Friday 18/07/08 Franz Ferdinand, Ross Noble @ Latitude Festival, Henham Park, Suffolk

Billing itself with ‘It’s more than just a music festival’, Latitude 2008 proves itself the boutique leader of the pack. Distinctive in it’s leftfield programming with multi-arts, it’s the kind of show Peelie would have revelled in, and as such is a kind of legacy with a fringe festival thrown in.

The Sunrise stage features the emergent acts that provide tough competition to the bigger hitters on the Obelisk and Uncut stages. The Joy Formidable take a journey through fomenting riff-laden Explosions in The Sky-like soundscapes with a vocalist not unlike Lene Lovich. ‘Cradle’ shows more of a Ting Tings side to them, but there’s no doubting the hi-octane Red Bull charge they pack with new-wave hooks.

One of Debbie Harry’s favourite underground bands, Heloise & Savoir Faire were a first signing to Elijah Wood's label Simian Records with ‘Trash Rates and Microphones’, and suitably kick start the Uncut stage with the gusto of Goldfrapp and Hercules & Love Affair. Super sassy for such a bright hour with Heloise Williams leading on vocals, “…give a sheeeeeeitt…” as a m&f dancer disrobe costume layers. Racy ‘Datsun 280z’ has Williams singing ‘…got my foot on your accelerator…” and a Roisin Murphy-like moment with “…we want music/ modern music…” as office life gets sexed up on ‘Giving You The Business’ - 70’s glam-disco has some new muscle.

The Music & Film stage features a documentary film about the ‘Hidden Secrets’ postcards, anonymous confessionals - the most common card, ahem, peeing in the shower. The M&F fills to the rafters with a reverential air for the scoop of Michael Nyman. Solo on grand piano, Nyman accompanies a film as movements gracing movies such as Michael Winterbottom’s ‘Wonderland’ and ‘9 Songs’ work through their varying cadences. Assured to reach emotions you never knew you had, gay melodies and nocturnes segue with an ambrosial joy, the highlight of ‘The Piano’ to enraptured applause, whilst a longer work to an old Jean Vigo b&w of belle époque Nice, entitled ‘En Propos a Nice’ shows his mastery.

The Aliens have landed! The spawn of The Beta Band break-up sees lead-man Gordon Anderson sporting an Indian head and leaps like  loon, ‘Only Waiting’ and ‘Robot Man’ the crowd pleasers as a reprise of The Beatles ‘Helter Skelter’ has Gordon thriving, announcing his request for a new guitarist as the other “…fucked that one up…”, joyfully bounding off the stage and the crowd eager for more.

Ross Noble had spontaneously warmed up on the Thursday night with Robin Ince, performing a sketch about John Peel’s rock and roll antics leaving anticipation high for his main performance. In his dulcet Geordie tones, he tells of his hate for hippy shops and the use of Whale music, suggesting if someone burnt down a hippy shop then everyone for miles would be relaxed from the over use of incense . Leading the swollen crowd into a sing-along of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, Noble announces he wants to start the biggest  conga line and take it to the Vegan and Vegetarian stall, “ …it’ll be the biggest fuckin’ queue they’ll have all weekend…”. The crowds follow Noble through the site, attracting random-passers by, crowd surfing over a sea of people.