Welcome to Latitude’s monthly music round up, Latitude Loves Music, where we bring you closer to the action of your favourite artists by taking a deep dive into the gig circuit. This March, we’re reviewing the fantastic Dry Cleaning, Black Midi and George Ezra.
Dry Cleaning
Beginning with a lively viewing of Dry Cleaning, Florence Shaw’s gravelly voice meets the microphone, asking the audience “Is there a Gary Ashby in the audience?”. You could almost hear a pin drop before the uproar of the crowd took hold of the air, shortly after catapulting into the thunderous bass line from the track of the same name. The South London four-piece bolstered the post-punk sprechgesang movement with a sold-out performance. In a percussive solo, where one shaker can shudder the wild out of even the most timid soul, the band steers near to a cosmic level in their track “Strong Feelings”. Their commanding presence once again confirmed their status, in an ever-changing and often oversaturated genre. Latitude will welcome Dry Cleaning to the BBC Sounds Stage on Friday 21st July.
Black Midi
Black Midi came by storm on a gloriously-dreary Sunday. Touring their third album, Hellfire, the band took their growing reputation to a new level with a theatrical evening of live music and a few unexpected guests which took their audiences by surprise. (Was that Harry Hill I saw?). Their setlist weaved through complex works, with a similar tension to a boxing match. The guitars initiated a melodic altercation with the drum and brass sections in “The Race Is About To Begin”. We were led across the ring, light on our feet in the delicate almost-romantic waltz in tracks such as “Still”. All while mischievous characters such as Bugsy Malone took to the stage, leaving audiences equally bewildered and intrigued. Hoping for a set which packs a punch? We recommend heading over to the BBC Sounds Stage on Sunday to get in on the fun!
George Ezra
The all-embracing British showman George Ezra let the sun radiate throughout the venue as he took the stage once more to grace his crowd with his trademark pop. Jumping right into the beautiful track “In the Morning”, it immediately felt like if there was ever a song to sum up that euphoric festival feeling you get when you’re surrounded by the people you love, this would be it. In-between songs, the popular artist took some time to poetically describe the inspiration behind some of his greatest hits, with the upbeat “Green Green Grass” being one of them. Throughout the show, the talented singer-songwriter was joined by his enthralling live band to create a summer carnival, perfectly timed just as we’re coming into early spring. From melodic tear jerkers such as “Barcelona” to bouncy hits like “Cassy O’”, Ezra took the crowd on an emotional journey that touched the hearts of all, unifying them through his soulful lyrics like, “Don’t we all need love, the answer is easy”. We can’t wait for him to bring his ravishing show to Latitude later this year.
That’s it, Latitude-ers. The best of the best from this month. But clearly, we can’t leave it there, so keep your eyes peeled for next month’s issue. We’re not giving away any clues, but it’s going to be special. And naturally, make sure to grab your tickets for the biggest party of the year to catch all of these fantastic bands live at Latitude.
