Barclaycard presents Latitude Festival
25 - 28 July 2024
Henham Park, Suffolk
Latitude Festival booker Ed Lilo is back to share with you his favourite tracks from the Latitude 2019 line up for your listening pleasure.
The first line up announcement is out and I’m willing summer to arrive with every fibre of my being so we can be in Henham Park watching these fantastic artists. Alas, summer is still a few months off – so, to warm us up I’ve selected tracks from what’s been announced so far for Latitude Loves…February.
Don’t forget there is still a lot more to come!
Ed.
I’d happily make a playlist consisting only of Julia Jacklin and curate a festival with just her playing – but, the former would be called an album, and the latter a concert. ‘Body’ is a beautifully devastating ode to powerlessness that Julia describes as, “a very long exaggerated sigh”. I have pre-ordered the jumper from her upcoming album cover and will be wearing it while having real-life feels this summer.
This Four Tet and Massive Attack-produced understated protest song is a pulsating preview of Neneh Cherry’s inevitably iconic Obelisk Arena performance. And, if you like this kind of minimal and articulate track, be sure to check last year’s devastating ‘Broken Politics’ album.
I have spelt and pronounced Khruangbin many different ways over the last six months and am very sorry. ‘Maria Tambien’ is a certified funk-filled [in a good way] low-key banger that evokes a cross-section of global influences. It is dedicated to the band’s Laura Lee’s Mexican-American grandfather – a key influence on her. The Texan trio’s Obelisk Arena performance will be a festival must-see.
A certified hit from Prince Of Tears, Dury’s fifth and my personal favourite album. Effortless but sincere, catchy yet unpredictable; ‘Miami’ is set to be a stand out of Ian’s son’s set. Baxter Drury is one of few bonafide musical legends’ offspring to fashion their own idiosyncratic sound.
I’m personally incredibly happy Gomez are back; I have formative memories of my sister [hi Rin!] rinsing her ‘Bring It On’ cassette and I am delighted to be able to finally catch them live. ‘Whippin’ Piccadilly’ is an obvious but deserved choice here, but I’d recommend worth combing their back catalogue if you’ve not listened to it in duration.
I couldn’t resist including ‘Woman’ – a collaboration between two of the most important artists making music today [and, oh look, playing Latitude 2019 too]. Cat Power’s Roundhouse concert last year was mind-blowing and I’m truly honoured she’s playing the festival.
Upbeat but wistful, Melbourne’s Rolling Blackouts C.F’s perhaps defining track is a perfect evolution of indie rock tropes. To describe the band makes them sound derivative, but their music is like nothing else and their relentless global tour schedule has turned them in to one of the most important bands in contemporary guitar music.
Instant and urgent, Sigrid’s latest evokes the introduction of ‘Call Me Maybe’ [or, in Max’s ears (who resides along with me in from the Latitude Booking Cupboard), ‘Viva La Vida’]. But, the vocal hooks, sonic immediacy and the quasi-rap elevate this 147 second alt-pop nugget to stone-cold banger territory. There’s no guilt in my love of Sigrid.
There’s a familiarity to Pale Waves’ production that’s no doubt influenced by label-mates, The 1975. The real moment in their biggest hit ‘There’s a Honey’ is the ear-worm: “I would give you my body / But I’m not sure you’d want me”. It will inevitably be a sing-along moment to match anything Snow Patrol or George Ezra can throw at Suffolk this summer.
Speaking of which, the lead track from seminal Irish post-Britpoppers Snow Patrol’s latest long-player is an anthemic yet downbeat composition; ode to the difficulties in writing music, or indeed making any art – it is a perfect reintroduction to the bands’s newer material. Not that many will need it; their latest album’s gone gold and their huge spring tour is well and truly sold out.
Not sure if you’ve heard this one, but this George Ezra track is definitely my tip to break in 2019. Watch this space.
Our Sunday headliner has released three tracks from her rumoured to be incoming new LP, ‘Norman F**king Rockwell;. h.i.a.d.t.f.a.w.l.m. taken from the LP has been described as the most quintessentially ‘Lana Del Rey’ song yet which is quite a statement. I haven’t been more excited for a show in a considerable time. Lana, continue to be Lana.
You can hear these spellbinding songs and more in the beautiful surrounds of Henham Park, Suffolk at Latitude 2019 on 18th-21st July 2019.
