aaamusic | On 28, May 2011

Find below the second series of interviews with performs at Latitude festival.

This week’s instalment includes I Am Kloot, Salena Godden, They Might Be Giants, Carly Smallman, Doc Brown and Tim Crouch

They Might Be Giants (John Flansburgh) – Obeslisk Arena – USA

1 – Who is your ‘must see’ performance at Latitude this year?
I’ve never seen Os Mutantes perform so this would be my opportunity.

2 – Not including items used in your performance, what is your ‘must-have’ festival item?
I must have a nap at some point. I can put on a really good performance if I get some sleep and then have a cup of coffee beforehand.

3 – Do you have anything special planned for your performance at Latitude?
We have a raft of new material, most of which we haven’t learned how to play yet. It’s all pretty damned special but we have to get rehearsing. However, an advantage to playing new songs is that the audience can’t tell if you’re messing up the lyrics.

4 – If you could have anyone (dead or alive) to introduce you onstage who would it be (and why)?

If we could have any dead person introduce us that would be pretty exciting. We could use some kind of concealed hydraulics to open and close the corpse’s mouth and make the arms wave around. My choice would be the corpse of John C. Calhoun. You have to Google a picture of him to see why that would be cool.

5 – Latitude is…
…an interesting name for a festival. I’m going to guess that it refers to both the distance from the equator (although I don’t know what they’re driving at with that – is there some cachet to being closer to the North Pole?) and the wide freedom of movement that the name implies. As in, They Might Be Giants have the latitude to go into an uncontrolled, Cookie Monsterish frenzy if we want to.

7 – Could you please choose 5 tracks from any bands/artists playing this year’s festival (to form a playlist) and state your reason why you chose the track? For a full list of performers please visit www.latitudefestival.co.uk

The Bees – Chicken Payback
The Eels – Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues
Os Mutantes – A Minha Menina
Lyle Lovett – That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas)

Salena Godden – Poetry Arena – North London

1 – Who is your ‘must see’ performance at Latitude this year?
Saul Williams; also looking forward to the literary death match! Hilarious!

2 – Not including items used in your performance, what is your ‘must-have’ festival item?
Anti jet-lag pills.

3 – Do you have anything special planned for your performance at Latitude?
Yes…New Material…But It’s A Surprise!

4 – If you could have anyone (dead or alive) to introduce you onstage who would it be (and why)?
Mae west, she’s my hero.

5 – If you have been to Latitude before what was your favourite memory, performance or special spot on site?
The woods, everything fun happens in the woods…

6 – Latitude is…
a brilliant laugh, I’m really looking forward to seeing you all there again! Bundle!!!!
Carly Smallman – Cabaret Arena – Bromley, South London

1 – Who is your ‘must see’ performance at Latitude this year?
I’m looking forward to seeing Bombay Bicycle Club, but think that most of the big action will be at the Comedy Arena where it’s all about Brendon Burns, Nathan Caton, Tom Wrigglesworth, Nick Helm, Joe Lycett and the rest of the amazing line-up.

2 – Not including items used in your performance, what is your ‘must-have’ festival item?
Batiste spray in shampoo and Wetwipes.  I know that’s two but a girl can never be too prepared.

3 – Do you have anything special planned for your performance at Latitude?
Every performance is special! But at Latitude I plan to just have loads of fun whist MCing the Cabaret Arena and involving the audience as much as possible so that we can all have a great time together!

4 – If you could have anyone (dead or alive) to introduce you onstage who would it be (and why)?
Bille Joe Armstrong from Green Day because I fancy the pants of him and would go in for a snog.

5 – If you have been to Latitude before what was your favourite memory, performance or special spot on site?
I came in 2009 and am both proud and ashamed to say that I had a great time watching Mika!  He put on a real show and I made friends with a very camp group of boys who epically out-danced me.

6 – Latitude is…
going to be bloody brilliant! Let’s all drink cider together!

I Am Kloot – Word Arena – Cornwall

1 – Who is your ‘must see’ performance at Latitude this year?
I hear Adam Buxton does a very good turn – gotta see that.

2 – Not including items used in your performance, what is your ‘must-have’ festival item?
A skeleton key so i can get into the jcb digger that i sleep in every time i play latitude.

3 – Do you have anything special planned for your performance at Latitude?
We are playing a lot of the songs from our last album – sky at night and our band is an eight piece now instead o f the usual three piece – looking forward to the bigger sound.

4 – If you could have anyone (dead or alive) to introduce you onstage who would it be (and why)?
Bill Hicks – a man of rare insight and a fearless attitude.

5 – If you have been to Latitude before what was your favourite memory, performance or special spot on site?
I enjoyed seeing Nick Cave get tangled in a guitar lead and without looking at it kicked it away as if he was being attacked by a snake. A delicious violence.

6 – Latitude is…
is the festival that all your bloody mates want a guest list for.
Doc Brown – Comedy Arena – London

1 – Who is your ‘must see’ performance at Latitude this year?
I’d love to see Keith Allen stomping around swearing at everybody again, but unfortunately I don’t think he’s there this year so I’ll settle for Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan.

2 – Not including items used in your performance, what is your ‘must-have’ festival item?
The artists’ toilet.

3 – Do you have anything special planned for your performance at Latitude?
Same as ever- don’t be shit.

4 – If you could have anyone (dead or alive) to introduce you onstage who would it be (and why)?
I’d get David Cameron to introduce me, that way every member of the crowd would be so desperate for an alternative I couldn’t fail but have a great gig.

5 – If you have been to Latitude before what was your favourite memory, performance or special spot on site?
Definitely 2009, opening my family tent for the first time ever, in the rain, as it was starting to get dark and reading the warning inside: “REMEMBER TO PRACTICE ERECTING YOUR TENT BEFORE YOUR VACATION”. If it wasn’t for two 18 year olds from Hackney taking pity on me and putting my tent up for me, my wife, my kids and I would have spent our first night basking in the joys of hypothermia.

Tim Crouch – Theatre Arena – Brighton

1 – Who is your ‘must see’ performance at Latitude this year?
Music – Echo and the Bunnymen.    The Back of Love is a time machine for me.
Theatre – If you have children, are a child or still feel like a child, you have to see Company of Angel’s take on I, Peaseblossom.  It’s a perfect complement to Malvolio.  Also, Spymonkey every time.

2 – Not including items used in your performance, what is your ‘must-have’ festival item?
A cup.

3 – Do you have anything special planned for your performance at Latitude?
I will attempt to have revenge on the whole pack of you.

4 – If you could have anyone (dead or alive) to introduce you onstage who would it be (and why)?
The Reverend Ian Paisley.  Malvolio would approve of his campaigns against sodomy and religious tolerance and his support for the Queen.

5 – If you have been to Latitude before what was your favourite memory, performance or special spot on site?
I am a Latitude virgin.  Be gentle with me.

6 – Latitude is…
a shiny button on the drab overcoat of life.