CULTURE

Folk music both rich and R1-worthy fill the headlining slots at this year’s ultimate arts fest

Henham Park Suffolk is the ultimate British country garden. Bejewelled by a lake against sweeping countryside, it is only bettered in July by Latitude Festival. The festival takes over the land and asks Sadler’s Wells (for christ’s sake) to perform ON the lake, on a floating stage, for live dance.

Nowhere else do you find such gorgeous nature and a commitment to culture unfettered: in the woods there’s dedicated areas where theatre productions preview Fringe shows; there’s live Cabaret; a BAFTA supported film tent as well as poetry literature – and the music.

Also announced for 2017: alt-rock pioneers Placebo play a UK festival exclusive; Will Young’s live Summer Jazz Sessions will show the star off in a new light and there’s boundless commitment to new music across four stages dedicated to the stuff.

Other music names announced on the diverse lineup include Goldfrapp, Fatboy Slim, Mount Kimbie, Jack Garratt and Glass Animals.

TRASH

Do the downward-facing dog covered in glitter at disco yoga, give dance workshops a try and dance to all your favourite guilty pleasures

It comes as no surprise that Latitude’s diverse lineup parties as hard as it works out. DJs roar on in the woods (keep your ear to the ground for word of surprise sets) until 3am (walking to the stages at night in the lit up trees is half the fun) and music suits all tastes.

During the daytime, try workshops run by Balletboyz, for dance far from the norm, where ballet and hip-hop fuse.

Then there’s disco yoga where glittering up beforehand is required, an intriguing live experimental concerto for “comedian and orchestra” and Hot Dub Time Machine playing hits from 1954 to the present day. They call it the world’s first travelling dance party, though we think boom box speakers in the Nineties probably beat them to that.

The first lineup announcement had no word on theatre, cabaret or literary performers. There’s more to come, and we’ll bring you the news as we get it | Tickets available here