Valerie June’s heartwarming and exuberant set on the 6Music Stage was perhaps the perfect way to start the last day at this glorious festival.
Playing southern blues and soul that often goes at breakneck speed, June knows how to make a crowd excited. With a wicked sense of humour (she talks about her banjo and how her banjo wishes she was as famous as Beyoncé) and a delightfully sultry voice, it’s impossible to not enjoy Valerie June’s stage presence.
Next on the same stage was breakout male singer-songwriter of the year, George Ezra, who boasts a gorgeous hoarse and impassioned voice. Distinctively charming and perceptibly handsome, Ezra is a born stage presence. Set opener ‘Blame It On Me’ booms with gusto but ‘Budapest’ is really what gets the crowd chanting along. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him playing a much bigger set at the festival in years to come.
Brooklyn DIY-ers Parquet Courts bring their frantically paced rock n’ roll to the festival, causing mosh pits to be created at each and every corner. Their excitement and ferocity spills into the arms of every audience member and shows that punk is most certainly not dead. What’s most triumphant about their set however is how effortless this quartet portray themselves to be; yet simultaneously you recognise that this is very calculated and conscious punk, not just mindless drivel.
Haim bring their all-American charm to the Obelisk Arena on the last day of Latitude, marking the last show of their tour. Hits ‘Falling’ and ‘Forever’ cause mass singalongs, but the music isn’t really the main attraction to Haim’s live show: it’s their personalities. The three sisters are as hilarious as any sitcom out at the moment, and though some of it may seem a little too contrived, any activity they start to get the crowd to react even more enthusiastically, works a charm.
Also performing the last show of their tour on the final day of this year’s Latitude is Australian psychedelic outfit Tame Impala. Their dreamy vocals sound highly calming as the sun begins to set and the crowd appear to be more than chilled out for this performance… However, make no mistake: this is not background music. The minute that songs like ‘Feels Like We Only Go Backwards’ and ‘Mind Mischief’ begin, chaos ensues.
Clean Bandit later prove however, that they truly made the song of the year. ‘Rather Be’ receives the warmest reception that we’ve seen the whole weekend. Thankfully however, the dance outfit from Cambridge University, confirm that they are not one hit wonders. Every song sounds as remarkably made as the last and tracks such as ‘Dust Clears’ and ‘Come Over’ are received equally as enthusiastically.
Ending the festival were the glorious Black Keys playing rapturously raucous blues inspired rock. Everything from their musicianship and thunderous stage presence confirmed that they were headliner material. Whilst the pair stand far apart from each other, there is no doubt that the two are in tune with each and every thought, feeling and action that the other has. A stellar performance to end a fabulous weekend.