Latitude 2014

Source: Eventful stays

Music festivals are so intrinsically linked to our idea of a good summer that to actually experience one is like being part of the elite, the desperately cool, the so on-top-of-all-things-cultural-that-the-human-race-may-as-well-start-trying-to-be-you.

Latitude, one of the biggest and best festivals in England, is renowned for being a bit more of a family festival, with much more to it than the music. There's an all-day Comedy Tent, a Film and Music Tent (both of which are discos by night) and several dance stages where the more cultured people can enjoy a spot of Sadler's Wells whilst munching on a bit of Greek cuisine. There's something for everyone there, so if the music isn't quite to your taste, there are plenty of alternatives at all times.

Source: Drowned In Sound

One thing that particularly struck me about Latitude (aside from the incredible coloured sheep) was the intensely laid back atmosphere. 'Intensely laid back' seems like a bit of an oxymoron, but there was just such an absolute lack of pressure to do anything unwanted, or to absolutely have to be anywhere at any one time. This made for a truly personalised festival experience, tailored to your wishes and desires, and not at all focusing on one aspect of culture.

The relatively close-knit layout of the festival meant that it was very likely that you would bump into anyone and everyone within your field of acquaintance; this created a fabulous sense of communal enjoyment of the proceedings, that everyone could take part in and enthuse about together. This make-shift society of enthusiastic music lovers created what Kevin Parker of Tame Impala called "our own little utopia", where anything was allowed. This gives you the freedom to actually be able to let go, forget any sort of stress or worries that have been nagging at you, and simply go where the wind takes you. That's the very clichéd way of saying that fuckin' anything goes.

Source: eFestivals

All this, and I haven't even gotten to the music yet. It was the most perfectly selected array of bands that could ever have been displayed at any festival ever in any universe ever. It catered for everyone's tastes, whether you're into indie rock, soft pop or a little bit of folkie goodness, they had it all. Despite Two Door Cinema Club pulling out at the last moment, the organisers could not have found a better replacement. Lily Allen was simply incredible, mixing her usual wit and sarcasm with pure talent that captivated the audience and created such an incredible buzz around her. Other highlights included Crystal Fighters (for the sheer energy of Plage, if anything), Haim (need I say more), The Black Keys (because they are perfect and no one can argue otherwise) and Gengahr, whose chilled out set gave the impression that they really weren't too fussed about being at Latitude, but whose quality of music and enthusiastic performance proved this to be utterly false.

The main thing that came out of the weekend was how open and accepting Latitude is as a festival. You can stay up all night dancing to some fantastic DJ sets, or you can go to bed immediately after the headliner for the evening. You have the option of seeing both Dara O'Briain or Rudimental in one evening. You can even eat whatever the fuck takes your fancy; the point is, it doesn't matter who prefers what, because everything is catered for, and everything is available. This idea of exclusivity disappears as soon as you walk in the gates.