Latest news with #LatitudeFestival
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Region's artists 'cannot wait' to play at Latitude
Artists from across the East of England have spoken of their joy at being selected to perform at this summer's Latitude Festival. More than 10 independent performers from the region will take to the BBC Introducing stages at this year's event in Suffolk, from 24 to 27 July. One of those artists - Claudia Kate, from Cambridge - said she had dreamed of playing there since her mid-teens and she "cannot wait". Colchester multi-instrumentalist Porteous added it would be "the best thing in the world". Taking place at Henham Park, near Southwold, the line-up boasts big-name headliners Sting, Fatboy Slim and Snow Patrol. The new local additions will join several other BBC Introducing and First Light Festival picks from Suffolk and Norfolk that were announced in April. The previously selected acts will perform on the Alcove Stage and in The Sunrise Arena, while the latest cohort of emerging artists to be announced will perform in the Lavish Lounge. Claudia Kate's music is said to reflect her passion for helping others feel more confident, and "has a sound that sits somewhere between the outspokenness of Kate Nash and the honest musicality of Maggie Rogers". Supported by BBC Introducing throughout her career, Radio 1's Jess Iszatt described her music as "warming, raw, nostalgic and feel-good". "I am very, very grateful [for the opportunity] and I cannot wait," the artist said. "I went to Latitude when I was like 16, and I went to the BBC Introducing stage and I was like, 'One day I will be there.' So this is so cool." Meanwhile, 26-year-old Porteous - real name Benjamin Porteous-Butler - will take indie funk and rock influences to the festival. "It will be the best thing in the world and it will be honestly amazing," he said. "It's like a dream of mine [to play Latitude]. It will be incredible." Formed in 2018 in reaction to the "over-saturation of electronic music", Steppers Division, from Norfolk, said they would take the Latitude audience "on a journey". "We try to really show our range, all the energies and emotions and experiences," the group said. "There will be lots of dancing, lots of really deep, soulful vibes and bits of reggae – there are no limits." Morgan, who was chosen to perform by BBC Introducing Three Counties and Northants, said she was "super excited". "If you are a fan of 'girl boss' music and dancing in the woods, then this is the place to be," she said. "I will be performing songs from my recent EP and you are absolutely going to love it." Afterdrive Alice Lily Arthur Black Chest Ellie Dixon Floral Image Fran Lusty Fraser Morgan Great Adamz Jazmine Banks and The Wild Hearts Lottie Gray Monster Florence Peonie Pozzy Ralph Taylor Shaggy fx Tiny Umbrellas Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk. 'We're so honoured to be playing Latitude' New local acts added to Latitude Festival line-up BBC Introducing Latitude Festival
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
East of England music acts 'cannot wait' for Latitude slot
Artists from across the East of England have spoken of their joy at being selected to perform at this summer's Latitude Festival. More than 10 independent performers from the region will take to the BBC Introducing stages at this year's event in Suffolk, from 24 to 27 of those artists - Claudia Kate, from Cambridge - said she had dreamed of playing there since her mid-teens and she "cannot wait".Colchester multi-instrumentalist Porteous added it would be "the best thing in the world". Taking place at Henham Park, near Southwold, the line-up boasts big-name headliners Sting, Fatboy Slim and Snow new local additions will join several other BBC Introducing and First Light Festival picks from Suffolk and Norfolk that were announced in previously selected acts will perform on the Alcove Stage and in The Sunrise Arena, while the latest cohort of emerging artists to be announced will perform in the Lavish Lounge. Claudia Kate's music is said to reflect her passion for helping others feel more confident, and "has a sound that sits somewhere between the outspokenness of Kate Nash and the honest musicality of Maggie Rogers". Supported by BBC Introducing throughout her career, Radio 1's Jess Iszatt described her music as "warming, raw, nostalgic and feel-good"."I am very, very grateful [for the opportunity] and I cannot wait," the artist said."I went to Latitude when I was like 16, and I went to the BBC Introducing stage and I was like, 'One day I will be there.' So this is so cool." Meanwhile, 26-year-old Porteous - real name Benjamin Porteous-Butler - will take indie funk and rock influences to the festival."It will be the best thing in the world and it will be honestly amazing," he said."It's like a dream of mine [to play Latitude]. It will be incredible." Formed in 2018 in reaction to the "over-saturation of electronic music", Steppers Division, from Norfolk, said they would take the Latitude audience "on a journey"."We try to really show our range, all the energies and emotions and experiences," the group said."There will be lots of dancing, lots of really deep, soulful vibes and bits of reggae – there are no limits." Morgan, who was chosen to perform by BBC Introducing Three Counties and Northants, said she was "super excited"."If you are a fan of 'girl boss' music and dancing in the woods, then this is the place to be," she said."I will be performing songs from my recent EP and you are absolutely going to love it." Who are the other regional BBC Introducing acts? Afterdrive Alice LilyArthur Black Chest Ellie DixonFloral ImageFran Lusty Fraser MorganGreat AdamzJazmine Banks and The Wild HeartsLottie Gray Monster FlorencePeoniePozzy Ralph TaylorShaggy fxTiny Umbrellas Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Minecraft fan wins Latitude festival poetry competition for kids
A seven-year-old Minecraft fan has a won a festival poetry competition for from Wymondham, Norfolk, wrote A Friend Like Steve, which he will get to perform on stage to open this year's Latitude festival at Henham Park, Suffolk, on 24 and poet Luke Wright said: "I love the fact he chose the language he feels comfortable with, the language of Minecraft. The best thing to do is write about something you love, which is why this is so excellent."The competition was run in partnership with the BBC, and open to seven to 11-year-olds in Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Myles' mother, Charlotte, said: "I'm so proud of him, it came out beautifully. "Myles' dad listens to the radio, so he heard about the competition and mentioned it to Myles - who was probably playing Minecraft at the time!"If he's not playing it, he's wearing it or talking about it.. he's quite the fanatic."Myles said he worked on the poem for two days. Poetry 'essential to the festival' The competition began for the 2024 festival as a collaboration with BBC Radio Suffolk, and was open just to young people who lived or went to school in expanded to cover three counties for this year's Benn, founder of the Latitude Festival, said: "Myles' poem is delightful and shows why this competition is so important."At just seven years old, he's taken the world of Minecraft, something that truly speaks to his generation, and turned it into a beautiful exploration of friendship and shared adventure. "This is exactly what Latitude is all about: celebrating creativity in all its forms, giving a platform to new voices."This year will also see a bigger input from the BBC Music Introducing teams which cover Suffolk and Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire and Essex, with 21 local acts performing on the Lavish Lounge stage. Poems on the theme of friendship were judged by BBC presenters Sarah Lilley and Louise Hulland, along with poet Luke Wright and Latitude arts curator Kirsty Taylor. Two runners up were also chosen and invited to read their pieces at the festival alongside the 11, from Gorleston, wrote What Can I Do? telling the story of her school friend moving away to Peterborough."Two hours is far too long, it might as well be two years," she 11, from Cromer, wrote Someone, a poem that explored how it felt to be without a special friend."Friends are the family you choose, but I've not yet been found," Eleanor wrote. BBC Radio Suffolk presenter Sarah Lilley said: "The entries this year took the judges on a rollercoaster of emotions, with some of the pieces showing real maturity about different aspects of having friends, being a friend and sometimes, missing or not having friends."I was so impressed with all of them, but our three finalists are exceptional."Charlotte Spackman, BBC Suffolk executive producer said: "To be able to give young people from our region such an amazing opportunity to take to the stage at Latitude is really special."Creativity is one of the BBC's core values, and it is essential we play our part in nurturing, developing and sharing the stories of the huge talent we have in the East."Watch last year's winner, 11 year old Anna, perform via BBC Suffolk's Facebook pageThe Latitude Festival is 24 - 27 July 2025 at Henham Park, Suffolk, with Sting, Snow Patrol and Fatboy Slim headlining. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Latitude Festival steward had sex with child
A man has been found guilty of having sex with a 15-year-old girl while he was working as a steward at a music Stokes was a steward at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk in July 32-year-old, formerly of Burns Road in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was found guilty of penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and is due to be sentenced on 11 July at Ipswich Crown Court. Summing up the evidence heard across the trial, judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley said the victim described how she and a friend started speaking to teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said they believed he was a security had been drinking alcohol, she said, and she told the defendant they were both 15. She claimed he provided them with more victim said the two had sex close to one of the music was arrested on 27 July 2022 and he said he lied in his first police interview - when he denied the sexual activity - because he was "scared".He eventually admitted the pair had sex, but claimed he thought she was older. Judge Talbot-Hadley said there was a "likely custodial starting point" for his he was convicted of one offence, he was found not guilty of rape, non-penetrative sexual activity of a girl and sexual wearing a checked suit in the dock, gasped as these not guilty verdicts were was released on bail and must report to a local police station where he was staying, which is in Wales. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man accused of raping teen at Latitude Festival
The jury at the trial of a man accused of raping a teenager at a music festival have retired to consider their verdict. Alex Stokes, 32, of Burns Road, Wellingborough, denies raping or engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity and the sexual assault of another 15-year-old girl. Ipswich Crown Court heard that Mr Stokes had been working as a steward at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk in 2022. His defence barrister argued that whilst the defendant did have consensual sex with one of the girls, he did not believe she was 15. While summing up the evidence heard across the trial, Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley said that one of the girls, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she and a friend had been at the festival in July 2022 where they started speaking to Mr Stokes. The teenager said they believed Mr Stokes was a security guard. The girl said they had been drinking alcohol and told the defendant they were both 15, she said he provided them with more drinks. She said after kissing Mr Stokes he then asked her to sit on him and he penetrated her, she said it was in a public place and he told her not to get up or security would see and she would be kicked out of the festival. The court heard that whilst this was happening Mr Stokes had asked the girl to bring her friend closer, he is then alleged to have sexually assaulted the other teenager. Mr Stokes denied that incident happened with the second girl and said the girls asked him to guess their ages and he said 18 and 19. He said he was not corrected by them and was not told they were 15. He was arrested on 27 July 2022 and admits initially lying in his first police interview by saying he had not had sex with one of the girls, he said he lied because he was "scared". Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
