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  • 16 hours ago
Festival Republic's Managing Director Melvin Benn gives us the insider scoop on the annual Latitude festival, and reveals the best bands, the best ways to get there, and his tips for making the most of the weekend, including a certain pie stand...
Transcript
00:00I took a ride, I took a ride, I wouldn't go there without you.
00:06Let's take a ride, we'll take a ride, I wouldn't leave here without you.
00:11My name's Melvin Ben, I'm the Managing Director of Festival of the Public.
00:17National, Paolo Nutini and Suede. Why? Because they're fantastic.
00:23They should. Why? Because if people don't know them,
00:29they should know them, and if people do know them, they will be watching them.
00:36The Chapel Club, Edward Sharp, Villagers, the Vaccines,
00:43very pleased the Vaccines are playing.
00:47It started five years ago, it started as an indulgence of mine.
00:54I wanted to create a festival that actually looked at and explored
00:58all the aspects of art and culture that I like,
01:03and that ranges from poetry to literature to theatre, opera,
01:08and of course, you know, very much mainstream music and comedy.
01:12And we started with a very, very small amount of people that came,
01:16and it just grew.
01:18The travel tip would be to share your vehicle with as many people as possible,
01:25really very much on the environmental issue.
01:30The best place to camp is actually anywhere.
01:33Latitude is the cleanest campsite, and the nicest audience that you could possibly, possibly meet.
01:44Almost anything in the theatre, anything in the theatre.
01:49There's a silver bullet pie shop, Battersea Pie, and the pies there are stunningly good.
02:02Always be aware of where your friends are, and letting know.
02:07If you're going off and doing your own thing, just make sure your friends know where they are,
02:11where you're going and who you're going with.
02:13It's very simple.
02:16I guess Arcade Fire, I mean, Arcade Fire, I mean, you start me off on it.
02:22I mean, you know, Arcade Fire, I probably represent the festival totally.
02:27Anthony and the Johnsons, totally.
02:30I could actually list a whole number.
02:33If I had to absolutely choose one, I'd choose Arcade Fire.
02:37You can't take that away from me.
02:40I am a mountain.
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