Leading music and arts festival Latitude festival returns to the picturesque grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk, on 20-23 July 2023 with Pulp, Paolo Nutini and George Ezra topping an eclectic bill where music meets the arts in a full on cultural explosion. Weekend tickets for the festival are on sale on Monday 4th November at 9am here.
Festival fans can prepare for a joyous weekend of uninhibited discovery with a bill packed with the most exciting artists across music and the arts plus foodie feasts, relaxing retreats, family fun and counter-cultural club nights. Today Latitude announces the first acts for its 17th edition with much more to come.
“What exactly do you do for an encore?” sang Jarvis Cocker on Pulp’s 1998 album, ‘This Is Hardcore’, Answering his own question with a social tease earlier this year, Cocker seemingly confirmed Pulp were reuniting, sending fans into a frenzy. Latitude can confirm the band will headline the festival on Friday night in celebration of of This Is Hardcore’s 25th anniversary.
Pulp released their first album, It, in 1983 but it wasn’t until the release of 1994’s ‘His ‘n’ Hers’ that Pulp found commercial success, with the band’s follow-up, ‘Different Class’, becoming one of the defining albums of the 90s. Originally breaking up in 2002, and then again in 2013, the years Pulp spent on hiatus saw Cocker launching several solo projects including a legendary solo performance at Latitude back in 2007. Jarvis once referred to Pulp as “a dormant volcano” and twelve years after Pulp famously headlined packed stages at Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds, expect the volcano to erupt again at Latitude in 2023.
Paolo Nutini makes a momentous return to Latitude headlining on Saturday night. Nutini’s 2011 fabled Latitude headline slot was named ‘Performance of the Year’ at UK Festival Awards and this year’s performance promises to be even better! A recap of everything Paolo has achieved to date reiterates his status as one of British music’s biggest success stories. Two of his three albums to date, ‘Sunny Side Up’ and ‘Caustic Love’, have hit #1 on the UK album charts as he amassed 8 million global album sales.. The Ivor Novello winner and multiple BRIT Award nominee has also collected a remarkable 18 Platinum certifications in the UK alone. New album ‘‘Last Night In The Bittersweet’ has extended that phenomenal success cruising to a third consecutive U.K. No. 1. It’s a 70-minute epic that spans the distance from classic rock to post-punk to hypnotic Krautrock and his deepest, most varied, most accomplished, and ultimately most rewarding set so far.
Famed for cultivating artists, Latitude is thrilled to welcome back George Ezra once again as the Sunday night headliner. Ezra packed out BBC Music Stage in 2014 and returned to thrill in the headline slot back in 2019. George returns to Latitude following acclaimed third UK Number One album ‘Gold Rush Kid’ including festival-ready hit singles ‘Anyone For You’ and ‘Green Green Grass’. The album has secured Ezra’s position as one of the most successful UK artists of the past decade and follows blockbuster albums – ‘Wanted On Voyage’ (2014) and ‘Staying At Tamara’s’ (2018), both of which reached number 1 in the UK and sold millions around the world, with the latter of which earning him his first No.1 single in ‘Shotgun’ and winning him the 2019 Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist.
George said, “I can’t wait to bring songs from Gold Rush Kid to life over the 2023 festival season. We’ll be performing on some of the biggest stages to the biggest crowds. I’ve been to Latitude a number of times as a fan and performer, and was lucky enough to headline there in 2019. It’s an honour and a pleasure to be invited back for 2023. See you there!”
Latitude is renowned for booking an exceptional array of musical talent and 2023 will take it to a whole new level. The Kooks mark the recent 15th anniversary of their iconic debut album ‘Inside In/Inside Out’ with a special Latitude performance featuring festival sized hits ‘Seaside’, ‘Ooh La’, ‘She Moves In Her Own Way’ and ‘Naïve’ plus selected tracks from across the rest of their six-album catalogue including acclaimed new album ‘10 Tracks To Echo In The Dark’.
The Kooks said, “Truly excited to be performing at Latitude for the very first time next year and can’t wait to see you all there !”
Also joining the bill are former members of the Beautiful South, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott who perform tracks from recent UK No.1 album ‘N.K-Pop’ which topped the charts just 19 months after its predecessor, Manchester Calling, achieved the same feat. The pair’s signature harmonies and energetic stage presence are legendary and fans can expect hits old and new. Also announced on the Latitude bill today is Metronomy, one of the UK’s best live bands who celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their career-changing album, ‘The English Riviera’ and acclaimed seventh studio album ‘Small World’.
An eclectic host of acts across the music stages await revellers, something for everyone would be an understatement. The first few acts announced today are a taste of what is to come. The queen of the kitchen disco Sophie-Ellis Bextor will bring some joy to Latitude alongside Scottish pop legends The Proclaimers who celebrate their momentous 40th anniversary and Lightning Seeds who will perform tracks from intoxicating new album ‘See You in The Stars’.
Across the weekend, visceral rock legends Black Midi bring their cacophonous brand of post-punk to Latitude in support of blistering new album ‘Hellfire’ and Mercury Prize-winning music group Young Fathers perform tracks from anticipated third album, ‘Heavy Heavy’. They are joined by New Zealand’s favourite guitar-pop band The Beths, The Big Moon who celebrate UK-Top 10 Album ‘Here Is Everything’ and theatrical female-five-piece The Dinner Party.
Latitude has never been just about the music – it’s a culturally enriching experience and this year’s comedy, theatre and arts roster is set to be the festival’s most diverse yet. Across the festival a stunning bill of world-class dance, cultural visionaries, poets, podcasters, and performance artists will be announced in due course in an arts bill without boundaries.
For 2023, expect Latitude’s huge foodie line up to be as exceptional as ever! 2022’s popular new restaurant, The Guest Chef, will return to the heart of the festival where each day, a much-loved familiar face will share the food that brings them joy with the festival audience. Theatre of Food, a fully immersive essential for any foodie, also returns to present wild cooking sessions, inspiring food demos and, of course, the chance to sample the food.
Families looking for quality time together need go no further than Latitude’s family programming allowing them to make some magic of their own. Across the weekend there will be family-friendly comedy, live music, dance and theatre, puppetry, award-winning children’s authors and more.
The opportunity to find sanctuary and recharge with nature is also top of the agenda at Latitude. This year Latitude attendees can indulge in lake swimming and stand up paddle boarding or retreat to Mind, Body & Zen’s sanctuary of calm with yoga classes, treatments, workshops and more all in celebration of mental wellbeing.
Ticket Information:
Barclaycard and Three pre-sale starts Wednesday 2nd November at 9am
Latitude fan pre-sale starts Friday 4th November at 8am – Sign up here
General on-sale starts Friday 4th November at 9am here
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