Latitude festival-goer choir to mark 20th anniversary

Latitude festival-goers could perform as part of a choir singing songs from the past two decades to mark the event's 20th anniversary.

The festival was first held in 2006 and returns in July for its 20th anniversary at Henham Park in Suffolk.

Lewis Capaldi, Teddy Swims, Wet Leg, Sir Lenny Henry, Flo & Joan and more have been announced as acts.

Choirmaster Gareth Malone OBE will return to bring together 100 ticket-holders to sing 20 songs from across the festival's history.

The 100 festival-goers can apply online to join the choir which will perform on the main Obelisk stage on Saturday, 25 July.

"I've got everything from Pet Shop Boys to Blondie to Florence and the Machine," Malone said of the setlist.

"We've got The Killers' Mr Brightside we're going to finish with; we're going to do Mumford and Sons.

"It's people that have made an impact on the festival and I've been to lots of those gigs and thought, we've got to do that [song]."

He added that choosing which songs to include had been difficult, but he ensured they would be ones that the whole crowd would be able to sing along to.

He joked he would not forget to include an Ed Sheeran song so not offend the Suffolk star, who has made several billed and surprise appearances at Henham Park.

Malone first started coming to Latitude 10 years ago and has led several choirs over the years.

"It's about participation; it's about having a great time," he continued.

"Music is something that brings everyone together, makes you feel better about yourself. It's good for mental health and it's so significant for so many performers."

Melvin Benn, Latitude founder and festival director, said he was "proud" that it was still going 20 years later.

"It's incredible. Whenever you start a festival you always hope that it's going to have a long life," he said.

"But actually keeping a festival going and keeping it relevant for 20 years is harder than people realise and that's why very few of them survive.

"When you create something that you adore so much, then you nurture it in the same way that you would nurture your kids; it's very much part and parcel of my life."

The festival has also announced the local artists that will play on the Faber Alt x BBC Introducing Stage in the Lavish Lounge.

Acts include Native James, i.am.afiya, Josh Tenor and more.

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