'Latitude set gave me goosebumps' - Blur bassist

"I've still got goosebumps," said Alex James, moments after coming off the mainstage at Latitude Festival following a hit and guest-laden set.

The Blur bassist had just performed his Britpop Classical show at the Obelisk Arena at Henham Park, in Suffolk, and was thrilled with how it went.

The new musical venture sees him rip through a vast catalogue of iconic 1990s anthems with a full symphony orchestra, live rock band, and special guest vocalists.

He told the BBC the performance at Latitude "was kind of a test" for the project, but, if the reception from the crowd was anything to go by, it passed with flying colours.

"It kicked off, didn't it? I didn't expect the crowd to go that crazy actually - they were having it," he said.

"Nobody's bought a ticket to see this, they've bought a ticket for the weekend, but I've still got goosebumps - this is what you live for and get up in the afternoon for."

James and his band played everything from Song 2, There She Goes and Smells Like Teen Spirit to Common People and Wonderwall.

For Blur's 1994 hit Parklife, the band was joined by the actor and the song's guest vocalist Phil Daniels, while Republica's Saffron tore through 1996's Ready to Go.

Despite the majority of the songs from the setlist being decades old, the performance was enjoyed by festival-goers of all ages.

Nowadays, that comes as little surprise to James.

In recent years, following Blur's comeback shows in 2023 and Oasis' all-conquering tour last summer, Britpop has transcended generations and found a new audience.

"Everyone's got access to everything ever written now, so people have been able to discover these songs," said James, who had a dip in a Suffolk lake before the gig.

"There's no doubt every song that we played today means more to more people now than it did when it was written.

"Music really does have the power to unite a big crowd of people like that – it's a basic human need."

James came up with the idea for Britpop Classical after parachuting in Ministry of Sound Classical to headline his Big Feastival event at the last minute two years ago.

Initially sceptical, after seeing them perform he "had an on-the-spot epiphany", legged it backstage and declared: "We have to do a Britpop version of this."

"They're just great, great songs so you just have to land the tune - we don't mess with them too much, we just add some orchestra juice," said James.

"There's something really special about a lot of musicians just letting rip and the orchestra absolutely loving it because it's such a great body of material.

"And it turns out an entire symphony orchestra is much less bother than one Graham Coxon - they turn up when they're supposed and don't argue."

James is, of course, best known as the bassist in Blur but has also previously played in Fat Les, Me Me Me, WigWam and Bad Lieutenant.

Despite performing in bands since he was a schoolboy some four decades ago, he stills harbours as much passion for music today as he did when he started.

"People always want to know what it feels like standing up there when everyone's going mental," added James, who was born in Bournemouth.

"Well, it's like singing in the car with your mates and that is a wonderful thing.

"Every band I've ever been in has made me feel that, even the rubbish bands I was in at school, it feels amazing.

"It's like making nice food for yourself and cooking, there's something really rewarding about making music."

Foodie James, who is preparing to "tuck in" to the array of stomach-pleasing delights Latitude has to offer at the time of our conversation, is also a cheesemaker and farmer.

James agreed that farmers had had a tough time in recent years due to turbulent weather and its effect on crops and yield.

"I think Jeremy Clarkson has done an amazing job speaking for farmers, but you know, everything's tough," said James.

"Being in a band's tough, being a kid and doing you're A-levels is tough – man up."

Do you have a story suggestion for Suffolk? Contact us below.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.