Sometimes DiS goes out. Yeah, yeah, we have to be back before the sun sets over yonder hillock, but last night we found time enough to pop along to Camden's Proud Gallery to drink free lager and eat finger foods at the launch of a BRAND NEW festival.
Latitude is to take place in Southwold, Suffolk in the middle of July (14th - 16th), and organisers Mean Fiddler hope to incorporate aspects of, for example, the Hay-On-Wye Book Festival. In other words, it ain't just 'bout the music, if the bigwigs are to be believed.
Right now, three bands have been announced as headliners: Mogwai, Snow Patrol and Antony And The Johnsons. There will be comedians, including Rob Newman, and tents full of debate and art and poetry and stuff. I hope Bodger and Badger turn up. They were wicked at Glastonbury.
It's a camping affair, and tickets will be under a hundred quid, which is nice.
Chief festival Fiddler Melvin Benn said a lot of words over ten-or-so minutes, the BBC quoting him thus:
"I want to be able to wander from books to music to film in the way you can in your own sitting room. I am looking forward to that feeling of being able to listen live to the music and then the words of an author or poet or environmentalist, rather than just reading it in the newspapers or listening on a CD."
Benn also asked those assembled if anyone had contact details for Boris Johnson, who he quite fancies inviting down for a bit o' debating. Do, please, post the Conservative loon's mobile number below...

yawn
that festival would send me to sleep, whilst A&TJ would make me slit my wrists. may still go tho.
This and Mogwai involved sounds really
good and the Hay on Wye aspect etc - Snow Patrol ruin it really, like someone farting near you during tucking into full breakfast.
Hahaha
Nice.
mean fiddler
are there any festivals left not organised by mean fiddler?
no
i found a non-mean fiddler festival ...
i found this: www.easternhaze.com.
same area of the country, following weekend, cheaper...
Wow! Great!
I live near that!
Someone come with me....
mogwai
plus antony is yum. Can Mean Fiddler do something right? I am not convinced.
My parents live at Saxmundham
but i'm not sure i can make it
It's not at Southwold!
The Festival is actually taking place on the Henham park estate a few miles away from Southwold, just thought i'd clear that up to avoid any confusion.
Should be a good un' and right on my Doorstep as well. Can't wait!
Foolish ape
hahaha
southwold, i used to have to go there with my parents as a youth.... god it was a boring place to holiday. and it gest musical festivities?
This is
exciting! It's right where I live. And apparently Regina Spektor's playing.
Shame it's the only weekend I'll be OUT OF THE COUNTRY.
That's shit!!
How on hell Mean Fiddler pretend to put on an alternative Festival, with debate, poetry and politics!!!!
Have u notice the sponsors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I won a pair of tix
to this on 6Music. Hoorah. Arcade Fire, New Young Pony Club, Maps, CSS, Fields, Cold War Kids... and the fact that I escape the kids for the w/e - don't think I'll be slitting wrists or sleeping thanks!