Latitude is absolutely delighted to announce that the legendary Tom Jones is set to appear at this year's Latitude Festival with a special performance on Thursday July 15th. The appearance with his band will see Tom performing songs from his forthcoming album 'Praise & Blame' at midnight In The Woods.

This landmark album comes in the singer’s 70th year, a glowing achievement in what has been a ground-breaking, unpredictable roller-coaster of a 45-year career.  The songs from ‘Praise & Blame’ (released 26th July on Island Records), are from a repertoire that includes American traditional, gospel and country, seeing Tom going back to his roots and creating a truly evocative musical work, aided and abetted by producer/musician Ethan Johns.

Tom Jones says of ‘Praise & Blame’: “It’s food for thought, it’s real, it’s natural, and in that sense it’s truly me.”

This performance by Tom Jones will quite possibly be blowing the leaves off the trees when he takes to the secluded and magical stage In The Woods at midnight….  

Warming up for Tom Jones are Les Clochards They began in 2005 when accordionist Karen Cleave and singer Ian Nixon decided that the chanson tradition is a deeper, wider seam than many had realised, linking Jacques Brel to Southern Soul via Gene Vincent. Fellow travellers and drinking partners Peter Momtchiloff, Gary Neville and Dean Ryan joined along the route, as French standards gave way to imperfectly beautiful original compositions. Their first LP ‘Sweet Tableaux’ was released on Big Red Sky Records in July 2009, following two well-received singles, and has attracted excellent reviews. That’s because it’s really, really good.

Tom Jones!  In the Woods?!  Flipping eck, that's taken me by surprise!  Seems I'll be busy on the Thursday than usual.  Cool announcement.

Wonder if I can keep my 12 year old awake that long??

vickithehippy


Wonder if I can keep my 12 year old awake that long??

Redbull!!!! he he

Latitude pulls one out of the bag again!!!

The is the weirdest and most unexpected announcement yet.

oh.

SG


The is the weirdest and most unexpected announcement yet.

Yep, my initial thoughts too.  But I soon started to think it's so weird it's genius and I now can't wait for it to happen

We actually totally surprised you there eh? :)

wayne77

vickithehippy


Wonder if I can keep my 12 year old awake that long??

Redbull!!!! he he

 
May have to resort to that. Just told him about TJ - he said 'who' - time for more education me thinks

Tom jones was to play at norwich football ground around the same time as latitude but it got stoper because of poor ticket sales. so now we have him a latitude on the thursday instead.  I did say on the sunday noon slot that he would play but I got the day wrong.
 
 

LOL so he can't get a paying audience.  That is very funny.

Yes!   Can I ask a serious question..is there room 'in the woods' ? If everyone went to see him as it is the first night , would they all fit?
and , does he play after Nigel Kennedy has finished ?

Tom Jones returns with a remarkable new collection of songs that examines choice and responsibility via a musical journey through the traditional spiritual repertoire. In his 70th year, this landmark album is a glowing achievement in what has been a ground-breaking, unpredictable roller-coaster of a 45-year career. The songs are taken from repertoire that includes American traditional, gospel and country, seeing Tom going back to his roots and creating a truly evocative musical work, aided and abetted by producer / musician Ethan Johns. From the opening track, a stunning version of Dylan's 'What Good Am I', the listener is invited on a forthright, reflective and poignant journey that explores the terrain of the conscience. Moving through a disconcerted 'Did Trouble Me', a gut-howling version of John Lee Hooker's 'Burning Hell', and on to the exhortations of the album closer 'Run On'.

Tom Jones Discography : http://www.discoogle.com/wiki/Jones%2C_Tom_Discography
Tom Jones Lyrics : http://www.discoogle.com/wiki/Jones%2C_Tom_Lyrics

SG


The is the weirdest and most unexpected announcement yet.

Thats putting it mildly!!

Today programme talking about old TJ ... apparently his record company hates this album ... which actually makes me interested.
The pundit has compared it to Metal Machine Music and Revolver (in, uh, terms of departure from previous style rather than the actual music)

good points comradem.
 
i'm interested too. twenty years ago you couldnt have paid me to watch tom jones, mainly cos he, along with engelbert humpy, were always on my dads stereo when i was little and i hated it.
 
now, i think hes not only become less of a pastiche of himself, but what hes chosen to do with his music is pretty interesting as you say. thi was interesting end last week: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jul/01/tom-jones-interview
 
as asked above, it would be useful to know how many can fit in the woods to watch though!

norfolkmist does have a point. there's likely to be around 10-15,000 on site on Thursday night, and at midnight, there's nothing else on (assuming the brilliant Nigel Kennedy finishes earlier).  While not everyone loves TJ, everyone's heard of him, and he's a big enough catch that people who aren't overly bothered (myself included) are likely to go along anyway (its not like we're all shattered by midnight on the first night!).  If I remember, the "In the woods" stage fits just a few hundred in the designated clearing, is on a sideways slope, and is right by  the entrance to the VIP/staff camping entrance.  Also, because it is in the woods, the surrounding wooded areas aren't easily all cordoned off - so either you'll need a huge security presence to deal with thousands of hyped-up revellers trying to clamber through the scrubland (hardly a good way to create a good mood to start the festival with), or you have a serious safety issue with a sloping, dark woodland with far too many people in it.

Anyway, the point is, brilliant scoop with TJ, its just a shame he wasn't billed in the midday Sunday slot....or if he has to be keep at the same slot, at midnight on Thursday, why not put him on after Kennedy on the lake stage? - turn the sound up a bit and you can hear and see him over most of the central area of the festival, and even sit down on the picnick tables and enjoy a late pint while you do so!

Well Said ..on the first night it will a 'must see once' opportunity !
Definately a Health and Safety issue ...just imagine the headlines..Festival goers trampled watching Tom Jones!
 
Annie /Roger  ?

Whoa whoa.  Sorry, I'm definitely on here in a totally unofficially capacity - I'm a forum member because I love the festival too, I was interested in what people were saying, then I kinda got sucked into posting (that'll be because of my big mouth then) - so I never get involved in discussing things like this, it really wouldn't be right.
 
Now, ask me about Walkway or Grouchy's tights... or Walkway in tights, now there's a thing!