Latitude Hailed A Success

United Kingdom | | 18 July 2006

Latitude festival's landowner has hailed the inaugral event a "sensational" success, especially in terms of its environmental impact, and predicts it will be back next year...

More than 10,000 people attended the first ever Latitude Festival at Henham Park, near Southwold in Suffolk.

The three-day festival was bathed in sunshine all weekend with marquees hosting music, theatre, comedy and poetry all packed with festival goers.

Snow Patrol, Saul Williams, The Lemonheads, Patti Smith, Antony & The Johnsons, Mercury Rev, Mogwai and more all played well received sets.

However, it was arguably the theatre, poetry, cabaret and comedy tents that proved the biggest talking points and the most interest.

Hektor Rous, who manages the Henham Park estate, said the festival had been “sensational”.

He said: “There has been a real buzz in the air and everyone has had a fantastic time. This has been the first year for the festival but it will come back. People have already started asking about it and I think it will be the hottest ticket in town next year.

“The first person across the bridge was smiling from ear to ear and we have seen thousands of happy people enjoying themselves. Every effort had been made to integrate the event with the environment with a bridge across the lake and restricted access to sensitive wildlife areas.

“The sort of people who have come are interested in the environment and they are not the kind of people who will do anything to harm it. They have thoroughly enjoyed the setting

“We are not trying to emulate other festivals. This is unique and in the years ahead will stay the way it has started.”

Latitude was organised by Mean Fiddler. To read VF's interview with head man Melvin Benn, who talks about his vision behind the festival, click here.