Latitude 2015 .. the curtain falls

Dear Sheddists,

the rain comes during the night, but fortunately not hard enough to spoil the last day of Latitude 2015.  It's not long before the sun returns, drying the fields before they have the chance to be churned into mud.

Today we've decided to stay put at the Obelisk Arena as it boasts the best line-up of the festival by some margin, even if they're all well-known names.  Mrs electrofried bags a couple of seats in one of the stands at the back as I go off in search of yet more ridiculously over-priced festival cider.

So here's what the day brings...

Gareth Malone and the Voices of the Latitude Choir - deliver a short and punchy set. Despite just a few days of practice the choir of amateurs perform remarkably well.

Naomi Shelton and The Gospel Queens - continue the day in suitably fine style. Confined to a wheelchair and now in her 70s Naomi brings a warmth and a joy to proceedings supported by some fine musicians and backing vocalists.  Soul for the soul.

The Boomtown Rats - the ever narcissistic Master Geldof bounds onstage in a snakeskin suit and promptly proceeds to berate the audience for not dressing up.  Perhaps it might have been better if the audience had instead reminded him about growing up, his performance punctuated at regular intervals by foul language and inane boasts. Many of the audience head out muttering under their breath - hardly the hit of the festival.

Seasick Steve - fortunately revives the party spirit with a superb set of hocum blues played on an increasingly bizarre series of home-fashioned instruments.  Very, very good indeed and he has the audience eating from his hand. Quite a contrast with the tawdry act that preceded  him.

The Manic Street Preachers - unashamedly play their greatest hits and whilst I'm not the most ardent of fans it's clear even to me they've amassed a fine collection of songs over the years. It presages the way for the final act of the festival.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - I'm not expecting to enjoy this quite as much as I do. Noel and his band play songs from their latest album and Oasis covers in about equal measure, all of which are rapturously received.  Fittingly they end with 'Don't look back in anger' and the traditional hands in the air audience sing-a-long.


So that was Latitude 2015.  Some great music (Public Service Broadcasting, Femi Kuti, Seasick Steve and Noel Gallagher standing to the fore), some great culture (who can forget the magnificent first-night ballet on the water by Studio Festi culminating in an ear-shattering fireworks display) and some decent weather.

A fine way indeed to celebrate ten years of festival fun.