We spent what felt like the rainiest day Suffolk's experienced in living memory at the Latitude Festival this year. Wondering around outside in the afternoon to get a breath of fresh air during a rare dry spell, we found ourselves approaching the Word Arena as the heavens re-opened and the deluge recommenced. It was one of the best moves of our day. We shuffled in to the tent, sighing in our voluminous plastic ponchos, and were instantly cheered by the gig just starting. Bellowhead have updated the folk band idea splendidly, adding beef and welly through the inclusion of a sizeable brass section. Playing with panache and originality, they soon had the audience rocking and dancing as the rain poured down outside. Spanning a wide range of styles and influences but steeped in a folk tradition, they put on an exciting, uplifting, and cheering show.
I'm not usually one for a folkfest, but Bellowhead really demonstrated how great traditions can be maintained and refreshed.
Bellowhead's third album Hedonism is out now:
http://www.bellowhead.co.uk/bellowhead/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13&Itemid=7
Bellowhead, the Literary Arena, Latitude Festival 2011
SB
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