Latitude Highs and Lows (Aside From The Music)

After getting along to a fair few, both home and aboard, you can safely pin point the things you love or the things you loath about a music festival. Latitude was no exception. In a world of its own this little field day had a touch of both…

Aside from the multitude of different entertainment arenas, many of which I barley even glanced at, there was just as vast an array food on offer. And probably the best I had seen yet. 

Not sure when Pizza was first considered Chinese but hey…

Drink prices were pretty close to pub prices – paying 3.70 quid for a beer or vodka with mixer as opposed to around 3.40 for the same thing in a pub. Needless to say drinks were a bit more X-y at the cocktail and wine bars.

One of the shitter things about Latitude was that they didn’t have free line ups or site maps on offer when you entered the gates. Instead, you had to pay 10 quid for a thick booklet that had the info you wanted/needed plus a brief low down on all the artists and performers. A Great souvenir but a bitch to carry around all day. Organisers did happen to redeem themselves by having helpful information personnel all over the place, pointing you in the right direction and letting you know what band you’re about to miss. 

Latitude is a family event and while the little kids are cute at times they do tend get under foot as did the wheel barrows and unusual carts parents brought to haul their children around in. The little ones even had their own section that offered arts, crafts and games (including mini golf). 

The teenagers were more often than not massive pains in the arse, throwing bottles and generally just behaving like twats. Perhaps the age restrictions will change for next years event following the two rapes that regrettably took place over the weekend. 

Another festival low were the toilets which were putrid… just big holes…no flushing, no cleaning, just filthy holes. High point, literally, was the grand stand seating that was on offer at the Obelisk Arena. People could really kick back, enjoy and still SEE what was going on.  And unlike Coachella, it was extremely easy to get to the front and get in a good position because people were mostly sitting and chilling. Also on the chilled note, I have to point out how subdued the crowd were, seeing only a few drunk and rowdy punters on the final day.  Did not expect that!

Kicking off around midday and ending at 11 (the music) this mean time slots were a mere 35 minutes, unless you were headlining the main stage in which you got a set closer to one and a half hours. Other minor stages, DJ orientated areas and cabaret stages were all functioning until around 2am. Sadly our lift left just after 11 each night and our (amazing) hotel was a good hour drive from the site so we missed much of the night time shenanigans. 

That said…. would I do it all again?

 

Without a doubt!

It was phenomenal and if I were to do it again I’d be sure to arrive earlier and leave later so I could get even more in. I highly recommend this Latitude if you have a chance.