Ben Wilkinson

For those who're interested, included below are links to the reviews, articles and interviews I wrote whilst at the Latitude Festival this year, held in the beautiful grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk. I may edit this post at some point to give a blog-style insight into the goings on at the festival, including the bands, comedians, writers and artists I saw outside of reviewing commitments. As one happy and half-cut festival goer put it: Pimms me up to the power of two! Thursday ~ Poetry and Literary Arenas Rosie and the Goldbug ~ Sunrise Arena Friday ~ Poetry Arena The Go! Team ~ Obelisk Arena Friday ~ Literary Arena Saturday ~ Poetry Arena Rich Hall ~ Comedy Arena Daljit Nagra ~ Interview Tim Turnbull ~ Interview Saturday ~ Literary Arena Sunday ~ Poetry Arena

OK, OK... I know there are easier targets to pick on in the world of hackneyed, cliché-ridden song lyric writing than the otherwise talented Dizzee Rascal . I'm actually a pretty big fan of some of his work, particularly 'Fix Up, Look Sharp' from his precociously impressive first album, Boy in da Corner , and the unfortunately titled but belting Brit-hop Grime single 'Pussy'Ole (Old Skool)' from his third release, Maths + English . But this little snippet of comedy gold is just too good to ignore, revealing as it does the way in which music artists half-disguise such lyrical junk with their vocalisations - which in Dizzee's case, is through rapid-fire, often double dutch style rapping. Get a well-spoken, middle-class radio presenter called Carrie to 'rap' along to the song's tune, however, and what makes for highly danceable Brit-hop descends into the complete farce it lyrically is, and not just because the girl can't rap or sing. I'd rec

Today: As well as research and reading for a review and a critical perspective, two new poems that a) emerged quite quickly and b) after tinkering and editing later in the day, I am happy with. Tomorrow: The realisation that said poems require a lot of work, or worse, that they are irredeemably crap. The consolations of yesterday's research, remaining as it does useful and - more or less - intact.

Just a bit of news in the form of my critical perspective of Anglo-German Faber poet Michael Hofmann's work going up on the British Council's Contemporary Writers website, here . Later in the week, I'll hopefully find time to do a write-up of the music and poetry goings-on at Latitude Festival (see post below).

Yup, it's that time of year again... When those festival goers amongst us with exceptional taste head out to the Suffolk countryside, ready to enjoy three days of the best music, poetry, literature, film, cabaret and comedy this country - and beyond - has to offer. And this year's Latitude Festival , due to take place from Thursday 17 th to Sunday 2 oth July - as impossible a feat as it may sound - promises to be even better than last time around. Regular Wasteland readers (Hello? Hello ...?) will recall that I reviewed the festival for the organisers last year, as part of a team writing reviews, round-ups, features and interviews that were posted on the festival's website throughout the weekend. Back then we were treated to the likes of CSS , Rodrigo Y Gabriela , Patrick Wolf , Bat for Lashes and Canadian alt-rock giants Arcade Fire on the music bill, as well as top comedians including Bill Bailey , Russell Howard and Michael McIntyre , not to mention excellent write