Latitude Halloween Playlist

The nights are drawing in, there’s a chill in the air and it’s feeling decidedly eerie outside. It can only mean one thing…Halloween is here!

Latitude bookers Lucy Wood and Ed Lilo have gathered together some scarily good tracks by Latitude artists, past and present, for you to listen to in our Halloween Playlist.

Check out Lucy and Ed’s choices below and prepare to be well and truly spooked!

The Murder Capital – ‘Don’t Cling To Life’

Ed: Nothing more Halloween-y than death is there. Dublin’s finest punks The Murder Capital have demolished substantial festival tents across the summer and their ascent sees no sign of, erm, dying. Or even plateauing, though that seems less relevant. “Failing this, let’s dance and cry” seems an appropriate pre-chorus for any spooky celebration. Though, let’s not get too bleak here.

Crows – ‘Crawling’

Ed: Crows played just before The Murder Capital in the Sunrise Arena at Latitude this year. AND, their secret Facebook fan group is called “A Murder Of…” [as in, of Crows, gettit?] so look there’s two connections. Sonically though, Crows are a different proposition altogether as Crawling demonstrates.

One of the best live bands in the country currently and definitely your favourite bands’ favourite band – their album was released on Joe Talbot from Idles’ label earlier this year. Please go and see them – they’re on tour for the next month or so.

The Killers – ‘Human’

Lucy: I suppose ‘Flesh and Bone’ makes for a more Halloweenie song title on the face of it, but ‘Human’ embodies the more existentially frightening concept. The band borrowed it from gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson, who reportedly said, America was “raising a generation of dancers” who are afraid to take one step out of line. Frankly, I’d just like to see the Halloween costume where you tried to represent this song.

The Horrors – ‘Something To Remember Me By’

Lucy: The Horrors’ output ranges from their more classic goth Halloween (see ‘Sheena Is A Parasite’, ‘Jack The Ripper’, ‘Horror Asparagus Stories’ mix CD) to the Halloween where you dress up as Patrick Bateman. ‘Something To Remember Me By’ is definitely in that second category with a suitably disturbing video.

Chvrches – ‘Death Stranding’

Ed: Wow, Lauren and the gang released another absolute heater as part of the soundtrack to a computer game. It’s a further development of CHVRCHES sound as it meticulously blends alternative pop and Depeche Mode (in a good way, I love ‘em).  The way they united the Obelisk Arena ahead of Lana Del Rey this year was nothing but seminal.

Wild Beasts – ‘Brave Bulging Bouyant Clairvoyants’

Lucy: Wild Beasts have stalked Henham Park a number of times, and nobody’s voice sounds more haunted than Hayden Thorpe. He sounds like someone receiving a message from the other side.

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – ‘Thumbsucker’

Ed: What’s more terrifying than an adult slurping their own hand-digit? I can’t think of anything. Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs sound like Motorhead in a good way and my 12 year old nephew got deep in to the mosh pit at Latitude this year which was SCARY AS SIN.

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead – ‘Blood Rites’

Lucy: We were lucky to host the legendary alt-rockers on the BBC Sounds Stage last year. They played their seminal album ‘Source Tags & Code’ in full before a crowd that became more and more hypnotised with every track.

A Place To Bury Strangers – ‘Everything Always Goes Wrong’

Ed: Back to the Sunrise Arena for Friday night’s noise rock legends A Place To Bury Strangers, over from New York to surprise Latitude with a huge wall of sound with a touch of shoegaze and a heap of psyche. I’ve had some pretty terrible Halloweens, so everything always going wrong seems like an appropriate way of finishing this playlist. Now, what should I dress as?

Latitude Festival returns to Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk on 16th-19th July 2020. Early bird tickets are on sale now at a frighteningly good price.