I enjoyed the Lake Stage acts a lot more this year, although all the best acts (Everything Everything, Standard Fare and Frankie and the Heartstrings) would all have been better at the Sunrise as the sound there is far superior.

I'd like to see an 'old farts acoustic tent' - for more established folky acts like Martin Stephenson, Roddy Frame. It would be nice to see smaller/less popular established acts alongside the up and coming bands. Maybe that scale of act could be covered in a space with the jazz/experimental and soul that several people have mentioned as lacking.

Another gripe was definatly the fact flags were getting into the Arena even though its not allowed. Grrrr that annoyed me, especially the one that said 'finsbury' and the yellow LSD smiling flag. Everywhere i went, they were there aswell.  >.<

starless73

Suggestions:  Offer one DJ option with rock or indie rather than just pop?

Yes!

3) there are 30 showers for both men and women seperately,though they are communal. There are usually massive queues for the womens showers on the saturday only.They can be found next to the welfare tent in the Village. lucky everyone ( but mostly lucky guys ,who dont have to queue)

Yes, I know that. The point I was making is that Family Camping get showers within their campsite – even if it is only 8. Most of us camping back in the green campsite make do with a bowl of water and a bar of soap and just hope our hair doesn't look as bad as it feels! Which is fine. But a shower block back in the green campsite would be much appreciated.

SECOND THE CD STALL

You mean the Rough Trade tent there was in 09?

Muller tent back pl0x

Good shout Sowerby. And the Kellogs as well.

I think Moosecow has got it spot on.  This was my first Latitude and the first time I have taken my kids to a festival although I am a veteran of many a "hard core" festival in my younger days.  When 30,000 people gather in one place there are bound to be a few inconsiderate types (I especailly dislike the ones who sit and chat loudly through sets which other people are trying to enjoy) but on the whole I think the poeple who attend Latitude are incredibly well behaved and the whole event is very civlised.  I remember the days when you were lucky to come home from a festival without your head scarred from flying cans of **** being hurled all over the arena.
 
For me ( and my two 9 year old girls), best things were:
 
1: The picnic tables and general feel of the Lakeside arena area.  I attended with my kids on my own and it was great to have somewhere I could leave them safely for a few minutes whilst going off to get a beer (or a ****).  Also, thanks to the very nice people who we met whilst eating and drinking there who looked after them for the brief spells I was away.
2: The Pizza men in the kids arena.  A brilliantly mad puppet show involving fruit and lovely fesh pizzas which put the so called "posh" food stands to shame (See below).
3: Getting in and out.  We arrived mid Thursday afternoon and I was pleasantly surprised how quickly we got in and settled.
4: The family camping concept, and I do feel sorry for those who had to camp next to teenage tw*ts instead.  By the way, we camped at the far end of it so did not get to use the "posh" toilets, but I thought the standard toilets were really not that bad by festival standards; and if you cannot cope without a shower for three days I really think you need to get a little perspective about what really matters in life!
5: Belle and Sebastian, because I wasn't really into them before and only went to see them because the Word ( where XX were on) was too busy for my kids to see and I was really charmed by them.
6:  The "book at bedtime" in the literary tent.  Mad fun for kids.
 
Suggestions for improvement:
 
1: More variety of food.  There was too much junk food and poor quality.  The "Posh" food was surely the worst culprit.  There products were about as posh as Collen Rooney on a hen night  (and probably contained a simlilar fat content !)
2:  Everything felt just a little too busy.  I did not use the supermarket at all because it always had a ridiculous queue outside, as did many other facilities.  It can't be that hard to predict supply and demand when you know the precise numbers (and demographic) of those attending.  Please FR- do your homework and put it right! (You'll also make more money that way!!)
3: Better communication of what's on when.  The programmes were great but you sohuld not have to rely on them.  Having paid all that for a ticket I think you are entitled to be told when and where the acts are on without having to pay extra.
 
Overall, I think Latitude was brilliant and will definately be back.
 
 
 
 

moosecow


It's the second time I've been to Latitude and this was a much more enjoyable experience than the first all round, mainly because of the weather and the quality of the acts. First rate and a very pleasant environment.

Gripes however:

1. surely, in 2010, toilet technology has advanced far enough that we don't have to endure such horrendous conditions
2. programmes had sold out by the morning of day two. Surely FR must have known how many they would expect to sell - this must have meant that no day ticket holders at all on Sunday were able to buy one!

3. echoing others - if you increase the capacity, you have to increase the size of the tents. That's a no brainer.

I also, however, have a major gripe with the clientèle and some of their responses on this thread to...the clientèle!

The place is, as you all know, absolutely rammed with people called Felix, Harvey and Jemima, wearing deck shoes and up turned collars, pushing babies in buggies that cost more than most cars, and complaining that they don't know who any of the bands are (not hard when the only CD's in your collection are Coldplay and The Beautiful South). They are offensively inoffensive and cause no bother at all beyond talking loudly in posh accents during the quiet bits.

The idea that the acts this year (Florence, Vampire Weekend and B&S for goodness sake!) attracted an undesirable 'rabble' is absolute madness! Where do the people who complained about this live, and have they ever been to any other live arts events in their lives?!
God help them if FR had booked acts like The Twang, The Courteeners, Trivium, Giggs or Motorhead, or even more chart friendly mainstream acts like Arctic Monkeys and The Libertines. They'd never have left the comfort of their 4x4's!

I have never been to a major event with a more sedate atmosphere. It was far from flawless, but with 30,000 people it never would be - a few people need a reality check!

Well done FR - I for one very much enjoyed myself!

That's the area for you I'm afraid.

I go to Southwold alot and it has changed over the years because it is full of the clientele that you describe above, who go for the weekend because it's oh so quaint, so for me it's lost it's appeal, I haven't had the fortune to attend Latitude as yet but this is something that puts me off slightly. I saw it happen with the Fairy Fair in the last few years, that said it won't stop me going!

I know its one of my old threads but, BUMP.

Annie, can you have a cheeky gander at some of our gripes please?
I realise you cant / wont reduce the capacity, thats fair enough but, yeah, its always good to have constructive criticism, even if, i admit mine were, maybe a bit over the top in retrospect.

This being said, PLEASE CAN WE HAVE THE LONGDROPS BACK?
 
PLEASE PLEASE PLEEEASE? 

red_pumps


4) Under 18's campsite - I know I don't camp because my boyfriend only lives 15 minutes from the site but why don't you stick the little ****s together so they don't ***s the over 18's off? Kids below 18 are annoying and need to be shot. (im talking about the 13-17 year olds that are living off mummy and daddy's estate) I know this wouldn't happen but its a suggestion to say the least ;]

 
I know this is an old post, but this has really annoyed me. Can everybody stop generalising?
 
Last year at the festival I was 17, I know there are some people who could do with calming down and being respectful, but they're not all under 18, and neither is it the majority. I know it's all hypothetical, but having an under 18 campsite would penalise people like me, who were very considerate of all other festival goers, I would have been very annoyed if this were to happen. 

This year i think there will be a lot more over 30 s at latitude. I must know 20 more people that are going this year and half of them are over 40 .

Yeah I agree Flegg, but this year...my younger sister is coming...watch out everyone! *facepalm*

You're right Lozzy, that original post, with its odd 'under 18 campsite' idea, doesn't sound very welcoming, the poster really hasn't got a very inclusive attitude, at all.  Personally I can't the the idea of age-rated campsites ever taking off, or being needed.

Can everybody stop generalising?
 
Brilliant.
 
Saying that, I completely agree with you, an under 18s campsite, or the idea that people under 18 are somehow annoying is very silly.  I shouldn't worry about it, it isn't going to happen.
 
 

I believe that all the gripes and general comments were addressed with Melvin in the Q&A.

Don't worry, i'm not worrying. It just wouldn't happen, and i'm 18 now anyway =P