Festivals Latitude 2016: Loyle Carner

One of very few hip-hop acts of the weekend, Loyle Carner doesn’t have much to compete with as the sun sets on Latitude’s opening day, but he’s brought his a-game regardless. Loyle’s live show, much like his music, is no frills and no gimmicks; simply Carner and his DJ/producer/best friend Rebel Kleff effortlessly flowing through honest, poetic cuts both old and new with interruptions only for off-the-top freestyles and Carner’s charismatic and heartfelt story telling.

It’s this story telling that allows the impressive throng of adoring fans to relate so strongly to Carner and to make the kind of connection that sees one of the most raucous crowds of the weekend so far; something nobody, including Carner himself, really expected. From ‘Florence’, the acapella lament to the sister Carner never had (he announces that having performed this to his mum, they are now adopting him a sister who he promises to bring along next year), to simple tales of family life and loss; Carner holds nothing back, laying himself bare to tumultuous response.

Only here could an impromptu chant of “ooo ahh Cantona” manage to actually be quite touching as Carner dons an Eric Cantona football shirt, something he brings with him everywhere he goes so he can share the stage with his late father in further deeply personal tribute, ‘Cantona’.“This is the best show I’ve ever played in my entire life” Carner cries as he closes on ‘Old CD’’s, a previously unplayed, well received new single from his forthcoming album, before burying himself in the waiting crowd.