my classic, quintessential hits, such as songs on my flying V ukulele and my rape whistle (rape whistles aren’t so popular in the UK, but in the US we use them to ward off rapists.) I may also bring my Q chord which is the most amazing instrument known to mankind.
4. If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing?
I’d be rocking some other muddy field, or maybe jamming at Stonehenge.
5. What do you always bring to a festival?
A poncho, snacks, pot brownies, instruments, a notebook and pens, my own fun.
6. Do you have any festival tips for those in attendance at Latitude?
I suggest you bring a friend and both of you come and see my act.
7. What is your favourite colour Sheep?
I like the plaid kind that they use to make those warm sweaters and kilts I see all the Scots wearing.
