Latitude gets underway

13 July 2007

MORE rain is on the horizon but that will not dampen the spirits of thousands of music-lovers at the region's biggest festival this weekend.

The second Latitude Festival, held again at Henham Park, between Halesworth and Southwold, gets properly underway today.

Hundreds of festival-goers started to arrive at the estate last night for the pre-festival entertainment and thousands more are expected to make their way there today.

Irish singer Damien Rice is set to entertain crowds as the first headlining act tonight while the Good, the Bad and the Queen take centre stage tomorrow night and Arcade Fire close the festival on Sunday.

There is also poetry, comedy, literature and cabaret over the three-day event which will see 20,000 people go through the gates.

The weather forecast for the weekend looks set to be dry for the first two days but then thundery showers are expected to hit the region.

John Law, WeatherQuest forecaster, said: “It look like Saturday is going to be the best day. It could be a bit cloudy at first but will be warm and dry.

“As you head through to Sunday, although it will be a warm day, you should see some thundery showers later on.”

Organisers, however, are not bothered about the rain.

Melvin Benn, festival creator, who is also behind Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading festivals, said: “It will be lovely if the rain does hold off but it is not a weather-dependent festival.”

The music starts today at 11.45am on the …. Stage and then the Main Stage, an open-air arena, will open at 2pm.

The Magic Numbers are expected to be on at 7pm, Wilco at 8pm and Damien Rice at 9pm or 9.30pm until 11pm.