Crystal Maze host and filmmaker Richard Ayoade is the latest big name to be added to the Latitude Festival line-up. The is still one major secret set to be announced.
With over 500 names over 15 stages, including headliners Solange, The Killers, Alt-J, QI, Harry Hill, Dylan Moran and Bridget Christie. The festival taks place in Henham Park, Suffolk from Thursday 12th – Sunday 15th July 2018.
Joining some of the biggest names in music including The Vaccines, Wolf Alice, Rag’n’Bone Man, James, Mogwai,Belle And Sebastian, Jon Hopkins, Jessie Ware, The Breeders, and more, is British pop/R&B superstar MNEK, as well as the much hyped and raucous Black Midi, LA rock-duo Deap Vally, Talos, and Afro-Cuban Tropical-kraut rock 7-piece Bethlehem Casuals.
Returning to Latitude for its third year, BBC Music presents a range of programming live and direct from the festival. The BBC Music Introducing Stage once again welcomes an eclectic array of talent specifically chosen for Latitude, submitted via a plethora of local BBC Introducing shows. Over the years BBC Music Introducing has played a pivotal part in nurturing the careers of some of the biggest acts to have graced Latitude including Ed Sheeran, and Florence And The Machine. This year's stage is bigger than ever before, and presented by BBC Radio 2 legend Zoe Ball - who will also be live on Radio 2 between 3-6pm on the Saturday - BBC Radio 3 mainstays Max Reinhardt (Late Junction) and Suzy Klein (In Tune), and BBC Radio 6 Music experimentalist Tom Robinson.
There’s plenty to see and do when the sun goes down. Returning to the Alcove Stage this year is Keith Allen Presents, and every evening Keith will showcase special guests until the early hours alongsideThe Alcove House Band, ‘The Musiquarians' ft. Rev Chunky, and DJ Will Cookson. Across the weekend, DJs will take the helm in the most inimitable of surroundings of the Woods Stage providing a party like no other, includingOllie Twists and Mr Ben & Rama. The previously announced Late Night DJs also take over The Comedy Arena. Sing your heart out during Rave Karaoke and Massaoke, or join in on London’s biggest and best indie dance party Buttoned Down Disco. Guilty Pleasures brings all-girl Bruce Springsteen tribute The She Street Band to the festival, while over in Pandora’s Playground The Disco Shed returns for late night al fresco dancing.
The culturally enriching experience of this year’s comedy, theatre, and arts roster is set to be the festival’s most diverse and forward-thinking yet. The Music and Film Arena is a haven for culture vultures, as the bill offers up insightful documentaries, stimulating discussions, first-see film screenings, and music performances. Announced today, multi-award-winning actor, director, and current Crystal Maze Master Richard Ayoade joins the bill in conversation with the UK's leading film critic Mark Kermode. In the evening, rising rap star MC Flohio and viral sensation Jimothy Lacoste join Sound System legends Trojan Sound System. There will also be a screening of documentary Boom for Real, exploring the pre-fame years of the celebrated American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Catch Mo Gilligan, Tim Key and satirist Jonathan Pie, brand new BBC Radio 4 panel show Where’s the F in News, Mock The Week regular James Acaster, comedian and presenter Joel Dommett, and Black Books star Dylan Moran
Over at The SpeakEasy, Latitude attendees can immerse themselves in lively debate and discussion from the brightest voices. Added to the bill today are champion beatboxer Grace Savage, and the Wellcome Book Prize who presentWhere’s Your Head At?, featuring current bestseller Christie Watson and ‘the female Brian Cox’, Hannah Crichtlow. Latitude favourite Robin Ince will preview his new Edinburgh show Chaos of Delight - a frenetic hour of art, science and stupid voices, and host The Magick of Future with Dr Suzi Gage and Dr Lucy Rogers. This year’s festival will open its doors to former Labour leader Ed Miliband, and Geoff Lloyd for their award-winning hit podcast Reasons to be Cheerful, as well as Jessie Ware’s chart-topping podcast Table Manners, and documentary maker Reggie Yates.
The first-ever UK Theatre of Food at Latitude Festival sees acclaimed chefs, food authors and culinary gurus explore and explain the forgotten skills of the culinary world. Latitude food lovers can explore the forgotten skill of cooking with fire with Gill Meller, inhale the aroma of homemade bread with Food Writer of the Year Felicity Cloake, plus there will be an unmissable spice-filled session with recent Guild of Food Writers award winner Meera Sodha who will delve deep into the majesty of India’s magnificently diverse cuisines. The world’s leading investigative food writer and recent Guild of Food Writers award winner Joanna Blythman will be in-conversation with Irish food writer John McKenna about the myriad machinations of the food industry, and Chefs Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich of Honey & Co will be interviewed about their lives in food and their new book Middle Eastern Recipes.
Latitude runs from Thursday 12th – Sunday 15th July 2018. Buy tickets here.
