Latitude 2009

[kyser_soze]

Echo what tommers and Skyscraper have said - great atmosphere, absolutely gorgeous site (woods! lake!) which was big enough to have a proper wander and small enough that you could get between acts quickly.

Musically my highlights were PSB and Nick Cave - I've heard very little of Mr Cave and it's rare that a live show will convert me but...wow, that's all I can say! Thom Yorke was really good too, and there was plenty of cheesy and fine dance music played in the forest on the Sunrise and Theatre in the Woods stages.

Do I prefer it to Glasto...yeah probably. Not just the fact that despite the showers being really heavy it never got muddy but also the general 'vibe' - much more chilled out, less hectic etc...got to see some excellent theatre, hell I even went and listened to some poetry!

OH yeah, and watching Janeane Garafalo tank spectactularly in the comedy tent was pure gold, bless her...

 

[marshall]

4th year for us, but 1st year the site’s had to deal with significant rain and after the biblical downpour on Thursday we feared the worse. But hey, pop out the tent on Fri morning and it’s already pretty much dried out.

Great place for the children, quite happy to let my 11 and 13 year old girls and their friends wander about the arena and the woods on their own and check in with us every couple of hours.

What with the lake and woods I reckon it’s the best setting on the festie calendar.

 

[WBC-WORKER]

4th year for us, but 1st year the site’s had to deal with significant rain and after the biblical downpour on Thursday we feared the worse. But hey, pop out the tent on Fri morning and it’s already pretty much dried out.

Great place for the children, quite happy to let my 11 and 13 year old girls and their friends wander about the arena and the woods on their own and check in with us every couple of hours.

What with the lake and woods I reckon it’s the best setting on the festie calendar.

Unlike Glastonbury which is mainly clay under foot Latitude has far better drainage hence why the rain does not turn the ground to mud.

I have also worked there every year and really it was a big surprise how heavy the rain was - it was sods law it was so sunny on the Monday with clear skies in all directions.

Its my favourite festival of the season even although I see very little of the acts
but I still have a good time.

brian

 

[marshall]

You’re not the bloke on the lake with the punt are you? Had pretty much the same convo with him about varying festival soil types…

So you went 2006? I reckon there can only have been 7,000 people tops that year and gorgeous all w/e long. Bliss.

 

[skyscraper101]

Going by the username I'd hazard a guess that he's from the Workers Beer Company

I too had about four or five conversations with people about the more sandy based soil allowing superb drainage and nearly almost no mud, despite the torrential downpour on Thursday night. A welcome relief from the images of Glastonbury mud baths in years gone by.

I should also say, the plastic beer cup/deposit thing was a great idea. Should be standard for all festies IMHO. There did seem to be a lot less litter about as a result.

 

[WBC-WORKER]

Going by the username I'd hazard a guess that he's from the Workers Beer Company

I too had about four or five conversations with people about the more sandy based soil allowing superb drainage and nearly almost no mud, despite the torrential downpour on Thursday night. A welcome relief from the images of Glastonbury mud baths in years gone by.

I should also say, the plastic beer cup/deposit thing was a great idea. Should be standard for all festies IMHO. There did seem to be a lot less litter about as a result.

Yes I am with the WBC and have been a volunteer for the past twenty years .

As it happens I know Hektor { the landowner } who had a survey down before Latitude was first started in 2006 and due to some Ice shelf god knows how many years ago that area has very good drainage.

He was about delivering his own Firkins and I would put a good bet he was telling all the staff he ran into about the drainage.

A few years ago Hektor made his first Glastonbury visit and he was shocked at the heavy mud so he is very proud of his drainage.

With regards the Biodegradable Cups

most of the cups on site are plain cups. These are used up to 100 times (being thoroughly cleaned and sanitised each time of course).

The Multicolored cups may appear at first glance as all the same but turn them over and you will see a number from 0 to 9

The 2009 design had the word Latitude in large letters and this had the number 4 on the base.

They are a good idea although they do take up a huge amount of space { both new and used have to be stored separately }

Brian

 

[tommers]

I noticed Hektor's beer for sale actually... I didn't realise who he was... what kind of beer is it? Is it nice?

 

[skyscraper101]

I noticed Hektor's beer for sale actually... I didn't realise who he was... what kind of beer is it? Is it nice?

I tried the Hectors Pure and it was all I had all weekend it was so nice.

I didn't get a multi coloured cup though

 

[ouchmonkey]

those cups do seem a good idea but would it hurt to put out some info on it so the poor bar staff didn't have to explain to every single person on site?
It would also help their much cherished green credentials if there was some more provision for recycling in the camping too, 'cos basically there's hardly any so everything goes in the landfill dumpsters anyway - and there ain't enough of them either.
In fact, for a generally very well (over)organised festival there's not enough places to put yer rubbish, not enough toilets and not enough bars either - 4 yrs in i'd expect them to be doing a touch better on those basics

 

[WBC-WORKER]

those cups do seem a good idea but would it hurt to put out some info on it so the poor bar staff didn't have to explain to every single person on site?
It would also help their much cherished green credentials if there was some more provision for recycling in the camping too, 'cos basically there's hardly any so everything goes in the landfill dumpsters anyway - and there ain't enough of them either.
In fact, for a generally very well (over)organised festival there's not enough places to put yer rubbish, not enough toilets and not enough bars either - 4 yrs in i'd expect them to be doing a touch better on those basics

------------- Cups --------

I was working in the WBC Campsite Bar which is only open to staff this year but in previous years every large bar displayed a large sign stating the Cups are Biodegradable but are reusable up to 100 times although I did not enter any large bar from the front so cant swear if they were in use this year.

If you check the book its covered on page 294

------------ Hektors Real Ale --------

Both Pure and Scarecrow are classed as ' Bright ' Ale

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bright_beer

This was because the first year when only a few firkins were produced { conventional real ale } Hektor soon discovered that transporting real Ale over fields had a huge disadvantage as the ale had to be rested { for up to 48 hours }

I have to admit I am not a Real Ale Drinker but I could see the frustrating when Customers could see the firkins but they remained untapped .

Anyway Hektor learned by that first year and he changed the process to bright ale which solved the problem.

He has limited information at

http://www.hektorsbrewery.com/

I do know that most Real Ale drinkers are very keen on Hektors Ale.

---------- How to get a hold of a Multicolored Cup -------

The majority are used on the Sunday although the smaller Bars will not issue them.

The Main bars are - ' The Campsite bar ' { near the village shop }
the Workers Charter { near the Comedy Area } Bread and Roses { near the Uncut stage } Dreamtime { near the Lake Stage } these are large enough to store all the cups. { see image at the bottom - these are large plastic flight cases as the cups do take up a huge amount of space { 220 in each box }}

One of the Main bars will be called up on the Hour and they will be asked to pass out the Multicolored Cup's for the next hour and one hour later they will call up the next main bar that way more people get the chance to get their hands on one.

Rather than placing a order look at the back of the bar and if they are using the Multicolored Cup's you will see they are using them beside the MDU's { the machine that pours a dozen pints at a time }

Bar Managers can only issue them when its their Hour .

The three main arena bars are not all that far apart so with a few minuets investigation you are bound to find one who is using them.

best time is around 2 pm on the Sunday .


------------- Henham park -------

images can be seen at

http://www.henhampark.com/links.htm

and http://www.henhampark.com/08lat.htm

check back as he is bound to put 2009 Latitude images up.

Yes I know it does not make sense not to have better images on

http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/ but Hektor does not have direct access to that site.

-------------- recycling ---------

I did not camp in the normal camping area but I do know the crew area { which is huge } were recycling and all the traders were also recycling.

You will not be aware but there is a hidden crew access route so crews can reach the arena without having to queue up and part of this road goes past the recycling unit where a whole Team of people were busy working.

Traders and Crew were issued clear recycling bags which for once clearly spelled out what can be recycled.

Going by the handbook page 293 it does state that campers were issued some recycling bags but there may have been a demand for more - I will mention it to Hektor with regards the normal camping area as I am sure he is keen to cover the whole event.

Now I work at many events per year and I know how much care goes into the planning but they are always keen for practical ideas to make it better and I can send the best onto Hektor who will pass it on to the planning Team.

By far Latitude is a very happy festival and I am glad to see that reported crime was down from last year

Brian