Live Review Guide
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Latitude once again proved why it remains one of the UK’s most loved festivals. Having been fortunate enough to attend many times over the years, we’ve watched it grow, evolve and adapt while staying true to the creative spirit that has always made it stand apart. This milestone year felt like a celebration not only of the festival itself but of the thousands of people who continue to return year after year.
Festival Diversity
One of Latitude’s greatest strengths has always been its diversity. It’s a festival where you’ll discover your next favourite band alongside artists you’ve admired for decades, all while being surrounded by comedy, theatre, literature, wellness, art installations and some of the friendliest festival-goers you’ll ever meet. That variety and general festival camaraderie is what keeps people coming back. This year’s programme showcased exactly why Latitude continues to occupy such a unique place in the UK’s festival calendar.
Musical Highlights
Our own personal musical highlights across the weekend reflects that diversity perfectly. Overpass brought infectious rock energy and was a new band to us, while seeing The Beta Band was a genuine favourite for us specifically. Their return was well worth the wait and one of those moments that reminded us why live music remains so powerful. Equally, veteran performer Billy Ocean delivered a slick feel-good set with plenty of charisma and demonstrated why his catalog of classic hits continues to resonate across generations. While The Undertones proved that great punk never dies, offering a high-energy set packed with infectious, familiar riffs across their timeless classics.
Credit: Roses and Light Photography.
If there was one performance that truly sent the goosebumps up our arms, it was Alex James Britpop Classical. Reimagining Britpop classics with a full orchestra accompaniment could have felt like a novelty, but instead, it became one of the defining performances of the weekend. Familiar songs were given deep emotion, creating a celebration of an era that felt both nostalgic and completely fresh.
Other charmed performances that punctuated the festival for us were Tom Grennan, headlining the Second Stage on Friday night, who delivered one of the most energetic performances of the weekend, effortlessly connecting with the crowd from the off.
The Last Dinner Party combined theatrical visuals with outstanding musicianship to produce one of the festival’s most striking sets followed by headliner Teddy Swims on the Obelisk Main Stage on Saturday night. His soulful vocals coupled with the urban lounge aesthetic gave the whole performance a relaxed vibe – with his backing vocalists perched on a sofa as if they were jamming in someone’s front room. Sunday afternoon on the Second Stage, Peter Hook and The Light demonstrated why those unmistakable basslines from New Order and Joy Division continue to influence generations of musicians.
Relentless Sunshine
Befittingly, the English weather became part of the narrative too. Festival-goers were treated to four days of near relentless sunshine and high temperatures, exceptionally dry, dusty ground and a persistent wind that tested sun hats and patience in equal measure. Yet, as is often the case with Latitude, the shared experience became another talking point rather than a full-on distraction. It became another chapter in a memorable weekend.
Latitude has always been more than its headline acts. It’s about wandering up to a stage and discovering an artist you’ve never crossed paths with before, or stumbling across an inspiring speaker or performer, enjoying the outstanding food and drink on offer and most of alll just spending four days immersed in an alternate universe of boundless creativity. Even after so many years in attendance, that’s something in our opinion that this festival always does exceptionally well.
Twenty Year Anniversary
Twenty years is a remarkable achievement in an increasingly competitive festival landscape, but Latitude feels as relevant today as ever. The team behind the weekend have managed to honour the festival’s heritage while continuing to evolve with new audiences, fresh ideas and an eclectic programme that genuinely offers something for everyone.
Here’s to twenty incredible years and to twenty more to come! Roll on 2027!
- Latitude Festival 2026, Suffolk – Gig Review - August 6, 2026
- Latitude Festival 2025, Suffolk – Gig Review - August 1, 2025
- Latitude 2024 – Festival Review - August 5, 2024
